How a small team helps alumni leave a lasting mark on students, the School, and the profession they love
By Logan Underwood
Every day, alumni from the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy make a monumental impact on current students, from supporting scholarships to mentoring future pharmacists and researchers and volunteering in the classroom.
But those acts of generosity don’t happen in isolation.
Behind the scenes is a small Advancement team dedicated to helping alumni turn their passion for pharmacy into meaningful, lasting impact, connecting their values to opportunities that strengthen the School and support the next generation of Pharmacy Badgers.
“Our Advancement team is made up of truly incredible, passionate people,” says Associate Dean of Advancement Ed Portillo (PharmD ’14). “Day in and day out, they help alums realize their vision and their legacy and act as a bridge to connect tomorrow’s leading pharmacists and researchers to the incredible work done by our alums. I am so excited for us to work together towards the Wisconsin Idea — to influence people’s lives well beyond the boundaries of the classroom.”
Working alongside Portillo is a trio that engages with alumni from across the country to help them realize their vision to make a lasting difference: Senior Director of Development Julie Jensen, Associate Director of Development Keegan Talbott, and Alumni Relations and Advancement Coordinator Alissa Karnaky.
Together, they reflect on the relationships that define their work, the generosity they see every day, and why helping alumni make a difference is so meaningful to them.
How do you support alumni in making a difference?
Jensen: I’m technically employed by the UW Foundation, and 100% of my time is dedicated to supporting the School of Pharmacy. I specifically work one-on-one with alumni who want to establish major gifts — new scholarships, fellowships, or professorships — and help fit their interests to initiatives happening at the School.
Talbott: Like Julie, I work for the UW Foundation, and I support the schools of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine, working primarily with alumni and friends to help them make their donations have an impact in a way that is most meaningful to them. At Pharmacy, I’ve had the chance to help donors make gifts to support student services, scholarships, technology updates, and much more.
Karnaky: I work for the School of Pharmacy, connecting folks back to UW and sharing ways that they can help, whether that be through time, talent, or treasure. I organize events, recruit alumni volunteers, and coordinate activities that bring alumni together, like Alumni Link. I also communicate with donors about giving opportunities like the Day of the Badger and our White Coat Campaign, thank donors, and share how gifts made an impact to improve educational initiatives or the student experience at the School. I see every day how important our alumni and friends are to the success of our students and our School’s mission!
Are there any alumni relationships or experiences that stand out to you?
Jensen: We are fortunate to have a really amazing Board of Visitors. These are industry leaders and leaders in community, pharmacy, and hospital pharmacy. They come to Madison twice a year from all over the country, and they are very much energized by being on campus and interacting with the students and faculty. They give great guidance to Dean Swanson and to our Advancement team, so I think that’s just a really important relationship.
Karnaky: One of the things that I have enjoyed the most has been working with our reunion classes, and recently I’ve worked with the classes from the ‘70s, who are marking 50 years since graduation. They were on campus during a very tumultuous time with the Vietnam War and the Sterling Hall bombing. They have shared some wonderful stories, like how the Class of 1975 was unhappy about how one of their professors was grading, so they banded together and arranged a paper plane deluge of the professor. That story came up time and again from those classmates!
What themes do you hear most often from alumni about their connection to the School?
Jensen: We are in the midst of a campaign to raise student scholarship support, the Pharmacy Forward campaign, and so many of our very generous alumni donors have talked about the fact that they were supported by scholarships when they were here on campus, and that they wouldn’t have been able to graduate without that scholarship support. They were very grateful to the donors who came before them and wanted to pay it forward. That’s been an overarching theme that I’ve heard over and over, and it’s really touching that these people are leaders in their profession but can remember back to their student days.
Talbott: I have the privilege to work with such generous and kind people. Certain events like the School’s tailgate, Day of the Badger, or Fill the Hill are really cool to see. Everyone comes together, either while fundraising for student needs or just connecting with former classmates and mentors.
What do you wish alumni knew about supporting the School of Pharmacy?
Talbott: A common question we hear is, “How can I support the school?” As development directors, our role is to help donors make an impact in ways that align with their goals. Every gift matters, and there are many ways to give beyond writing a check. No matter the method, we’re here to guide you through the process and ensure your generosity supports the areas most meaningful to you.
Karnaky: We have many ways that alumni and friends can help that don’t involve monetary donations, and are just as valuable to the School’s mission. We have regular volunteer opportunities and are always looking for help with admissions interviews, CV reviews, and other opportunities to share career advice. On the Pharmacy Alumni Association board, alumni can shape events and connection opportunities for their fellow alums. And then, of course, please come to our events to stay plugged into the Badger pharmacy network! Folks can catch us at major professional conferences, we have an annual event in Milwaukee, as well as our fantastic long-running alumni tailgate, which happens in Madison every year.
Why do you love what you do?
Jensen: I work closely with our alumni one-on-one, and so I feel so fortunate to be able to build relationships with many of them. The School of Pharmacy and our alumni have a very strong affinity, certainly to the University of Wisconsin, but to the School of Pharmacy in particular. Not all UW alumni have a particular affinity for their unit, but ours does, which I think in some ways makes my job much easier and much more rewarding.
Talbott: I love to connect with alumni to hear about their stories of being with the School of Pharmacy, what made it such a special place, and what they are passionate about sustaining for the next generation of students and the profession.
Karnaky: The School of Pharmacy, and our alumni community, really is quite special. The drive students and alumni have to care for others is something that I’m very proud to support. It’s an exceptional community that’s focused on improving people’s lives, and we get to witness that impact every day.
