A Q&A with SAU's Alumni Director
Posted: Sept. 24, 2007
Clare Thompson
Who are the members of your family?
My husband, Andy. We have one dog, Babs, and one cat, Dassie. I also have one niece and 10 nephews.
What is your alma mater?
I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from Marycrest College in 1989, and earned my master’s degree at Indiana State University in 1997. My “honorary” alma mater, if I can call it that, is St. Ambrose, naturally.
What’s your previous work experience?
Before coming to St. Ambrose in 2004 as a major gift officer for the Advancement Office, I was the assistant athletics director, women's basketball coach and head golf coach at Edgewood College in Madison, Wis. I’ve spent 15 years coaching, teaching and serving as an administrator in intercollegiate athletics.
How does your background in coaching help you be successful in the director’s position?
Coaching has given me the ability to collaborate effectively, motivate people and share a common vision. As a coach, I know what it’s like to have a defeat and then bounce back and learn from it. Coaching also instilled in me determination and perseverance, which is needed in any leadership position.
What do you like best about St. Ambrose?
The mission. I believe in the mission of enriching lives. The way St. Ambrose does that truly is different from other institutions.
What do you believe alumni are wanting from their alma mater these days?
I think that depends on the alumnus—where they are in life influences their priorities. So we have to be prepared to be lots of things to lots of people.
In what ways would you like to engage alumni at St. Ambrose?
I’d love to see more of our alums give back with their time, talent and treasures. If they had a positive experience while they were at St. Ambrose, it can be very rewarding to affirm that experience by helping current and future students receive the same.
What new ideas/events do you have planned for SAU’s alumni in the next one to five years?
We have plans for a group of alumni to travel to Italy in 2009, and we’re developing different programming for the Quad Cities and Chicago areas, in particular. We also want to further analyze the impact of the Student Alumni Association.
What do you see as the best way to develop a strong alumni base?
That is one of my initiatives as director—to find a better way to engage students and teach them what it means to be part of an alumni community before they graduate. Students have great experiences at St. Ambrose, and I want to help them to continue those experiences after they graduate.
What’s in store for Homecoming 2007?
We’re so excited that homecoming this year is on the same weekend as the inauguration of Sister Joan Lescsinski as St. Ambrose’s new president. That event should draw people to campus, as will the football game against William Penn. We’re also excited about the various class reunion activities, the Heritage Day Brunch, and the very popular Killer Bee 5K. Homecoming is always a good reason for people to come back and reconnect.
What is a fun fact about you?
I spent three years being Georgetown College’s liaison to the Cincinnati Bengals’ training camp.
How does half of St. Ambrose’s alumni living within 60 miles of campus affect event planning?
We’re currently looking at that unique part of the university’s alumni. It definitely plays a regular part in planning events.
Okay, let’s end with an easy question: Favorite vacation spot?
What’s a vacation?