A one-on-one interview with Karen Dyer, vice president for advancement and strategic initiatives
This story appeared in the 2021 President’s Report of Onyx Anneau.
Q. How is the College progressing with its second phase of the strategic plan?
When we launched the second phase, the Aspire Even Higher Plan, in fall 2019, we had no idea that the world was going to come to a stop just months later. We just created a refreshed logo and had a plethora of plans in the works for the academic year. The Woods, however, is a resilient place. Faculty and staff have continued to be actively involved in the planning with great intentionality, and we have been able to check many tactics off the list on our way to meeting the plan’s objectives. One thing that had to wait until the fall of 2021 was the launch of the new school fight song, “Go, Woods, Go!,” as we could not gather students at games to sing it.
Q. What has been completed as part of Phase II?
Over the past two years, we have been able to address several capital initiatives. Some of these have been deferred projects from times when the College did not have the resources to complete them. These projects include putting a new roof on the Rooney Library, updating condensate lines for the boiler and tunnels and HVAC controls for a few buildings. Extensive IT upgrades have included replacing old switches, extending Wi-Fi, updating classroom technology and expanding security for students. We continue to renovate student bathrooms in Le Fer Hall as funds are raised for the I Love Le Fer Initiative. Six were completed this summer, and nine more are currently underway. Expanded parking lots, new LED outdoor lighting and better food service were requests from students which were implemented. Installation of wayfinding signage, road signs and the physical addressing of campus buildings helps provide a more welcoming campus for prospective students, families and other visitors. We also brought online a new residence hall, Les Bois Hall, to accommodate our enrollment momentum. In addition to capital projects, the College launched its first doctoral program, a Ph.D. in global leadership and undergrad programs in kinesiology and exercise science, which are very popular. Finally, we fielded the first men’s basketball team in the College’s history.
Q. What’s on the agenda for this year?
Retention is our buzzword this year. SMWC was fortunate to receive three grants from the Lilly Endowment Inc., $2.5 million of which will provide the College with a predictive model to address retention issues in real-time. These funds, along with a second grant for $250,000 from the Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation, will support the creation of a centralized student success center on the second floor of the Rooney Library. This center will combine the efforts of the Learning Resource Center, our tutoring center, with other student wrap-around services, including career development. Retention will be an important focus for everyone as we work to help today’s students find success and persist in college. Renovations are also underway in the former college bookstore space in Hulman Hall. It will now serve as a classroom and lab for the popular exercise science program. And the lower level of the Rooney Library is being renovated to create a shared archival space for the College and the Sisters of Providence.
Q. How are these projects being funded?
The Woods is fortunate in that we are seeing an increase in philanthropic giving with the alumni giving percentage on the increase and last year being the best year of giving in our history. Grants are a big part of the funding model for new programs, renovations and expansion projects. One such grant is the Department of Natural Resources grant, which provides matching funds for restoration projects. We were able to secure grants for both the renovation of the main gate, and now, the front steps and stage of the Conservatory. We have something going on or in the queue for nearly every building on campus. We have also been the beneficiary of several bequests, one of which will provide funding for our first-ever endowed professorship and the restoration of the Formal Parlor in Le Fer Hall. HERF III funding was utilized for IT upgrades as part of the federal COVID Relief funding.
Q. How has the plan been successful?
We have a great leader in President Dottie King. Her vision inspires us year after year to find new and innovative ways to move the College forward. A few years ago, she challenged the faculty and staff to start dreaming again. From that time until now, it is clear that Providence has joined our efforts as we continue to be blessed by those who bring something to the plan — ideas, initiative and funding. My job is to be the bus driver — I invite those who want to make a difference to join me, President King and the Cabinet as we head toward a collective goal for the future of The Woods. Our 40-member steering committee has done an excellent job in making sure we continue on our trajectory. She works hard to help make our stakeholders aware of the needs of the College and her vision in the community, state and on a national level.
Q. What’s the vision for future planning?
As the nation faces a continued decline in the national number of college-eligible students, commonly referred to as the enrollment cliff, we are working to ensure we can continue to be nimble and relevant to the students we serve. We are so very fortunate to have such a robust online format that allows us to be thoughtful and flexible with our undergraduate and graduate student populations. Athletics growth is a strong enrollment growth strategy for the College as 44% of our campus student body are athletes. We’ll be adding a men’s volleyball team and sprint football next fall, and there are several new sports on the future list for both men and women. We will soon be reaching our maximum capacity for space and are currently looking at how to grow efficiently and effectively while continuing to build momentum over the next five to 10 years. On the future capital projects list is an expansion of the Knoerle Center, new athletic facilities at the north athletic complex, and another new residence hall. In new program growth, the College is actively looking at partnerships that might provide new avenues for academic growth in health sciences and technology areas while building on programs where we have a niche such as equine and leadership.
Working in the field of higher education fundraising since 1997, Karen Dyer has dedicated her career to supporting higher education – investing in change-makers, creative thinkers and leadership for students of all walks of life through a focus on studying, practicing and leading the art of fundraising. As the Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Dyer provides leadership and oversight for the fundraising, communications, marketing and alumni relations teams, while heading efforts for the SMWC Aspire Higher Strategic Plan. She is also a writer and editor, both professionally and personally, authoring guest blog posts and articles for magazines and other platforms. Dyer is actively engaged in her community, consulting and speaking on the topics of strategic planning, brainstorming, team building, fundraising and leadership. A life-long proponent of the humanities, she is passionate about creating intersections to actively uplift language arts, music, performance art and visual art in her community.