Laurie Miller

Foundation Manager

Laurie Miller's career at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Foundation began a decade ago when she was a limited term employee answering the telephone.

Now, she manages the day-to-day details of the operation, from searching for lost alumni to collecting audit data to overseeing the processing of gifts. She oversees the annual phonathons, with students tackling a calling list of 35,325 names.

"Sure, the goal is to raise money, but it's also to develop relationships with alumni," Miller said.

Her own relationship with UW-Whitewater began when she arrived as a freshman from Waterloo to major in finance. She played basketball as a student and is now married to Jeff Miller, the head cross country coach. The oldest of their three children is a UW-Whitewater junior.

"I've come to appreciate UW-Whitewater as an institution and what we've done for people," Miller said. "It's just a great place."

Sometimes her job surprises her. She remembers one summer day when an alumnus walked in, told a funny campus story and offered a small gift.

"He told me if we thanked him properly, there would be more. And he's been true to his word," Miller said. "He's a wonderful man who's inspired by UW-Whitewater."