Staff Writer- Alex Ogle

This week’s Gustie of the Week is Director of Alumni Parent Engagement, Angela Erickson. In her role in the advancement office, Erickson helps alumni parents and friends of Gustavus connect with one another and stay “in the know” about what is happening on campus. She also connects alumni to programs and events that are relevant and supportive to them, as well as inviting them to volunteer and offer philanthropic support. Erickson, a ‘01 Gustavus alumna herself, came into this role after years of work in higher education. Once graduating from Gustavus with a double major in Spanish and geology, she went on to pursue a master’s and then a PhD in higher education, which she then used in roles as a professor at various universities before fully transitioning into Gustavus administration roles, where she has been for the past 11 years.

When Erickson first came to Gustavus as a student, she had multiple reasons for choosing the campus. As an athlete who attended the Tennis and Life camp throughout middle and high school, she fell in love with the campus, its athletics, its nature, and its academic challenges. Once she became a student, she highly appreciated the ability to pursue a variety of things, and the values that the school instilled within her. She particularly valued Gustavus’ unique ability to fully prepare students for the real world, in a way that other schools couldn’t quite match.

“When you are a college student, I think you often take for granted or assume that everybody at all different types of colleges are having the same type of experience. But when I left Gustavus and went to graduate school, I realized how much better prepared I was to be successful in the world,” Erickson said.

Said preparedness allowed Erickson to thrive in higher education for years, both as a graduate student and as a professor. When she was at a crossroads while transitioning between academic and administrative roles, she took the opportunity to apply to her alma mater. The Gustavus values instilled within her drew her towards serving the community.

“It had always been my dream to come back and work and serve a place that had given me so much as a student,” Erickson said.

Now, she looks to the past and present to find many memorable moments with her fellow Gusties. As a student, she valued spending time with the tennis team and having an opportunity to travel abroad to Australia and New Zealand with them. When she first came back to Gustavus as an employee in the admissions office, she looked forward to move-in day for First-year students; finally seeing a year’s worth of work come to fruition. Now in advancement, she looks forward to a variety of alumni-centered events that help connect current students with former Gusties—such as reunion weekend—further enhancing the tight-knit community of the college.

Erickson has had many personal, meaningful experiences with people in the Gustavus community. She remembered that when she first came back to Gustavus, she was surprised to find that many of her former professors—whom she had not seen in 14 years—remembered her and were able to pick up where they left off. In her current work, she admires her many hardworking colleagues, who have taught her so much about embodying the core values of Gustavus and teaching her the importance of the alumni. She specifically mentioned her fellow advancement colleagues, Philly Kauffman and Steve Bennett, who, through their utmost dedication, have helped to strengthen the connection between past and present students and care for them.

Many students and faculty have felt Erickson’s positive influence and connection-building within the community. Junior Colleen Coleman, who has worked with Erickson during reunion weekends, complimented Erickson’s leadership and impact on students and alumni. Coleman says that Erickson’s alumni background truly drives her current work.

“Angela is a kind, compassionate, and adaptable leader. Her experience as a Gustie truly drives her work and helps our community celebrate excellence through her work in Advancement. Every student who has worked with Angela has been greatly impacted by her hard work, and I look forward to working with her on future Reunion Weekends,” Coleman stated.

Erickson’s advancement colleague, Junior Jenna Anderson, has both seen and felt the influence of Erickson at Gustavus. Anderson mentioned how helpful it has been to work with Erickson one-on-one and see her commitment to the Gustavus community. Their work together even allowed Anderson to grow as an individual.

“She has created unique opportunities within the office for me that play to my strengths and allow me to grow in areas I want to know more about. I’m so thankful for her leadership and ability to work one on one with me. She is hardworking, helpful, and clearly committed to making Gustavus a better environment for current students and alumni,” Anderson commented.

Clearly, Erickson’s effect on the Gustavus community has reached far beyond her office in advancement. She aspires to continue this effect for many years ahead and help the community grow bigger and better.

As Gustavus continues into the future, Erickson hopes to tap into the energy Gusties have and direct it towards positive change. She has noticed how Gustavus alumni have a broad range of abilities to see the complexities and nuances of a challenge, and wants to harness those abilities to progress the community even further than it already has. She noted the difficulty liberal arts colleges are facing, constantly being shut down, and hopes that Gustavus’ fighting spirit will prevail to further the importance of education and preparedness for the real world.

“We have to do right by Gustavus. We have to continue to lean in and fight for it because it’s the type of education that we need more of.” Erickson said.