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Name:
Michael Swanson
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Residence:
Chicago, Illinois
Graduation Year:
1996
Major:
Sociology
Minor:
Psychology
Why did you choose SJC?
I played baseball in high school and received a
letter from SJC about possibly playing there, and my father is an alumnus,
so I took a tour of the campus. I liked the closeness of it, and the way
people communicated with each other. I had talked to students from large
universities, and they talked about how, when in class, their teachers were
broadcasted on a TV, and there wasn't any interaction. I didn't want that,
and with the student/teacher ratio at SJC, I knew it had a lot to offer
me. I also liked that, through the Core Program, I could start working in
my major right away. As a student, what were you involved in?
I acted as a Proxy Senator for the Student Senate
in my freshman and sophomore years, and as a junior and senior, I was Lieutenant
Governor and Governor of Seifert Hall. It was nice to have a say in the
things that happened on campus. It was because of the Senate that crucifixes
were displayed in each classroom of the Core Education Center. I was also
a Special Reporter for the Rensselaer Republican (Rensselaer's daily
newspaper) for a short time, and I played intramural football, basketball,
and softball. What are you doing now?
I am the Administrative Manager for the McCormick Tribune Foundation in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation is a public charity that was originally established in 1955 as a charitable trust upon the death of longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, Col. Robert R. McCormick. He had no children, and so left his estate as a trust that has since evolved into a public charity. Currently, the foundation grants more than $1 million a year to non-profit agencies.When people ask me what I do, I tell them that my job description is "other duties as assigned." I am currently overseeing an internal construction project here at the Foundation as we reconfigure our offices in the historic Tribune Tower on Michigan Avenue. We are also in the process of constructing a Freedom Museum set to open in the same building in the spring of 2006.
In addition to working with construction companies and architects, I work with our executives to see that our foundation supports various fundraising events and galas that Chicago non-profits organize. I also go on site visits with our program staff to non-profit agencies and get to see how their direct services help Chicago's homeless, hungry, and youth. Locally, the Foundation partners with the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, and Cubs, as well as with the Chicago Tribune, CLTV, and WGN Radio and TV to ensure that we are making a positive impact on people's lives.
How did SJC prepare you for the "real world"?
The Core Program placed an emphasis on writing,
and that's a large part of my job, whether it's for an organization or a
colleague. Also, faculty members were very willing to help you succeed.
People like Sr. Pat Robinson and Coach Bill Jennings set good examples for
me. They took the time to get to know me personally and help me through
my learning experiences. They were always available for advice - and I sure
needed it. It all comes down to communication; because those professors
were willing to communicate, I knew what was expected of me, and I was able
to ask questions. Now, I'm on the receiving end of questions, questions from organizations trying to receive funding, and on a daily basis, I'm educating non-profit organizations on how to receive it. I always try to remember the patience Sister Pat and Coach Jennings had with me. I try to keep the lines of communication open and treat everyone with that same tolerance.
