Hannah Hicks

This is a photo of me sitting on a porch swing wearing a green UO sweatshirt. Smiling at the prospect of moving to Eugene this Fall!

2021-2022 Scholarship
June King McFee Student Scholarship

Degree: Master of Nonprofit Management, Graduate Certificate in Arts management

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2023

Prior Degree
BA in Anthropology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

I Am Originally From Greensboro, NC

WHY I CAME TO THE UO AND HOW I CHOSE MY MAJOR
I chose the University of Oregon because its Nonprofit Management program is really unparalleled to any other that I have seen. Their focus on practical application, rather than theory, evidenced by a board governance class in which you actually serve on the board of a local nonprofit, really drove me to apply. I was looking for a business-focused degree while still having a focus in the humanities, Arts, and altruism, and I’m really pleased with everything that I have heard about the Nonprofit Management and the Arts Management program, and all the professors.

I have worked in nonprofits for the past three years, first in museums and now in a voting rights nonprofit. I want to increase my management and business acumen while exploring the relationship between Arts and Society.

UNIQUE QUALITIES I BRING TO MY STUDIES
I have the benefit of having worked in museums in collections, curatorial, and education departments, giving me a range of inside knowledge about the industry. I spent several months working on accessible programming at the National Geographic Museum and through partnering with the Smithsonian, I received real insight into making museum experiences more inclusive. I also have spent time away from museums and picked up fundraising skills working for a political nonprofit.

PROFESSORS I LOOK FORWARD TO STUDYING WITH AT UO
As an incoming student, I am really excited to work with Dr. Doug Blandy because of his focus on accessibility and community arts. I hope to learn how to center the surrounding community at the forefront of nonprofit strategic planning, and pick up ways to include a multitude of voices at the table.

MY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
I want to become involved with the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History (MNCH) on campus. I have corresponded with Lisa Abia-Smith, Director of Education at JSMA, about working in accessible programming at the museum. Dr. Blandy has also recommended I get involved with Dance Ability International in Eugene, which is an international dance company that creates opportunities for people with and without disabilities to dance and move together.

AFTER GRADUATION
My biggest hope is to be an executive director of a nonprofit who plans with the ENTIRE community in mind, and leads with an empathetic approach. I want to lead a progressive and inclusive Arts organization in the Pacific Northwest.

YOUR GIFT
This scholarship means that I can dedicate more time to my studies without worrying about extraneous living expenses. It helps me immensely and I am so grateful.

Thank you, THANK YOU! I am so grateful for this opportunity, especially as COVID has resulted in major cutbacks to funding for graduate programs at UO. Your generosity is appreciated more than ever. I am a serious student and immensely passionate about nonprofit work, and cannot wait to get started at UO this Fall.