Meet Amy Eaton, Vice President of University Advancement
Meet Amy Eaton, Pacific University’s new vice president of university advancement. Amy joined Pacific’s leadership team in August, coming to us most recently from the University of Portland. At Pacific, she leads a team of about 30 people dedicated to fundraising, alumni engagement, marketing and communications, and advancement services, and she serves as a member of the President’s Council, setting direction for the university.
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: I was born in Montclair, New Jersey, but grew up in Montana. My parents were both New Yorkers, so we sort of stood out in Montana. My parents had funny New York accents. I grew up in the biggest city in Montana, just under 100,000 people. It was a great place to grow up. I grew up camping a lot and hiking, being outdoors, having that sort of idyllic childhood where you rode your bike all day and checked in twice with your parents.
Q: How did you begin your career in advancement?
A: My mom and stepdad were always really civically involved, always working charity auctions, Christmas tree sales, all kinds of things in our community. That influenced me a lot.
In college, I couldn’t pick a major to save my life. I was interested in everything, so I volunteered a lot — at the art museum, historical society, homeless shelter, hospital. I thought volunteering would help me get an idea of what to do as a career. But what I found was that these organizations always needed money, so I would get roped into helping with events. I remember having to dress up in a duck costume and be on TV — I think that was for the March of Dimes Duck Regatta.
Most people get into this sort of accidentally, and that’s how it was for me. But I loved it. I still do. It’s exciting for me.
Q: What do you love about working with alumni and university friends?
A: I absolutely love it. I love the stories. I love how people’s lives have changed, how people often think of their time in college as the best time in their life, or the time they grew the most. They harken back to this moment where they “became” in a way and developed this realization of the mark they want to have in the world. I love that part: People feel so grateful for where they are today because of their college experience.
The other thing I love about working with donors in particular is that they have gotten to a place in their lives where they want to make an impact. Giving feels good. I've actually heard or read somewhere that our brains are hard-wired for altruism. To be a part of helping people with their philanthropy is incredible.
You get to help people leave their mark, help people fulfill their life’s goal, their purposes. When people are down to making that big gift, for whatever amount, it’s amazing to watch them go through that. They’re really seeing, ‘This is what I came here to do,’ and you get to facilitate that.
Q: What are you most excited about at Pacific?
A: I am so excited about Pacific! Yesterday, I wanted to run around and tell everybody everything I had learned in my meetings that day. People are doing so many amazing things, have so many ideas and aspirations. We seem ripe for growth in our capacity for doing the things we’re good at.
The grit at Pacific is so strong. People will just do it. If they had a little more help, a little more support, it seems like the sky is the limit. People want to be part of the conversation, they want to be part of making changes in the world.
I’m really curious to see how our strategic plan unfolds. I think as an institution we have a lot of possibility to strengthen our endowment. Pacific could do so much if we had that. How do we take the university to its next best place?
Lightning Round
- Best Concert: Eddie Vedder’s ukulele concert. I don’t know if it was the best, but it was really great.
- Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird, or Leaves of Grass
- Last Movie You Saw In A Theater: I don’t even remember. I haven’t been to the theater since before the pandemic.
- Your Sports Team: The Boxers!