Alumni Spotlight - Lori Wilson

Lori is the Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Alaska, Far North and Interior District. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing in 1996.

Why did you choose to attend UAF?
"I had taken a year off from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. My family lived in Alaska, so I decided to move here and continue my education at UAF. SOM had the same AACSB accreditation as schools like Harvard, Cal Poly, and many other top business schools, yet it provided a more intimate learning environment."



Share with us an outstanding teacher or class.
My very best Professor was Dr. Laura Milner. She demanded excellence and pushed us to be better students and to think outside the box. She was tough, but she was fair. I remember a group project that we spent hours on, but we turned it in 30 minutes late. When we met with her, she told us that when we handed it in late she wanted nothing more than to fail us because deadlines are critical, and as professionals there are no excuses for being late. However, the paper was so well done that she had no choice but to give us an A, and in fact our recommendations were implemented by the company we did the research for. She taught me a great lesson about commitments and fairness. I can’t remember the name of most of my professors, but I do remember hers, as she taught me the most.

What is a favorite SOM memory?
Working on the Business Leader of the Year was a lot of fun. I was working full time while going to school, so my ability to get involved in campus life was rather limited. Being a part of working on this event in my final year was truly one of my best memories.

How did SOM prepare you for your professional career?
I learned that, in addition to “book learning,” teamwork and cooperation are critical to success. A willingness to ask questions, respecting other people’s time, and working as a high functioning team will produce much better results than working individually.

What does being a UAF alumna mean to you?
I have lived in Fairbanks for the past 25 years and am very proud to be able to say that I am a UAF alumna. When I hear teenagers criticize or downgrade UAF because it is in their back yard, I can easily give testimony to the fantastic education that I received.

What keeps you enthusiastic about your career?
I appreciate being able to put my education and knowledge to work for the good of our community. The many curve balls I’ve experienced in my own life have helped me understand the importance of nonprofits to our community. Not only do we provide many jobs, but we are the safety net for when life throws those curve balls. I am honored to be able to put my arm around a family that just lost their home to a fire and let them know someone cares, they are not alone, and we will help. I am passionate about the mission of the American Red Cross. Fires and disasters do not discriminate; they are great equalizers and we are able to help regardless of all the factors that tend to divide people.

I am never bored. I am constantly challenged by the importance of providing a positive working environment for my staff and volunteers, an environment that encourages team work yet individuality, inspiration when we are so busy that we can’t think, open communication across service lines, and the support they need to do their jobs effectively.

What's the number one skill or practice that has contributed to your success?
Honesty and integrity are the primary skills that have contributed to my success. No one can truly be successful if those around them do not trust them, and that only comes from working with honesty and integrity.

What advice would you give to current students?
No amount of advancement up the corporate ladder is worthwhile if it is not achieved with honesty, integrity, and ethical decisions. Part of that means not making commitments that you can’t keep. Do not forget appointments, do not promise to do something and then not do it, and never pass the buck - if you made a mistake, own it and learn from it. No matter how good you are at the tasks of a job, if you cannot be trusted as a person of your word, you will never truly succeed. Additionally, you should never be afraid to ask questions; there is never a time when you will need to pretend to know everything and have all the answers. Finally, have fun! It’s OK to laugh and have fun at work, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be productive, but work shouldn’t be a place of misery - laughter does wonders!

• What is your favorite breakfast food? Smoothie


• Dream vacation destination? A sandy beach with lots of sunshine


• Last music digital download or streaming music channel? Google Play


• When was the last time you sang out loud? Yesterday just to watch my daughter cringe since I sing off key


• What was your last DIY project? Building my shed