Member Profile
Donna Berry Spears
AS’78, BS’79, Public Health/Dental Hygiene
MPA’81, Health Systems Administration
Consultant/Civic and Social Leader
Traveler, leader, organizer, hostess,
IUAA life member
Why I chose IU
When I was 10 years old I spent eight wonderful weeks on the IU Bloomington campus with an aunt who was completing her master’s degree. I knew everyone in Campus View apartments after the first two weeks. Having grown up in a diverse and international environment, I was very comfortable and fascinated by the cultures on campus that I had not yet encountered. I fell in love with Bloomington and the IU campus, and I vowed to return.
Favorite memories of IU
As an undergraduate, my favorite IU memory is performing on the stage of the IU Auditorium with the African American Dance Company, under the direction of Iris Rosa. As a graduate student, I will never forget the first lecture by my economics professor, Kurt Zorn: “You guys are graduate students, you should know this.” My study partner, Pat Barron, and I spent many hours in his office.
Advice to undergraduates
As soon as you unpack your belongings and register for classes, join a student organization. Participating in extracurricular activities is a great way to bond and develop relationships that will give you a sense of belonging. You will acquire leadership skills, gain social and time-management skills, and learn the value of giving to others. You’ll also develop a stronger connection to the university, you’ll value your education, and you’ll stay connected to IU for a lifetime.
Why the IU Alumni Association is important to me
In 1990, I relocated from Bloomington to Richmond, Ind., where I met former IU East Alumni Director Bette Davenport, who invited me to attend an event at the IU East campus. I had a wonderful experience and continued to be involved in IUE activities. Charlie Nelms, then chancellor of the IU East campus, invited me to participate on a committee to celebrate the opening of the new library on the campus, and later to be a member of the campus’s advisory board. In Bloomington, I developed relationships with individuals who have touched and changed my life.
A favorite memory is the IUAA President’s Award dinner, held in downtown Louisville, Ky., in December 1996. It was a magical evening filled with great food and fellowship. Former IUAA Executive Director Jerry Tardy sent me a handwritten note thanking me for my contribution. The notecard depicts the clock tower on the IU Bloomington campus, one of my most treasured landmarks. The card is framed and hangs in my home. I realized that weekend that I was a part of something very special, the IU Alumni Association.