UMSON’s associate dean for development and alumni relations discusses how her team’s multipronged approach, including engaging the School’s alumni, is critical to advancing UMSON’s mission.
Stacey Conrad, MBA
Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations
When I started my first job in development more than 15 years ago, I admittedly did not grasp the full scope or importance of development and alumni relations. What does development mean, anyway? Depending on the institution, it may be called development, fundraising, philanthropy, or advancement. Sure, I knew development involves raising money and planning events. But I learned that the roots of development are much deeper and more complex than what is seen on the surface.
While I have been UMSON’s associate dean for development and alumni relations for less than a year, my tenure at the school spans more than a decade. UMSON is where I have grown professionally and developed a true appreciation for how development and alumni relations work advances the mission of the school — to develop leaders in education, research, and practice — and helps prepare it for the future. We take a multipronged approach that involves major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving, stewardship, and alumni engagement.
In 2013, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) embarked upon its Catalyst Capital Campaign, raising funds to promote social justice, improve health, and serve the public good of Maryland and the region. Thanks to the unwavering support of alumni and friends, UMSON became the first of UMB’s seven schools to reach and exceed its goal, set at $36 million. The school has achieved an impressive 151 percent of its goal. While that number alone is extraordinary, it is worth noting what the more than $51 million raised encompasses:
- 95 new endowments, which will provide funding in perpetuity to support our students, faculty, and programs
- a 59 percent increase in our Louisa Parsons Legacy Society membership, which recognizes those who have included the school in their estate plans; these gifts create an important future revenue stream for the school
- nearly $30 million in support from Bill and Joanne Conway, which will provide scholarships to more than 800 students
These are just a few of our many Catalyst Campaign accomplishments, but the numbers do not tell the whole story. While financial support will always be a necessity, the core of what we do is making connections. We connect people to their passion in nursing, which may be student scholarships, research projects, community programs, or supporting nurse faculty. Development is not just fundraising; it is asking others to make an investment in UMSON’s mission. It is an honor for me to be the conduit to help someone achieve their philanthropic goals.
Engaging our more than 23,000 alumni and keeping them connected to the school is just as important as raising funds. We host a variety of events to meet the interests of many — networking events, opportunities to meet with and mentor students, all-alumni reunions, and more. We have implemented ways to honor and celebrate the many accomplishments of our alumni, including the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Visionary Pioneer Award. Developing, cultivating, and nurturing these relationships ensures that our alumni — our best advocates — continue to be ambassadors for the school and its mission.
Developing relationships with people passionate about nursing who are willing to donate both their dollars and time feels like one of the best jobs in the world. I am proud to facilitate interactions — fundraising, mentoring, volunteering — for people who are changing our communities for the better.
Disclaimer: Elm Voices & Opinions articles reflect the thoughts or opinions of their individual authors, and may not represent the thoughts or values of UMB as an institution.