LBC's Sarah Dickinson wins 2024 Rising Star Award for outstanding advancement and alumni engagement

July 30, 2024 - Tiffany Werner

Sarah Dickinson, the LBC associate director of alumni relations, has received the Rising Star Award from the Great Lakes district of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
CASE is a nonprofit organization that promotes educational advancement across its many forms through bringing together experienced professionals in the education sector and providing a perspective for advancement challenges in higher education.  

The organization's Rising Star Award was established in 2018 to recognize and honor individuals whose early accomplishments and success demonstrates both their commitment to their position and an accurate understanding of philanthropic tradition. Awardees are recognized as individuals whose performance demonstrates achievement, innovation, professionalism and leadership qualities.

Rising Star Awardees must have worked in advancement for three to ten years, consistently demonstrated a high level of professional achievement, regularly demonstrate potential for leadership within institutional advancement, have a strong commitment to the profession of educational advancement, and have an affiliation with CASE and/or NAIS.

Dickinson has fostered a culture of alumni engagement within Lyman Briggs and in the wider university. Across the LBC community, students, faculty, staff, and alumni themselves enjoy the benefits of connecting with alumni. Since joining the college in the Fall of 2019, Dickinson has developed innovative programming that engages alums in meaningful student success efforts and has brought alumni together to support our campus community during times of celebration, and in times of tragedy. 

“What I most appreciate about Sarah is the dedication and care that she brings to her work. Sarah reminds us that each and every effort matters,” says Krysta Foster, Dickinson’s colleague on the LBC Engagement Team, and one of the nominators. “Whether an alum comes to one event or every program, she reminds them that their work truly makes a difference. Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious. I am a better professional, and person, because of her.”

Dickinson values student success and understands the important role that alums play in the work of supporting fellow Briggsies. Providing students with support as they enter the job market and apply to continuing education programs has become an integral part of college programming, and speaks to the community-minded identity of Briggsies.