Like any business, money is a key ingredient to making the University of Rhode Island work. The University is the vehicle for education and research, but money is the gasoline or perhaps electricity that makes it run. Karin Conopask is charged by the URI Foundation with helping finding the gasoline/electricity.

She is the Director of Development for the College of Nursing. She also holds the same position for the College of Human Sciences and Services with both of these coming under the umbrella of the URI Foundation. All of the other Colleges at URI have a single Director of Development so her position is somewhat unique. Things will perhaps become a little clearer in the future when these two colleges and the College of Pharmacy are folded into the Academic Health Collaborative. In the meantime, she serves three bosses but they all have the common objective of raising money for the Colleges.

Karin’s main focus is raising money for the Deans of these two colleges and they set her priorities. At the top of the list is money for scholarship. Given the cost of a college education these days, any amount a student receives is important and some cases absolutely critical. She also raises money for faculty and student research and travel to conferences. A key part of her job is getting to know alumni, faculty and friends of URI who want to stay involved with the University.

Mrs. Conopask had previously worked in development at Slater Mill and the Courthouse Center for the Arts where she also held the position of Executive Director. She has been working in development at URI for the past eight years and found it to “thoroughly enjoyable and a great learning experience.” Besides the rewards of helping students, Karin cites the experience of meeting lots of interesting people who are eager to learn about The University of Rhode Island and also eager to share their experiences at URI and life in general. Her job involves a significant amount of travel to all parts of the United States and occasionally overseas bringing alumni up to date on programs and the expansion of the College of Nursing.

In general she finds most people receptive and willing to help. “Every little bit helps and while people can give at various levels, the ideal is to have every alumni give a little.” For example, Dr. Cynthia Sculco a graduate of the College of Nursing set up challenge grant of $150,000 that resulted in seven new scholarship endowments. She recently pledged another $150,000 to set up her own endowment. The Foundation now requires that students who receive endowment scholarships write a “thank you note” to the donor. In this particular case a donor, Mr. Victor Farmer, had set up an endowment in his mother’s name (Leia V. Farmer Scholarship). Mr. Farmer was so impressed by the sincerity of recipient that he added a $34,000 increase to that Endowment.

Part of Karin’s job is to be a goodwill ambassador for the University and let donors know where the money donated to the College of Nursing is going. Alumni for the most part appreciate their URI experience and want to give back often giving gifts named after a spouse, parent, grandparent or child. Milestone class years are obviously a very important part of raising funds, particularly getting a large number of classmates to donate. She also encourages graduating students to stay in touch with their classmates and faculty. “These contacts are often critical for networking and future employment.” With the advent of social media like Facebook and Linked In, millennials are easier to find and stay in contact with, but Karin still relies on phone calls, letters and e-mails for older alumni. She stress to everyone that they will “always be a URI graduate and hopefully remain in touch with their University.” It goes without saying that she “hopes they will continue to support The University of Rhode Island and their particular college.” Both Karin and her husband Peter Conopask are graduates of the University of Rhode Island and appreciate what their education has one for them. Karin is therefore delighted to be able to help grow the University and help spread the word about it successes. When asked about the challenges of raising money, a job most people avoid, she replied, “I absolutely love my job!” With an attitude like that, we are sure she will continue to be successful.