Vicki Megginson
Associate Chancellor of Development
Senior Vice President, U of I Foundation
- Phone: 217.206.6058
- E-mail: megginson.vicki@uis.edu
As the chief administrative officer for the Office of Development, I am responsible for managing the staff of the development office and coordinating fundraising plans, priorities, and activities.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about fundraising for UIS or programs that might match your own commitments. You can E-mail me at megginson.vicki@uis.edu and reach me by phone at 217-206-6058.
Why education matters:
An education expands opportunities for people to use their talents and interests. For individuals it provides purpose, value and legacy to their lives. For society, it broadens appreciation of the contribution of different talents and viewpoints. It also transmits practical knowledge, improving the possibility of new knowledge and healthier living for each generation, and an appreciation of beauty, which somehow feeds our soul.
My own educational background:
I have three degrees all from the University of Illinois: a Ph. D in Educational Psychology, an EDM in Administration, Higher and Continuing Education, and a BS in Leisure Studies.
What I enjoy most about my role at UIS:
I absolutely love what I do. Not only do I get to work with every college and unit of UIS, I get to contemplate and articulate their benefits, needs, and visions. Donors also contemplate what is needed to improve the lives of others and are visionaries as well. I often say my best days are filled with vicarious philanthropy because I share the joy of both groups and know that, partially through my efforts, good has been accomplished for others.
A program at UIS I care deeply about:
Once you know a fair amount about a program, it embeds in you and becomes part of who you are. It is difficult for me to choose a favorite. What personally thrills me most is brilliance. I could care less about public celebrities, but two past highlights of my life have been working with two Nobel Laureates.
Best thing about UIS:
Because of its size and youth, contributions to UIS, whether monetary or effort, can really shape its future. Office of Development colleagues also make every day for me great. They have expertise, passion, and teamwork.
A gift I’ll always remember:
I will never forget the evening that we surprised Chancellor Naomi Lynn with the Naomi B. Lynn Chair in Lincoln Studies, as she prepared for her retirement. It was a gift from the Vaden family, lifelong friends of the Lynns, and it was UIS’s first chair and in an area of study so befitting UIS. What I remember most are their faces that evening.
Personal:
I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but grew up in Park Forest/Olympia Fields and was in the first graduating class of Rich Central High School.
What most people don’t know about me:
I often joke that I was my father’s only son. He was a mechanical engineer and taught me to saw, hammer, and even tune an engine. I love to write and while in high school I had my own column in the local newspaper. I was a gymnast in my youth and taught gymnastics and dance after graduating with my bachelor’s degree.
- What I am reading now: The Lexus and The Olive Tree by Tom Friedman. It was recommended by one of our alumni during a discussion about UIS and the global marketplace.
- A book I remember from college: The Social Psychology of Organizing by Karl Weick; it sparked by lifelong interest in motivation and organizational behavior
- A college/grad school teacher who meant a lot: Edith Terwilliger, my doctoral advisor and head of the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Illinois. She opened a door for me to pursue my Ph.D. while juggling a family and full time career.
- My favorite movie: Auntie Mame. It reminds me (and could have been based on) my own Aunt Kathy.
- My favorite sports team: UIS and the Illini--naturally.
- My favorite foods: Spaghetti and chocolate--but not together!
