Meet the Faculty of Science Advancement team: (clockwise) Connie Duniece, Prince Osei, Liz Hasham, Amal Mikdame, Sam Pearson, Kristie Wanchuk, and Lisa Mason.
Sam Pearson
What does advancement mean to you?
Advancing the mission and vision of the faculty with our loyal and generous donors and alumni. Finding support for world class researchers, students and programs which have significant impact on the institution.
How do you work to move the faculty's strategic priorities forward?
I work in the Dean's Office developing strategy for the faculty's fundraising priorities across each of the departments. We communicate with donors to highlight the U of A's great talent and programs.
What is the biggest myth surrounding fundraising?
That fundraising is only about asking for money. We spend a considerable amount of time building connections and encouraging engagement and volunteering at the university. There's a lot of energy and activity behind the scenes to support fundraising.
Why do you love what you do? What motivates you to come to work every day?
I am proud to work in the faculty connecting world-class researchers, students, and staff with alumni and friends of the university who are passionate about the U of A and want to make a difference with their support. I am lucky to work with such academic stars.
Sam is the Assistant Dean of Advancement and oversees the work of the Science Advancement Team. She works with donors, friends of the university and alumni from all over North America.
Kristie Wanchuk
What does advancement mean to you?
Connecting people who want to change the world with those who can!
How do you work to move the faculty's strategic priorities forward?
I am continuously looking for ways to engage our donors with what we are currently doing, getting them excited about the Faculty of Science to remember what it was like to be a student here.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
I love meeting our alumni, donors, and supporters. They are why I come to work every day.
Kristie works as an Associate Director (Development), and her region includes Texas, Colorado, Southern Alberta, and mainland British Columbia.
Liz Hasham
What does advancement mean to you?
If you have the power, talent or ability to make the world a better place, do it. The world needs more of that.
How do you work to move the faculty's strategic priorities forward?
It's about truly listening to our alumni and donors with the intent to understand, not the intent to reply.
What is the biggest myth surrounding fundraising?
That people have to be coaxed into giving a gift of a lifetime. If a fundraiser is doing their job correctly and cares about the causes they are working towards, avenues to give that align with passion areas will be a natural fit to the donor.
Why do you love what you do? What motivates you to come to work every day?
I look forward to meeting positive, like minded, solutions based individuals who want to be better and get things done.
Liz works with donors of all levels to the Faculty of Science as Associate Director of Development & Departmental Initiatives, also spending time in each of our seven departments to consult and support their individual fundraising initiatives such as AlbertaSat, Urban and Regional Planning Gala, and the Grace Anne Stewart Lecture Series.
Amal Mikdame
What does advancement mean to you?
I view fundraising/advancement as giving people the opportunity to accomplish things they can't do themselves. It's all about creating the right connections fluidly.
How do you work to move the faculty's strategic priorities forward?
Having priorities as a faculty is very important, but listening to what our donors want is even more important in my eyes. It's important to listen and to fill in the gaps for our donors but still have the faculty's best interest at heart. That's the sweet spot. Never go into a meeting/conversation with a donor with the intention of pigeon-holing them or swaying them towards a path they're not asking for.
What is the biggest myth surrounding fundraising?
That we are there to take people's money and that we would say and do anything to ensure that happens. It's completely false. A great fundraiser will always put the donors, alumni, and institution first. We are there to listen and to build authentic relationships and support in every way possible to ensure that both the donor and institution are impacted positively.
Why do you love what you do? What motivates you to come to work every day?
I'm passionate about what science stands for and the good we are trying to create as an institution. Our donors and the relationships we have built motivate me to come to work everyday. I love building strong relationships with positive people who have incredible stories to share about their lives and the positivity they want to spread. I feel so lucky to continue meeting people like this. I also love helping our donors make an impact on our students and research.
As an Associate Director (Development), Amal works with major gift donors in the following areas: Portland, Seattle, Victoria, Edmonton, and Calgary.
Connie Duniece
What does advancement mean to you?
Advancement is the many ways we build relationships to increase understanding and support of the university.
How do you work to move the Faculty's strategic priorities forward?
We help match what the Faculty of Science is trying to achieve with the people who want to and have the capacity to make it happen.
What is the biggest myth surrounding fundraising?
That people don't want to give to the University. Many are actually eager to support students and research and want to make a difference. Our role as fundraisers isn't to convince donors to give, but to find the areas that match their passion and are meaningful to them.
Why do you love what you do? What motivates you to come to work every day?
It is easy to get excited about the great things that happen in the Faculty of Science and sharing them with our alumni and donors. Seeing how meaningful it is to our donors that they can be part of it makes it even more special.
Connie is responsible for our donor and alumni relations activities in the Faculty of Science as well as work a number of major gift donors in Alberta, as Director of Donor and Alumni Relations.
Prince Osei
I take great pleasure in meeting our alumni/donors and hearing of their many accomplishments. I am motivated everyday to come here and work with individuals who generously give to support science and students.
Prince works with donors in Quebec and Ontario as an Associate Director (Development).
Lisa Mason
Lisa takes care of the Faculty of Science advancement team as a Development Assistant. She works closely with the Assistant Dean, Advancement, and the Director, Alumni and Donor Relations, to plan stewardship and alumni relations events on campus and regionally across Canada. She has worked in advancement for what she says seems like forever, noting, "I love the interaction with donors."