College of Biological Sciences

What do you do here?

I am the alumni and advancement officer for the College of Biological Sciences.

How long have you been at the U?

This is my first position at the University. I've been here since mid-June.

Can you describe your position a bit?

My duties are bifurcated between associate development officer and alumni relations officer. I assist with raising revenues and working with major donors, and I am responsible for a wide variety of programs that improve the relationship between alumni and the college. We're a small office that works well together, so I am also constantly aware of the "other duties as necessary" bullet-point of my job description.

How did you get into the advancement field?

Previously, I was a fundraising consultant and worked with community groups, social service agencies, cities, non-profit corporations and a community college. Before consulting, I worked with a number of conservation-related government agencies and nonprofits. I am really thrilled to be working with a great team in an academic field about which I am passionate.

What is something interesting or unusual about your work here?

CBS has about 14,000 alumni. That is a huge reserve of people to communicate with and subsequently engage in supporting their alma mater. Our alumni now reside throughout the country and across the globe, but they have still have a strong connection to what they view as such a unique school and community.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I stay very active with friends, family and the outdoors. In summer, my favorite day of the week is Monday because I bike from home in St. Paul to a pub in Hopkins for a Spanish-language meetup group and then back again. In winter, I'm an avid curler and cross-country skier. And no matter the time of year, I enjoy heading to the cabin "up north."