Erin E. Clymer ’00

Major: English

Now: Director of development for Laurelville Mennonite Church Center; She “takes care of people who take care of Laurelville,” by maintaining good relationships with more than 300 associate members and donors.

What are the most challenging and enjoyable aspects of your job?

Understanding how to best relate to donors and building relationships that develop an on going partnership is both challenging and rewarding. It is also a challenge at times to be confident in sharing accomplishments or good stories about Laurelville. Asking people for both money and trust is yet another challenge.

How has your Goshen College experience shaped and prepared you for what you are doing now?

English majors aren’t really qualified for anything, but are somehow qualified for everything! Being able to edit text well and communicate effectively are huge helps in any job environment. Through Goshen, I have also learned that I enjoy working for a mission rather than working for a dollar.

What are your vocation and life goals?

My dream is to run a spiritual and environmental retreat center. I hope to help people inside and outside of the church do a better job of linking creation and faith. It will be very helpful to have worked in development at Laurelville when it comes time to live out my dream.

How has Goshen’s motto, “Culture for Service,” impacted the way you choose to live and pursue your vocational calling?

One of the most valuable parts of my international experience at Goshen was simply, conversation and listening to others stories. Those experiences have helped me to learn to value listening more in my current situation.