Funding the Future
“I want this place to be here forever. Not just 100 years after my grandmother attended, but 100 years beyond that. Central is a place where students can find themselves, explore and feel safe trying out different versions of who they want to become. That’s worth investing in.”
— Deanna Ver Steeg ’94
Deanna Ver Steeg ’94 will admit Central College wasn’t her first choice — but it quickly became the right choice. What started as a reluctant campus visit, initiated by her father in honor of her grandmother’s legacy, transformed into a lifelong relationship defined by service, leadership and an unwavering commitment to Central’s future.
Ver Steeg’s journey to Central began with hesitation but ended in wholehearted embrace. Her decision to enroll was sealed by an unexpected phone call notifying her that she had been awarded a full-tuition, Rolscreen Scholarship. In that moment, Ver Steeg realized all the obstacles to attending Central had been cleared, and she stepped forward into an experience that would shape her personally and professionally.
During her time at Central, Ver Steeg explored the breadth of her interests. She majored in accounting, minored in both Spanish and German, and spent a semester abroad in Granada, Spain — an experience that deepened her appreciation for culture and global perspectives. She engaged in an array of extracurricular activities, from Student Senate to intramural sports to hosting a radio show, all while forming lifelong friendships on the front porch of Prins. Central became a place where she could try on different versions of herself, discovering the values and skills that would carry her into a successful career.
Her professional path has been marked by ambition and adventure, from earning a graduate degree at Northern Illinois University to working with top firms like Ernst & Young and Deloitte in Chicago, Illinois, before finding a home at SC Johnson. Along the way, Ver Steeg has traveled the world, carrying with her the lessons of adaptability, curiosity and community that she first learned at Central.
“I’ve always felt well-prepared — not just because of what I learned in class, but because of how Central taught me to think critically and lead with integrity,” she notes.
Ver Steeg’s Central story isn’t just about what she’s gained because of her experience — it’s also about what she continues to give back.
Over the years, she has remained deeply involved with the college, serving on the Economics, Accounting and Management Advisory Board, the National Advisory Council and as a Central trustee. She has also played a pivotal role in mentoring current students and introducing new students to Central who have gone on to thrive on campus and beyond.
“There’s nothing better than seeing someone you encouraged end up at Central and love it,” Ver Steeg says. “It’s like passing the baton.”
For Ver Steeg, supporting Central isn’t just an act of generosity, it’s a responsibility. Inspired by the example set by her father, who taught her the value of tithing from a young age, she considers Central her top philanthropic priority. Even when she was working minimum-wage jobs while in graduate school, she made a point to give back, knowing that her own opportunities had been made possible by the generosity of others.
“I didn’t wait until I had ‘enough’ to give,” she explains. “Giving to Central was never about the amount — it was about gratitude.”
“I want this place to be here forever,” she adds. “Not just 100 years after my grandmother attended, but 100 years beyond that. Central is a place where students can find themselves, explore and feel safe trying out different versions of who they want to become. That’s worth investing in.”
Through her service, mentorship and philanthropy, Ver Steeg is living out the spirit of doing good in the world and doing good on behalf of Central. Her story is further evidence of the transformative power of a Central education — and a call to all alumni and friends to continue supporting the college that changes lives, just as it did for her.