Studies: Communication Studies major, Fundraising and Philanthropy Communication certificate, Masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs
Current City: Riverside, California
Current Position: Director of Young Alumni Engagement – University of California Riverside, University Advancement
How did your FPC certificate help you get to where you are today?
My FPC certificate helped lay a foundational knowledge of how to excel in a role within advancement. Now as a professional in university advancement, I still rely on the best practices and background that I received from the great faculty within the certificate program and regularly return to textbooks and notebooks from the classes I took. The hands on experience working with local non-profits is something that you aren’t able to get anywhere else.
What do you enjoy about your current position?
In my role, I help educate students on the UCR campus about the impact philanthropy has on their college experience as well as support our alumni networks fundraise and distribute student scholarships. Being able to educate and work with students to steward our donors is by far one of the most enjoyable parts of my role. Our alumni donors are always thrilled to hear about the impact they are able to make in a student’s experience at UCR and being able to facilitate these connections is extremely meaningful to me.
What career advice do you have for current NLP students?
Take advantage of opportunities on campus and in the Iowa City community to engage in philanthropy. I interned at the UI Center for Advancement during my undergrad and the connections I made as an intern continue to be some of my biggest supporters today and even helped me secure my second full time job.