alumni
Molly Richardson Shanklin Chief Image Officer … Working Mother … Consummate Professional on external affairs led to many ground-breaking activities with the Parents’ Association, where she cultivated and developed monumental volunteerism. So much so that, to this day, we have an outstanding Parents’ Association whose love and dedication to their children and to the school are boundless.
Ruth Glazer White ’76, Alumni Council President (1999-2001), Trustee, Parent ’15
To know her is to love her … but to get to know her is truly a life-changing phenomenon. From her beginnings at LA as the afternoon library monitor to her tenure in the Business Office to her rise to “fame and glory” in the Development Office, Molly Richardson Shanklin has spent 23 years at LA getting it done. And through it all, she has had one goal in mind, and that is to showcase LA in the best possible way.
Her work with the Alumni Association is just as impressive. Fostered by her innate sense for “doing things right,” Molly lent her time and talents to countless projects and events. Whether it was the golf tournament, the brick patio, the Archive project, restoring the portraits in the MacNeil Lounge or establishing the Tom Warner 5K race, she always took responsibility for the school’s image. It didn’t matter if it was in her “job title”; she was a willing partner on the journey to give back to the school.
Molly’s career at LA started in the library just a few months after her daughter, Jenna (class of 2006) was born. She was hired to be the library monitor and worked in the afternoons “maintaining the peace.” From there, Molly went on to the Business Office, where she was the Administrative Assistant. Whether she was working on the payroll, handling new-hire orientation, or managing retirement benefits, she always wanted to do more and be more. During this time, her son, Andrew, was born (class of 2011). By the time she was ready for her next challenge, Molly had spent eight years in the Business Office, eventually becoming the Assistant Business Manager.
Eventually, her work in development led to a more senior leadership position as Associate Director of Development, and Molly added “successful fundraiser” to her already extensive list of contributions to LA. It was during her tenure in development that Molly met and eventually married LA alum, Alumni Council President (1995-1997) and former Trustee, Norman Shanklin ’76, my classmate and dear friend.
The desire for new challenges led Molly to the Development Office. As Director of Constituent Relations, she worked on many events with parents, grandparents, and alumni, all with one purpose in mind. This was to do the best she possibly could to elevate each event as a means to further her relationships with constituents and their love for LA. It was all about building and nurturing relationships. Her focuses
Whether it was parents, trustees, grandparents or alumni, Molly always wanted us to know how important we are to the school. Her relationships with all of us had no personal agenda that furthered her career at LA; it was always about learning about our interests, our stories, our families, our lives and understanding how LA fit in. If you asked her about her work over the years, she might say it was a labor of love. And we love her right back.
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Molly’s Farewell Party, May 22, 2011
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J K A. Amanda Doyle-Bouvier ‘98 B. Sharon McClellan (P ‘90, ‘99) C. Trustee Ruth Glazer White ‘76, (P ’15) D. Chris Margraf E.Trim Hahn, wife of former Head of School Steve Hahn (P ‘96, ‘99) F. Former Head of School Ben Williams G. Laurie Woo (P ‘08) and Judy Clark H. Molly and Rob Moore (P ‘04, ‘06, ‘09) I. Jenna Richardson ’06, former Trustee Norm Shanklin ‘76, Molly , and Andrew Richardson ’11 J. Paul and Carole Hill (P ‘99, ‘01) K. Dick and Bev Jeffers (P ‘84, ‘86) L. Mike Muscatello (P ‘05, ‘06) and M. Trustee Ann Conway (P ‘98, ‘01, ‘03)
ACADEMY JOURNAL / FALL 2011
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