A Will to Give Back

For Stephanie Dathe (‘95), the decision to include SDSU in her estate plan was inspired by the community that first made campus feel like home.

By Taylor Harris

It was a hot summer day in August 1990. The newest Aztecs had just arrived on campus and were getting settled as they moved into the residence halls. A day that remains all too familiar for San Diego State University alumna Stephanie Dathe (‘95). 

Growing up in the Bay Area and moving away from home for the first time, Dathe didn’t know what to expect when she got to campus her freshman year. 

Moving into Toltec Hall, Dathe embraced the unknown: meeting her new roommates, unpacking the treasured items she brought from home, looking through the schedule of Welcome Week events, hugging her family goodbye, and taking that first exciting step into a new chapter of life.

“That experience changed the trajectory of my life. It gave me friendships, mentors, leadership opportunities, and a sense of belonging that ultimately shaped both my personal and professional journey,” says Stephanie. “To be quite honest, I would not be where I am today without it.” 

During her time as a student, Dathe was deeply involved in the Residence Hall Association, worked for SDSU Summer Conferences, and was a Resident Advisor. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies in 1995, Dathe started her career as the programs coordinator for SDSU Alumni, before transitioning into hospitality at PRA Destination Management. 

Dathe eventually made her way back to campus in 2011, working for the SDSU L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and later as the Director of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

Now serving as the Executive Director for SDSU Alumni, Dathe always knew that she wanted to find a way to give back to the community that gave her so much. And thanks to FreeWill,  a no-cost estate planning tool, now she will. 

August marks National Make-a-Will Month, a time to think about estate planning. SDSU's Office of Planned Giving and Estates offers many different gift options to help those interested in making gifts find a charitable plan that lets them provide for their families and support SDSU at the same time. 

FreeWill is a tool that allows users to easily draft a will or trust, medical directives, and other pivotal estate planning documents and update them any time.

For Dathe, the decision to include SDSU in her estate plans through FreeWill came full circle during a moment she knew all too well: move-in. As she welcomed a new generation of Aztecs, she was reminded of her own first day on campus and the community that made SDSU feel like home.

“Volunteering at SDSU Move-In Day was the moment that really solidified my decision. That experience also reminded me that not every student arrives with the same support system or financial resources,” says Dathe. “Knowing that my planned gift can help create opportunities and provide support for future students made the decision to include SDSU in my estate plans feel both meaningful and deeply personal.” 

Dathe originally put off estate planning due to feeling that it was complicated, expensive, and that she lacked the wealth to do so, but FreeWill proved otherwise. Guiding her through the process step by step, she was able to complete her estate planning easily, while also adding a planned gift to SDSU. 

By documenting her planned gift, Dathe also became a member of SDSU's Heritage Society, a community of alumni and friends who have chosen to leave a lasting impact on future generations of Aztecs.

Dathe hopes that other alumni and members of the SDSU community who are unsure about estate planning will remember that it is not about your age or how much you have, but about making sure what you do have is distributed according to your wishes and that the people you care about are taken care of. 

“FreeWill made the process incredibly simple, and I was able to create an estate plan that provides for my daughter while also leaving a gift to support future SDSU students,” says Dathe. “You do not have to be wealthy to make a meaningful impact; you just have to take the first step.” 

Thanks to The Office of Planned Giving and Estates and FreeWill, Dathe was finally able to cross something off her list, while also leaving her official legacy at SDSU: even more than she already has. 

“I'm an alumna, an employee, and someone who believes deeply in the university's mission. Making a planned gift felt like a natural extension of that commitment,” says Dathe. “It is my opportunity to continue investing in future generations of students, helping ensure they have the same life-changing opportunities that shaped my own SDSU experience.” 

With her planned gift, Dathe hopes that any student who wants the opportunity to experience college the way she did has the chance to do so. Knowing that she can play a small part in someone else's journey means everything to her. 

To those who are considering planning their estate or making a planned gift, Dathe’s advice is simple: don’t wait. The SDSU Planned Giving website has helpful resources and tools that make the estate planning process approachable and easy to understand.

Join SDSU in recognizing National Make-a-Will Month. To create your own will or trust at no cost, visit plannedgiving.sdsu.edu.