The Marketing and Public Relations Department is an integral part of Geneva College today, and this department has flourished because of the dedicated work of Janet Metheny Downie. Janet graduated from Geneva in 1905 and became a fiercely devoted alumna. When a need for a publicity campaign arose, Janet took up the responsibility to build a marketing and PR department from the ground up. She was the first director of the department, and she was the spark that made PR an integral element of Geneva.
Janet had a unique journey to Geneva. She was born in Adana, Turkey, as her parents were missionaries. Her early life was spent in the seaside town of Mersin, where her father worked as a preacher and physician. Tragically, her father died when Janet was fourteen, and she moved to the U.S. with her mother and her four siblings. For a short time Janet attended a public school in Baltimore, but then her family moved to College Hill in Beaver Falls. Janet attended Geneva College and played center for the women’s basketball team. She loved basketball and eventually coached the sport at New Brighton and Beaver Falls.
While at Geneva, Janet met her future husband, James Vale Downie. They both graduated in 1905 and married in 1909. However, Janet did not immediately begin to work at Geneva. She did not begin her career until World War II, when many women began to find work outside the home. During the War she worked as a counselor for Armstrong Cork Co. where she supervised over 500 women employees. In 1945 she began her work at Geneva, and as co-editor with her husband, she published her first edition of “The Alumnus,” the quarterly magazine for Geneva alumni. She would go on to publish many more issues in her 13-year tenure as co-editor of the magazine.
Janet was a dedicated alumna and served on the alumni council and the board of trustees. In 1946 Janet was asked to develop a public relations department for Geneva, and she became the first director of public relations. In this role she endeavored to make people “Geneva conscious” by publicizing Geneva and to assist friendly relations between the city of Beaver Falls and the College. She continued to co-edit “The Alumnus” and began publishing “The Orienter,” which targeted incoming freshmen. Janet served as the director of PR until 1958, and she continued to serve the department under the newly hired director until she retired in 1960.
Throughout her time working with the College, Janet became increasingly beloved. While attending Geneva, her nieces and nephews called her “Aunt Janet” and soon the entire student body affectionately called her Aunt Janet because of her caring and friendly personality. As a result of her dedication and care for her work, Janet received the Life G award in 1954, which is the highest alumni award that Geneva distributes. This made Janet the third in her family to receive the award, and the third woman to receive the award in the 25 years that it had been bestowed.
Janet outlived her husband, who died in 1962, and she died in 1971. Janet and James are remembered with a plaque in the Alumni Office on campus. They both dedicated years of service to the College and have made a lasting impact. Janet’s service was instrumental to the development of the Marketing and Public Relations Department, which continues to thrive today.
Mattigan Burleigh '24
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