Home: Dallas, Texas
UT Dallas Degree: MS – International Political Economy, 2011
Profession: Director of Major Gifts, Highland Park Education Foundation
The Highland Park Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that actively seeks resources and relationships to assist in the preservation and enrichment of quality education throughout the Highland Park Independent School District. My role as Director of Major Gifts is to engage the broad community of students, teachers, parents, grandparents, alumni and others with our mission, and clearly communicate our need for support. Each year, the funds we raise go towards granting critically needed gifts to HPISD.
During my last semester in EPPS, I started at NTFB as the first-ever Corporate Engagement Manager of Food Industry Partnerships. While developing and growing this role, I served as Project Manager of our organization’s 30th Anniversary campaign, and after two years was promoted to the Individual Giving team. It is an honor to work for an organization that so professionally, creatively, and passionately seeks to close the gap on hunger in North Texas.
I worked full-time while achieving my masters. The school provided courses at convenient times, professors were supportive of students’ busy lifestyles, and my peers were always a pleasure to work with.
Embrace the amazing diversity and backgrounds of other students. Get to know others, work and collaborate with your peers. One of my favorite things about my years in EPPS was getting exposed to so many unique individuals from all over the world.