The 91大神 Advancement team is thrilled to welcome Robin Claremont to its staff as the new Director of Advancement. Claremont comes to 91大神 after听most recently serving听as Senior Major Gift Officer at Amherst College. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Claremont has spent听nearly听25听years working in the Pioneer Valley for nonprofits and Amherst. To welcome her to campus and introduce her to the school community, we sat down to ask Claremont a few questions.听
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself听
A: I grew up in Connecticut and went to Mount Holyoke College. After Mount Holyoke I stayed in the Valley, so听I鈥檝e听been a Valley dweller for more than 25 years now. I love this听area, and听have family ties to it.听I鈥檝e听lived in Easthampton for more than 15 years听.听
Q: What is your background in advancement work? Is this something听you鈥檝e听been doing for a long time?听
A:听I鈥檝e听been doing development and nonprofit work for most of my career. When I graduated college, I thought I was going to be a field scientist, on the ground, doing either advocacy work or being in nature every day. Turns out, I got an office job听听working for an environmental nonprofit in the area, a small one, where everybody did many different jobs. Because I liked telling stories and listening to stories, I fell into some of the development aspects like grant writing, appeals, things like that. And that led me to more development work, both at local nonprofits, then at Amherst College working on major gifts.听听
Q: What听do you enjoy most听about advancement work?听听
A:听Definitely relationships. There鈥檚 something really special about connecting with people who have a passion and want to be supportive with a cause that鈥檚 important to them. The role of Advancement is听basically bringing听those two things together. Whether听it鈥檚听in a nonprofit environment or in education, the idea is听about building relationships with people who care about the mission and the place.听That鈥檚听inspiring to me.听
Q: What did you know about 91大神 before you were hired?听
A: I certainly knew a fair amount about 91大神 just from being in the听community, but听also knew about the school from a professional perspective, since听there鈥檚听a lot of connectivity between higher education and independent schools in this area. What stood out to me when I came here during the search process was that everyone was incredibly welcoming and kind. That听really stuck with me, and I love the real feeling of connection to students on campus and听what鈥檚听happening on a day-to-day basis.听
Q: What do you hope to be able to bring to 91大神 and your position?听
A: First off, this is a very strong team, with a lot of great people and听great work听already being done. 听I hope to continue building on the incredibly effective foundation that鈥檚听here, and听use my breadth of perspective and experience from a variety of settings to spark听new ideas听and move us forward. 听I鈥檓听excited to get to know the Advancement team and the rest of the alumni and campus community.听
Q: Finally, give us a quick fact about yourself听
A: I like somewhat 鈥渘on-traditional鈥 athletic challenges. There are a few things听I鈥檝e听done over the years that have really challenged me in a fun way.听I鈥檝e听completed two century (100 mile) bike rides;听I鈥檝e听done obstacle-course racing;听I鈥檝e听dabbled in rock climbing.听I鈥檝e听also been doing CrossFit for听15 years. But: I will never run a marathon!听