DAR Details Blog

Tell us about some of the most memorable events you’ve helped to plan for business, Brandcenter and da Vinci alumni.
The most memorable event that I have organized thus far for VCU’s business alumni has been our golf tournament. It was the first major event that I was responsible for organizing and is my favorite for two reasons: It was my first opportunity to work closely with a committee of VCU Alumni’s Business Alumni Society, which is filled with incredibly dedicated and loyal alumni. Every week, this faithful group of volunteers worked diligently with me to recruit teams and sponsorships to create an event that was efficient and meaningful. Although organizing a golf tournament included a great deal of work on my part, my effort was matched by the significant commitment our alumni made to help make the event successful. It was an honor to work with that committee of volunteers.

The second reason the tournament has been my most memorable event thus far is that it was my largest opportunity to meet VCU business alumni. As I’ve mentioned, our business alumni volunteers are kind and committed servants who care about this school, but I was so pleased to find the tournament was filled with dozens of alumni who were equally fun, pleasant and down-to-earth professionals who were happy to unite with their fellow alumni. The pictures of the event were filled with smiling faces, and it made all our planning effort worthwhile to see our alumni having such a great time.

What would we be surprised to learn about you?
My house has been like a zoo. My oldest son is majoring in wildlife conservation and the second son wants to be a vet. So I have allowed them over the years to care for a variety of animals, including a bearded dragon, corn snake (my favorite), guinea pigs, three dogs, a rabbit, fire-bellied toads, a bottle-fed baby squirrel, leopard gecko, hamsters, fish and pregnant Northern red-bellied snakes (who had live babies). We’ve downsized over the years and are down to a miniature schnauzer and a poodle.

You’ve attended and worked for numerous colleges/universities. What sets VCU apart?
By far, what distinguishes VCU from the other universities where I’ve served is the diversity of its people – students, faculty, staff and alumni. I have always felt at home at any of my previous institutions, but there’s something naturally welcoming and homey about coming to a place where you’re not the only one who looks like you. The word “diversity” is a goal at many institutions, but at VCU, it is our reality every day. I even saw it at our golf open. It was so great to see alumni of different ages, cultures and backgrounds just enjoying themselves. That’s my favorite part of working at VCU, and you just can’t get that anywhere.