Announcing the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Each year since 1963, the West Chester University Alumni Association has honored graduates with the Distinguished Alumni Awards. This award recognizes individuals who have achieved professional distinction, made a meaningful impact through service or volunteerism, positively influenced others, and demonstrated a strong commitment to West Chester University and the Alumni Association.
Beginning this year, honorees of WCU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award and WCU Foundation’s Impact Award will be recognized together at the annual Gratitude Reception and Awards Ceremony because there are so many ways that University supporters make a difference, not only through philanthropy but also through volunteerism and involvement with the greater West Chester community.
Bronwyn L. Martin M’00
Bronwyn L. Martin M’00 is a multidisciplinary professional whose career spans scientific
research, business leadership, and applied financial planning. She earned a Ph.D.
in biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine and her research at several
Boston academic institutions produced peer‑reviewed publications and global presentations
on cellular toxicity and neurodegenerative mechanisms.
After completing her MBA at WCU, Martin transitioned into financial services and founded Martin’s Financial Consulting Group, an Ameriprise Platinum Financial Services practice. Since 2000, she has built a firm that provides comprehensive guidance for households, business owners, and multigenerational families. She contributes to leading financial and estate‑planning publications, addressing planning for clients living with debilitating illnesses, charitable giving strategies, and estate planning techniques. She is the author of the bestselling Your Amazing Itty Bitty Financial Wisdom Book: 15 Steps to Build, Preserve, and Protect Your Wealth.
Martin received a PA Best 50 Women in Business award, has launched multiple LLCs, founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and earned her real estate license, but her proudest personal milestone is becoming a U.S. citizen in 2006.
She has held leadership roles in national and regional professional associations, including the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils and NAIFA‑PA, and serves on the boards of Chester County Community Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association Greater Delaware Valley Chapter. Martin meets with legislators annually to discuss issues affecting families, businesses, and individuals living with dementia and has secured multiple MDRT Foundation Worldwide Grants supporting community organizations. She currently serves as Entrepreneur in Residence for WCU’s Cottrell Center.
Dana Raftas ’04, M’07
Dana Raftas ’04, M’07 has dedicated her professional career to advancing public education
and pediatric healthcare, raising millions of dollars to support children and families.
Through her leadership and vision, transformational philanthropy has funded endowed
scholarships, strengthened state-of-the-art learning and care facilities, and propelled
pediatric research leading to meaningful medical breakthroughs.
Raftas earned a B.A. and M.A. in communication studies before beginning her advancement career at The Hill School, later serving in development leadership roles at WCU and University of Delaware (UD). Since 2021, she has served as associate vice president for institutional and events fundraising at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation, leading a team of 45 focused on corporate, foundation, and event fundraising efforts that generate more than $60 million annually.
Under her leadership, revenue has increased by more than 130 percent, amplifying the hospital’s capacity to innovate and serve. She also advances strategic priorities including behavioral health, the CHOP Research Institute, and the Lurie Autism Institute. Notably, Raftas and her team secured a $20 million grant for CHOP from Bloomberg Philanthropies to establish a pioneering partnership between the hospital and a local high school, expanding access and creating pathways for students to explore healthcare careers. Additionally, she led successful fundraising campaigns for 50 years of women’s athletics at WCU and biopharmaceutical innovation at UD.
Raftas remains deeply committed to community engagement and service as corporate cohort lead for the Woodmark Group, board member of the Delaware Council for Economic Education, and an active member of St. Joseph Home & School Association. She and her husband Nicholas, also a Golden Ram, are proud parents of two daughters, Liliana and Chloe.
Jeffrey Stein ’91
When Jeffrey Stein ’91 arrived at WCU to study criminal justice, he could not have
predicted that his career would span high-profile criminal defense cases, international
security leadership, and decades of service to the investigative profession. What
he did know was that he wanted to pursue a path centered on justice, integrity, and
public safety.
Today, Stein is CEO and owner of ELPS Private Detective Agency, leading complex investigations, specializing in homicide cases, providing expert witness services, and advising attorneys and businesses on security and risk management. Over more than three decades, he has conducted thousands of witness and integrity interviews and has worked on cases ranging from criminal defense and civil litigation to corporate investigations and security oversight projects.
Beyond his firm, Stein serves as executive director of Intellenet, a global network of investigative and security professionals in more than 70 countries. He is past president and chairman of the board of the Pennsylvania Association of Licensed Investigators and remains active in advancing professional standards and education within the industry.
Despite national and international work, Stein’s connection to WCU remains central. A past president of the WCU Alumni Association and current member of the Ram Fam Advisory Council, he regularly returns to campus to mentor students and speak with criminal justice classes. Through ELPS, he also provides internship opportunities that give WCU students hands-on investigative experience.
Stein credits WCU with laying the foundation for his career and remains committed to giving back to the University that helped shape his professional journey.