UMBC’s giving office is very happy to welcome new Phonathon Coordinator Logan Wern. In this position, Logan manages the nearly 40 UMBC students whose job it is to chat up alumni and parents throughout the year. It’s an important job, but also fun, with Logan serving as a sort of motivator-in-chief for this lively office.

We sat down with Logan, who earned her master’s degree in higher education administration and student personnel from Kent State University, for a few minutes to learn a little more about who she is and what she brings to the table…er, telephone.

Q: Tell us a little bit more about what your job entails.

A: Well, what I really do is manage the Call Center where students call alumni or parents of current or past students and ask them to give to the Annual Fund or more specific departmental funds. I’m really excited to be here…I like it already!

Q: Part of your job involves getting to know UMBC really well so you can help your students as they talk with alums and parents. So, what’s the coolest thing you’ve learned so far about UMBC?

A: Wow, a lot of things. But, I think the thing that most impresses me is what an innovative campus UMBC is. And that’s one of the things that attracted me to accepting this position, because it’s such a young campus — which to some could be seen as not having the traditions and structure — but it’s really more of a good thing when you’re trying to grow programs like the Annual Fund. I think it’s a really exciting place to be because it is so new and young.

Q: How would you describe the atmosphere of the Call Center when it’s filled with students chatting merrily on the phones?

A: Well, on a busy night it’s a really exciting place to be with all the students on the phones talking to alumni or talking to parents and making connections. And since I’ve been here, I’ve started a game with a sort of meter to see how much money we raise for UMBC each night, and it’s kind of based on the theme of “making it rain,” so it’s like “April Showers Bring May Flowers.”  I have a little display on my wall and every time a student gets a pledge they fill out a rain drop and stick it on the wall. So, it’s starting to pour because the students are doing really well. The students kind of made fun of me for it at first, but I think it’s working!