Previous alumni board member Sister Barbara Davis, SC works to proudly serve the institution in her recent alumni volunteer role at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³».
What was your graduation year at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»?
I graduated from the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. I was asked to serve on the Board of Trustees in 2009 - I served from July 2009 through June 2017.
Can you provide some background on the scope of your volunteer work at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» and the service work you would like to highlight?
When I moved to Cincinnati in fall 2017, I began volunteering at the University. My first involvement was through the Office of Mission Integration - I live with Sister Karen Elliott, C.PP.S. who is the Director of that Office. Then I started doing some volunteer work with the Alumni Office, primarily with Matt Taske.
What significance does this work hold for you to continue to serve the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»'s legacy and mission after your time as a board member?
The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» strives to be a welcoming community for students, faculty, and staff. This sense of hospitality, I believe, has been a hallmark of the College/University since its inception. My engagement with alumni through making calls to wish them "Happy Birthday" is a small way to extend that same hospitality and just to keep in touch.
What inspired you to become an Alumni Board Member and what was your role during this time?
I was pleased to be invited to serve on the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»'s Board. My supervisor at Mercy College was always very understanding and allowed me to take the time off I needed to travel to Cincinnati to attend Board meetings. Over the eight years, I missed very few. I served on the Academic Committee and was able to be present or connect via phone. Because of the distance, I wasn't always able to be present for events such as the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Gala. I'm delighted that I can attend events now on a regular basis; I'm a big Lions fan and love going to football, volleyball, and basketball games.
I am proud to be an alum of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» and am grateful for the opportunity to help where I can!
Are there any interesting challenges/new perspectives you would like to share in your volunteer role?
I love when I actually get to talk with alums! I've heard amazing stories of their time at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»; recent grads tell me what's happening in their lives; sometimes I find that the individual knows someone that I know, always under the "small world" category. Of course, I am delighted when alums tell me how much their time at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» meant to them. Some calls have lasted up to 30 minutes --- although that's rare, I am always grateful to have the time to listen and to share.
I keep track of the results of each day's calls. Since I started tracking data in April 2020, I have made 4,838 calls through June 30, 2021. Of course, not all of these calls result in a contact; there are quite a few disconnected or wrong numbers. For the past several months, I have been able to use Alumni Finder to see if I can find a correct number. If I find a number, I call to confirm that it is correct. I'll hit the 5,000 mark in August.
The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» extends a warm thank you for your efforts, Sister Barbara! For more information on how to get involved in the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»'s alumni department to give back to the University, contact alumni@mail.msj.edu to learn more.