Philanthropic Cultivation Award Portland State University Foundation Becky Sanchez, M.S., 2008 BECKY SANCHEZ is the Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs in the School of Business, and has been at Portland State for 21 years. Becky and the Undergraduate Programs team partner regularly with the development professionals and leadership in the School of Business to advance initiatives focused on recruiting and retaining diverse students and supporting students who experience financial hardship. Becky grew up at PSU. Her father spent his career working in Facilities at Portland State and he instilled in her a sense of pride and appreciation for the work that PSU does for the community and for students. She began her PSU service as a student employee in the mailroom. Becky completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing in ’03, a Master’s degree in Counseling in ’08, and is entering her final year of an EdD program in Educational Leadership. All of Becky’s degrees are from PSU, and some say that Becky bleeds green. For 16 years, Becky has focused on improving the student experience at PSU. Formerly a professional advisor and career counselor, she uses her experience serving students to inform the development of programmatic innovations in student recruitment, retention, degree completion, and career placement. Becky is a champion for retention and diversity initiatives in the School of Business. Her collaborative leadership cultivates creative, research-based ways to attract and retain students of diverse backgrounds and experiences who are traditionally underrepresented in business and higher education. Over the last two and a half years, Becky has become a valued development partner as well. While she is new to fundraising, she has found incredible success in financing programs that advance our key initiatives. Becky speaks eloquently to the spectrum of donor motivations, clearly making a case for support through both data and storytelling. She is a campus leader for retention data and impact reporting. Becky is fearless when it comes to asking for gifts. Her mission to find financial support for students completely outweighs any trepidation in asking someone to support these efforts, yet she always does so with a strategic and thoughtful approach. Her personable style, story sharing and data-informed case for investment has resonated with many donors. “Becky as one of the primary reasons why my family and I chose to invest in the School of Business retention and diversity initiatives” said Scott Roth, MBA ’03, CEO of Jama Software and BAG member. Her collaborative efforts have yielded over $400,000 in the last two years for retention and diversity initiatives in the School of Business and the School of Business Development Team is proud to partner with Becky to advance student success at PSU. The Portland State University Foundation Faculty Philanthropic Award is given annually to a faculty or staff member in recognition of their role as a partner in cultivating philanthropic support for a priority program within their unit. 24
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