317 succulents give thanks to faculty and staff
Open gallery
Have you noticed a proliferation of potted succulents around campus offices? The plants are individual gifts from the Office of Donor Relations and Stewardship to faculty and staff in appreciation of their financial support of Lewis & Clark.
Faculty and staff giving rose this fiscal year to 317 donors compared to 246 donors in 2014–15.
“The feedback from faculty and staff was overwhelmingly positive,” said Stewardship Coordinator Meghan Acker after hand-delivering hundreds of the plants. “And the project was inexpensive because we received a healthy discount on the plants from Portland Nursery and they potted them for us for free.”
In addition to being a full-time employee in Institutional Advancement, Acker is a part-time graduate student in Lewis & Clark’s Student Affairs Administration program.
Because Acker is also a donor to the college, she has been chosen as the first staff person to be profiled in our new quarterly series on faculty and staff giving titled, “L&C Unanimously.”
Tell us about yourself.
I’m a native Oregonian, having grown up in the community of St. Helens, and graduated from Southern Oregon University. Before Lewis & Clark, I worked in development at OMSI for two years. I love being a part of the Lewis & Clark community, but I’ll admit to missing OMSI’s regular ping pong ball explosions!
How did you first get interested in donor relations?
I enjoy meeting Lewis & Clark community members, hearing their L&C memories, and learning why they choose to stay connected to campus. There is an art to stewardship and I enjoy brainstorming unique ways to showcase our thanks to Lewis & Clark donors. I feel lucky to have a job that revolves around thanking people for supporting our mission.
How do you balance working and going to school at Lewis & Clark?
It’s important to take a break and not become overwhelmed. A quick jaunt around campus or a workout at the gym always helps me to de-stress, reprioritize, and tackle school and work with fresh eyes.
What do you do in your spare time?
I volunteer at OMSI and am the volunteer grant writer for the Clackamas Bookshelf, a local nonprofit that provides free books to children of low-income families. The Clackamas Bookshelf was created by Katy Preston ’96, an alumna of the graduate school. Free time is in short supply these days, but I’m usually reading, knitting, biking, enjoying standup comedy, or playing ukulele quite poorly.
Read more L&C Unanimously donor profiles here.
