Durham College welcomes back alumna, Linda Marco as its new associate vice-president Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. Marco graduated in 1988. She says she is delighted to come work at the college and have the opportunity to better things for the students.
Her role in the Office of Development will be to manage the school’s development portfolio. That includes fundraising for the college, whether it be scholarships, new buildings or equipment. She will also be working with the Alumni office, which maintains contact with more than 73,000 graduates, and keeping them connected with the college.
“Once you graduate from Durham College you are an alumnist for life. Some choose to be active in their role as alumni and some do not,” she says.
Marco will be looking for new ways to inspire Durham College graduates to stay connected with the school. She wants to see a more integrated approach between alumni and fundraising. She says they currently work with what feels like two separate organizations but she wants to bring them together.
“I really hope that students look at me and see me as a graduate of the college and know that they can do anything that they want to do in life,” she says. “The fact that I’m a graduate makes it really special.”
Durham College president Don Lovisa says, “we are thrilled to welcome Linda back.” Marco says she never thought she would be come back to the college. But she feels grateful Lovisa has put his faith in her for this role.
Marco graduated from Durham College with a public relations diploma as well as a fundraising management certificate from Ryerson University in 1993. Marco says she learned how to write well, gained great organizational skills and learned how to manage relations while she was in school.
“To this day, I still use the skills I learned,” she says.
Some of her favourite past fundraising experiences were working as Director of Development for the Children’s Wish Foundation from 2002 to 2011. She has worked with Scientists in the School, which helped elementary school students further their education in science. She has also and raised money for capital projects at Lakeridge Health Foundation.
Marco believes her communication skills are what got her these jobs but her love for both people and fundraising is what helped her progress over the years. She says 30 years of experience has led her to this role.
“I’m really excited to be back! I really feel like I’m coming back… I’m coming home,” says Marco.
