One L&C Champion - Stacey Kim

In the midst of a pandemic and widespread uncertainty it is especially important to reconnect and reflect on the positives both at work and personally. Stacey Kim, Director of Marketing and Communications, has been helping her colleagues navigate this new working world while making an extra effort to provide support on a personal level. One colleague commented that “Stacey’s normal state of being is to be inclusive, attentive, collaborative, engaged, enthusiastic, uplifting, supportive, and fiercely loyal. She leads our team to do our best work, to be our best selves—personally and professionally.” For her work and dedication to Lewis & Clark, we have selected Stacey Kim to be an L&C Champion for the Month of May.

Stacey has checked in to ensure staff are taking care of themselves, have the resources they need to do their jobs, and encouraged them to learn more and do more about equity and inclusion. Rather than fitting it in between other initiatives as another requirement, Stacey has provided leadership and a way to engage in discussions about equity as part of standard office conversations. A coworker commented that “as a person who is typically marginalized, I feel seen and appreciated every day because of her efforts.” Comments like this highlight the interpersonal impact Stacey has at Lewis & Clark, and provide a window into how individual actions focused on equity and inclusion can build a stronger community.

We asked Stacey what motivates her both in and out of the office:

“What motivates me in my professional and personal life is helping others to be their best selves. The most rewarding part of my job is working with the people who report to me to set and achieve goals as individuals and as a team. I want the people I work with to feel supported, respected, and valued, and I want them to get to use their talents and skills—and develop new ones!—for something meaningful every day. When I get to advocate for people, remove barriers, or speak truth to power, it’s a good day.

The same applies at home, with my teenage twins, Maddie and Riley. As they start high school (they are ninth graders this year), I truly love getting to help them find their passions in life, decide what they want from their education, understand and experience all of their emotions, and become better friends and more compassionate humans. Parenting teens gets a bad rap. I am enjoying being the parent of teens way more than I enjoyed the relentlessness of toddlerhood!”

Thank you Stacey for making a lasting impact at Lewis & Clark and in the lives of your colleagues. You truly are a Champion!