OCCUPATION: Assistant Vice Chancellor for TCU’s School and College Development
PERSONAL STATS: Hailing from the Midwest, Adam studied political science and public administration at Hillsdale College (in Michigan) and earned his master’s degree at Bowling Green State University (in his home state of Ohio). On the advice of a colleague, he sought out a job in university development and landed at Texas Christian University in 1995. The “friendly environment and fantastic people” have made Texas his home away from home. As a single dad of two (Anna, 10, and John, 7), Adam is helping pave the way for TCU’s future with avid fundraising for the school’s $250-million dollar campaign set to end in two years (so far the group has raised $222 million).
MOST FUFILLING PART OF JOB: “Seeing the school’s growth—like being surrounded by new buildings on campus that were funded by capital projects—is a great reminder of our group’s hard work. There are a lot of people involved, so I’m happy to be a small part of the team here. It’s motivating to work with people who love this place; I get to help them make a difference for future generations. I didn’t go here as an undergrad, but my blood does run purple.”
TYPICAL WORKDAY: “Every day is different, really, but my family works on a fairly predictable schedule. My children’s mother lives about five minutes away … so, we’re able to both remain very involved with our kids. I drop the kids off at school about two or three times every week; I run them to baseball practice or sometimes I volunteer at their school. While I’m at work, I meet with deans and development directors to help figure out how we’re going to accomplish a particular project. Really, my job is to help people (alumni or friends of the university) accomplish their own philanthropic goals.”
DADDY DO-OVER: “My son used to be deathly afraid of Super Frog. I mean, we would go to sporting games and if Super Frog ever came near him, he would get so upset that we’d have to leave. I got this idea that I would arrange for Super Frog to come and visit him at his preschool—I thought maybe this would help him work through this fear. That backfired … he freaked out. I felt terrible. A little while later, my girlfriend made a suggestion that we should show him that Super Frog is just a costume. We borrowed an old Super Frog costume and he was able to wear it—problem solved. Now when he sees Super Frog, he has to give him a high-five.”
KIDS’ THOUGHTS ABOUT HIS JOB: “They ask me all the time, ‘Dad, what do you do?’ I’m not sure they really understand, but they love TCU. They like to come up to my office and make artwork to hang on my door. We regularly attend sporting games on campus, while the kids even take music and swimming lessons here. They have a great deal of pride for this place, as do I.”
THOUGHTS ON SINGLE PARENTHOOD: “I’ve been divorced for about four years; I think [my ex-wife and I] have done pretty well keeping the kids our top priority. It’s an adjustment to a different life, but with time, you figure out how to create a sense of family and tradition that makes the kids feel secure and happy.”
ON DATING: “It’s tough … You have to find a way to balance work, spending time with your kids and your personal life. Sometimes, you have to call a babysitter, and for a long time, I would feel really guilty about that. But my kids are very supportive and my girlfriend knows they are my first priority.”
GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: “I will begin working on my doctorate in education here at TCU this fall and eventually I hope to work as a vice president of university advancement and development. This is a place I’d be very happy to spend my career.”
