Giving back is part of who I am. My father died when I was 8 years old, and my mother raised my sister and me as a single mom. She went back to work, but she also was always volunteering.
I learned at a young age to raise my hand. We may not have had a lot of treasure to share, but my mom taught us to give our time and talent.
My husband, Jim, and I have been blessed and believe it is our duty to help others. Now, I give back through scholarship support. Scholarships are important because education is a major determinant of a person’s economic trajectory. It’s the key that unlocks future opportunities. Jim and I are first-generation college graduates, and our degrees helped us achieve our dreams. We also recently began supporting internships, which played a pivotal role in my professional success.
I’m honored to serve as one of the Make Way co-chairs because it allows me to help the university advance its strategic initiatives, including making WashU the first choice for the best and brightest students regardless of financial need. We aim to bring outstanding individuals together to learn from one another and generate new ideas. At WashU, they can discover their passions and find a career path that aligns with those passions. That’s when the magic happens, and our graduates truly make a difference in the world.