Doug Duke
Assistant Director of Development @ The University of Texas at Austin
Solicit University friends, alumni, and donors for scholarship and endowment funds.
How I Got Here
Shown/a
The interdisciplinary coursework of the Plan II degree taught me to learn about, understand, and work with people of varied backgrounds and interests. In fundraising, I visit with donors from various academic and career backgrounds and ascertain the best way to connect them with the University.
Hobby: I volunteered on a couple of social agency non-profit boards and was intrigued by the agencies' fundraising operations. Fundraising is a great way to connect my relationship-building skills with my passion for higher education.
The Ups and Downs
ShowWorst: juggling the interests of students, faculty, university administration, and donors. Best: Satisfaction of connecting a philanthropic graduate with a University CSU in need of funding and helping them realize the impact of their gift.
Recommendations
ShowThe most exciting learning on campus occurs outside the classroom. Too many alumni tell me that they wished they had learned that fact before graduating. Today, they continue to try and reconnect with the University, often in areas they didn't sample, try, or experiment while they were students. Take the plunge now. It's a great time to challenge yourself and discover life-long passions and interests.