Meet our newest Development Officer!
Meet Shana Perry (’11), our newest Development Officer in the NWU Advancement office!
What made you want to come back to work for your alma mater?
Nebraska Wesleyan was my second home. I came into my own here, forming my views in a safe and nurturing atmosphere. I kept my eye on the NWU employment page after graduation, and when I saw the Development Officer position on the website I knew this would be the perfect fit for me. Now I am able to see former professors and staff every day while enjoying the beauty of this campus. I also get to speak with alumni and friends of the university about their experiences, forming relationships and creating bonds.
How did your Nebraska Wesleyan education help you after graduation?
When I graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan five years ago, I still wasn’t sure what path I wanted to take. The communication department taught me the skills necessary to secure a job outside of college, work hard for a promotion, and to position myself to become a Director of Fundraising at a local non-profit.
I also worked on campus as a phonathon caller and student manager, an office assistant in the communication department, and a member of the custodial staff during the summer. All three positions taught me patience, persistence, and the people skills necessary to navigate the fundraising world.
I left Nebraska Wesleyan with the confidence to tackle interviews, initiate salary negotiations, and to take calculated risks, all of which led me back to campus and the position I am in today.
What does the “NWU experience” mean to you?
To me, the NWU experience is being a member of a welcoming and open community that encourages critical thinking, growth, and understanding. I am proud to call myself an alumna of an institution that fosters an open mind and listening. Too often we are ready to hear, but we are not ready to fully listen to one another. My professors taught me how to engage in and facilitate productive dialogue, a skill that I use professionally and personally.
What’s it like being back on campus every day?
During fall break I took a walk around the empty campus and the nostalgia overwhelmed me. There are times when I walk by Old Main and remember the pep rallies complete with Raising Canes chicken, or walk by the green space and think of the outdoor movie nights, or stroll past the theater building and flash back to the first production I saw there. I never forgot the feeling I had every time I stepped on campus as a student, ready to take on the day’s challenges and start fresh. Now I get to feel that way again every day.
What are your interactions with your former professors? Do they remember you?
One of the many advantages of Nebraska Wesleyan is that your professors know you and take a genuine interest in you. I found that many professors recognized and remembered me, even specific projects or papers I worked on! I was flattered when I was invited back into the classroom to discuss life after graduation and my experience with my recent pregnancy. The class was a pre-med/psychology course led by Professor Mary Beth Ahlum. The students asked thoughtful questions and gave me their undivided attention. The collaboration between faculty, staff, students, and alumni is truly alive and well at NWU.
What’s your favorite part of being a development officer at NWU?
I often tell friends and family how fortunate I am to have a job that I appreciate day in and day out. My favorite part is meeting alumni and friends of Nebraska Wesleyan and hearing about their experiences. It’s being able to share with people of all ages and backgrounds a connection to such a special place. Knowing that we’ve walked the same sidewalks and hallways, sharing many of the same professors and lectures, makes my job easy. I’ve always believed fundraising is simple if you are passionate about what you’re fundraising for. And I am so passionate about the future of this amazing university.