Karen Terhune Duncan never imagined a pink cabinet handle would symbolize so much. But when a Delta Zeta member at Ashland University lit up at the sight of one during a walkthrough of their under-renovation lounge, Karen knew the project was doing more than modernizing a space—it was connecting generations.
Karen, who graduated from Ashland in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education, made a career of noticing the little things. From launching a fashion-forward advertising career in New York City to starting her own firm in New Jersey, her journey has been shaped by details—of fabric, of branding, of human connection. And many of those roots trace back to Ashland.
“I felt it the moment I stepped on campus,” Karen said. “My father and I walked around, and we just knew. I had visited the big schools—Penn State, Ohio State—but Ashland felt right. It had the warmth, the safety and the challenge I needed.”
As a student, Karen was deeply involved in Delta Zeta and remembers her professors—Jane Bogniard, Marge McBurney and others—as life-shaping mentors. She also spoke with admiration about Dr. Glenn Clayton, who would regularly sit with students in the student union and talk about everything from current events to personal values. “He never told us what to think,” she said. “He just had us thinking and talking and being considerate and respectful. He was a remarkable change maker in my life on so many levels.” Karen credits Ashland with helping her develop the confidence to pursue her goals at a time when few women were encouraged to enter the corporate world.
She began her post-graduate life as a National Field Representative for Delta Zeta’s national headquarters, crisscrossing the country, working with chapters and building leadership and communication skills. That position opened the door to a job with Milliken & Company, one of the nation’s top textile manufacturers, where she rose through the ranks in the advertising department. Eventually, she launched her own advertising firm and published a lifestyle magazine for over 30 years.
But even as her career thrived, Karen’s life was anchored by family responsibilities. She helped care for a younger brother with special needs and later made the decision to work independently so she could offer more support. “It wasn’t easy, but it taught me how to prioritize what really matters,” she said. “Ashland had already taught me that people come first.”
Now retired in Savannah, Georgia, Karen and her husband spend much of their time enjoying the outdoors and their shared love of golf. But her connection to Ashland remains as strong as ever. Most recently, she spearheaded a $100,000 fundraising effort to renovate the Delta Zeta lounge. Working closely with university staff and vendors, Karen led a fully collaborative process—down to selecting paint colors and organizing an Amazon wish list for kitchen essentials.
The effort wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about paying forward the sense of belonging she received during her time at Ashland. “For many of these young women, Delta Zeta is their community—their people,” she said. “Just like it was for me. And creating a space that reflects this matters.”
Through all of it, Karen has been quick to emphasize the importance of alumni giving at every level. “President Peede said something that stuck with me,” she recalled. “‘Whether it’s $100 or a million, what matters is that you give something—that you believe in what Ashland is doing.’ And I do.”
The renovated lounge is set to be unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony over Labor Day weekend 2025, with President Peede and other university leaders in attendance. Karen hopes it will serve not just as a celebration but as an example of what’s possible when alumni and universities work together.
“Ashland can’t fund everything, nor should it,” she said. “But alumni can step in and elevate the student experience. This renovation is proof of that—a true partnership that benefits everyone.”
Even after 50 years, Karen says she remains proud to call herself an Ashland graduate. “It’s still the place that launched me,” she said. “And I hope the next generation gets everything I did—and more.”
