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Meet some of our wonderful LSA Advancement colleagues who have made an impact in our organization.
Natalie Condon
Tell us who you are and what you do. My name is Natalie Condon and I am a Video Content Producer on LSA Advancement’s Marketing and Communications team.
What do you like about working at LSA Advancement?
I love working at LSA Advancement because of the people and the mission. It feels so good to wake up every day to a career where I have the opportunity to tell stories about a place that I truly believe in, to interview world-class faculty and help share the incredible research they’re conducting, and to meet inspiring students that give me the greatest hope for the future. But perhaps the best part of my job in LSA Advancement is the fact that I get to work alongside a group of fun, talented, and kind people who both motivate me and make me laugh on a daily basis.
Describe our culture at LSA Advancement. Our LSA Advancement culture is one that encourages people to thrive. We believe fundamentally in a work/life balance, and that is reflected not only in our office policies, but also in the ways that we care for and look out for one another. We want everyone to reach their highest potential and so we invest in one another’s success, constantly searching for new learning opportunities to help ourselves and our organization grow.
Why should someone join our team? If you believe in the power of a liberal arts education and its ability to transform lives, if you want to help advance an institution that is working towards the common good and a better future for all of us, and if you want to work in a positive, supportive, innovative, and fun-loving environment, then LSA Advancement is the place for you.
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Brittany Smith
Tell us who you are and what you do. Hello! My name is Brittany Smith and I’m the Senior Public Relations Officer for LSA Advancement. I lead our PR efforts, so that includes producing news announcements, keeping journalists and the public in the know about what our students, faculty and programs are up to and creating content for our internal audiences. In a nutshell, I get to promote all the great, cool things happening in LSA!
What do you like about working at LSA Advancement?
One of the things I love about working at LSA Advancement is the positive culture. My colleagues genuinely care about one another. We value work-life balance and well-being. Being a PR professional, my work can pivot very quickly so I definitely appreciate that.
Describe our culture at LSA Advancement. I would describe our culture as: we work hard, but we have fun while doing it. I think our team brings all of our different perspectives and experiences to the table, and that is what makes the culture what it is.
Why should someone join our team? If you're looking to work in a place that values people, its mission, and its commitment to impacting the world at large, join LSA Advancement!
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Anna Batcke
Tell us who you are and what you do. My name is Anna Batcke and I'm the Director of Project Management at LSA Advancement.
What do you like about working at LSA Advancement?
As a mom of a child with special needs and the principal income earner for my family, I have felt incredibly supported at LSA Advancement. Pragmatic, human-centered work-life management is encouraged and modeled by our leaders, who recognize that life is happening all the time and things outside of our control shouldn't immediately affect our opportunities at work.
Describe our culture at LSA Advancement. Our culture of kindness and flexibility means that there's never been a moment where I felt I had to manage difficult situations at home without signaling the need for support. There are also wonderful and accomplished women in leadership here who are empathetic and eager to help mentor you through early- and mid-career challenges.
Why should someone join our team? You should join because LSA Advancement is a special place!
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Joe Murray
Tell us who you are and what you do. My name is Joe Murray. I've been with Advancement since I graduated from LSA in 2016, and I'm currently a fundraiser working primarily with alumni and friends of the college in the Chicago area.
What do you like about working at LSA Advancement?
I love that our Advancement team does such a wide range of work, and people have taken such varied paths to our office. Our best work is a showcase for these individual talents and backgrounds coming together to do bigger things than any of us could do alone, like this year's Giving Blueday Zoom-a-Thon. We all recognize that work is an incredibly important part of our lives, something that we derive a lot of purpose and fulfillment from, while also appreciating and respecting the lives we lead beyond the office.
Describe our culture at LSA Advancement. Our culture is as kind as it is ambitious, as people-first and it is high-achieving, and as flexible as it is consistently-stellar.
Why should someone join our team? We do work that changes the world in an environment that makes it easy to enjoy that journey every single day. That's a rare combination to find—one that not many workplaces actively foster as thoughtfully and successfully as we do. That dual sense of purpose and day-to-day joy is what everyone is looking for in their work, I believe, and I feel fortunate to have found a place like that so early in my career.
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Kim Friedman
Tell us who you are and what you do. My name is Kim Friedman and I am a development communication writer and gift agreement manager.
What do you like about working at LSA Advancement?
One of the things I like most about my work at LSA Advancement, and quite frankly, what makes my role so enjoyable is the variety in what I do and who I have an opportunity to work with on a daily basis. I have been given the freedom to shape my role into what it is today and I truly feel like I am a valued contributor to the organization. What I am probably most appreciative of was that my manager, and those involved in my hiring, took a chance on me. I returned to the workforce, after being a stay-at-home mom for over 15 years, and although my resume mentioned my journalism and law degree, it had been a very long time since I had done either. I was concerned that my skills and what I had to offer might not transfer--but they did, and I am grateful. It's not very often that you get to do something you enjoy, are good at, and respected for, all while being appreciated!
Describe our culture at LSA Advancement. The culture at LSA Advancement has been described as flexible, kind, and supportive. While I completely agree with those adjectives, my word would be valued. Each and every team member is valued for what they bring and what they do to further the overall mission of LSA Advancement.
Why should someone join our team? If a friend was considering taking a position within LSA Advancement, my recommendation would be to take the job! Where else can you work that your well-being, satisfaction, and views are as critical as job performance?
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Julia Sohn
Tell us who you are and what you do. My name is Julia Sohn, and I am a regional fundraiser for LSA on the East Coast. I have the pleasure of working with our alumni and donors of LSA throughout the northeast.
What do you like about working at LSA Advancement?
There are so many things I love about LSA Advancement, but the best part of what we do is being surrounded by inspiring, smart and mission-driven colleagues who support the College, our Dean's vision and values, and create opportunities for engagement that support our students and the stellar departments and programs in LSA.
Describe our culture at LSA Advancement. The culture at LSA is truly exceptional - I have been at LSA Advancement for 9+ years because it is truly an amazing place to work. A recent example - during my maternity leave, I experienced first-hand how truly wonderful my teammates are - they stepped in willingly to provide exceptional service and support to my donors and departments, while also balancing their own day-to-day work. I felt remarkably supported and grateful that my portfolio was in the best hands during my absence.
Why should someone join our team? Besides being the best place for the best people - it's also fun, engaging and meaningful work. My colleagues inspire me to be a better fundraiser and representative of LSA and U-M; and I can think of no more gratifying work than supporting the liberal arts by creating access and opportunities for learning, engagement and giving.
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Anne Hart
Tell us who you are and what you do. My name is Anne Hart and I'm the Director of College and Advancement Events.
What do you like about working at LSA Advancement?
I've worked for LSA Advancement for close to 20 years. It's been the most rewarding and collaborative work environment of my career. I am continually inspired and energized by the creativity of my colleagues.
Describe our culture at LSA Advancement. A lot of organizations talk about culture and their committment to it. LSA Advancement "walks the walks" and lives our culture. I have never worked somewhere that valued the "entire employee", personal, professional, and all they bring to the organization, the way LSA Advancement does. This appreciation for and acknowlegement of the entire person, doesn't just come from leadership, but permeates the organization. My team and my colleagues knows that I care about them as a whole person, not just what they bring to the table professionally. I feel that same care and kindness from them. This culture helps us feel seen and heard and that is truly a gift!
Why should someone join our team? I would tell a friend that if they want to bring their full selves to a job and fully engage their hearts and minds, LSA Advancement is the place for them!
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Beth Farrell
Tell us who you are and what you do. My name is Beth Farrell. I am the Director of Operations in LSA Advancement. I get to work across our organization, and work more closely with the Business Operations teams -- Administration, Business Intelligence, Events, and HR.
What do you like about working at LSA Advancement?
When my friends ask what I like about working in LSA Advancement, it' so easy—it's the people! They are just so kind and smart. The way we work together to solve problems and make things better is contagious.
Describe our culture at LSA Advancement. We have the most amazing culture in Advancement, in fact, culture is a part of everything we do. Whether we are planning stand up meetings through our culture team, talking about how to be more inclusive in our hiring practices in our inclusive review team, or discussing fiscal year goals in our team meetings, we focus on how we can grow our culture. It is one of caring and learning. I believe everyone should feel safe and valued at work. Everyone should have a voice and understand why we do what we do. We strive to be transparent and to continually improve our organization. Now a lot of people think about the fun things when they talk about culture. I can tell you that our game club can get pretty competitive! In other words, we make sure we have a lot of time for fun.
Why should someone join our team? I have never felt more respected or trusted—or cared about—as I have in Advancement. We want you to bring your whole self to work and help us grow as an organization. Our shared purpose allows us to do the most amazing work. I have never been more proud of the people I get to work with and call friends. If you are looking for a place to call home, we're it.
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