Liz Henry is the 2022 NIRSA Foundation Leadership Award recipient

Each year, the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors recognizes someone who has served to support the Association and the NIRSA Foundation Board. The NIRSA Foundation Leadership Award acknowledges the effort and contributions of a person or group who has provided active participation in fulfilling the NIRSA Foundation‘s purpose of providing NIRSA members with meaningful opportunities for scholarship, research, and personal and professional development, along with supporting the Association’s ongoing strategic priority work though the Mission Advancement Fund.

While the entire NIRSA Foundation Board contributes tirelessly to do their part, we are excited to highlight and share our 2022 recipient, Liz Henry, who served on the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors from 2018-2021.

Liz currently serves as Associate Director of Engagement at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). “What impresses me most about Liz Henry is her passion for student success and her drive to create student centered spaces and activities,” says UCSD Recreation Director Rich Mylin. Liz has been a part of NIRSA since 2010 and throughout her time as a member she has volunteered to serve on formal committees as well as informal volunteer groups such as the Founder’s Social, the Women Leading Women preconference workshop, and the Black Women in NIRSA cohort. Liz Henry is the 2022 NIRSA Foundation Leadership Award recipient.

Liz’s capacity to amplify the impact of the NIRSA Foundation was exemplified in her work on the 2020 Golf Tournament Planning Committee, Virtual 5K Committee, as chair of the Donor Relations Committee, and in her role preparing incoming Foundation Board members for fundraising and stewardship. President of the NIRSA Foundation Board Lexi Chaput says, “It’s a pleasure to work with and get to know Liz during her time on the Foundation Board. Her experience as a golf tournament volunteer really drew us to her as a candidate and her contribution to the Board during her term was exceptional! She is a thoughtful and sincere person who is truly passionate about the Association and the contribution that the NIRSA Foundation makes to our community.”

Past President of the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors Janice DeMonsi echoed Lexi’s impressions, emphasizing Liz’s “energetic and outgoing” nature. Janice adds, “Liz is a dedicated NIRSA volunteer who has spent tireless hours giving back to the Association. She helped launch the inaugural young donor work team to engage a new demographic of donors to support the work of the Foundation.”

Actions speak louder than words! Current NIRSA Foundation Board member Stefani Plummer shares that her decision to apply for a role on the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors was influenced in part by Liz’s example: “I have known several people on the NIRSA Foundation Board, but Liz spoke so highly of her experience,” Stefani says. “I am constantly amazed at Liz’s capacity to pour into others and help them succeed. From her work at UCSD to her NIRSA volunteer work, she is constantly using her creativity and voice to inspire people. And she isn’t afraid of hard work. She is the first one to jump in and get the job done well.”