FOUNDATION NOTES
Getting to know the
NEW ALUMNI DIRECTOR
The importance of a well-rounded, quality education along with service to others has been instilled in me from a young age. Joining the Waldorf community and becoming a part of the Mission feels like second nature. I was raised on a farm in North Central Iowa and was taught at an early age the value of hard work and kind words. Nothing makes my father happier than farming – it is his true passion. He also has a reputation as being one of the “good guys” treating others with respect and kindness. My mother worked as a nurse for years in skilled nursing care and instilled compassion and a great respect for our elderly within me. My parents served as great examples to my brothers and myself by serving on many different boards and foundations throughout the years. We were taught education was not only found in textbooks and brick and mortar schools but in travel and your everyday surroundings. In the evenings during family dinner we discussed local and national events around the kitchen table. We were taught to voice our opinions but to gain perspective first and to always be respectful in our arguments. To this day the kitchen table at my parent’s house still hosts many a great late night conversation but now includes the next generation. My education continued from a small high school to a small university. I graduated from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake with a dual degree in Art Management and Graphic Design Communications. During my time in college I took advantage of travel opportunities and spent time in New York City, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Chicago, and a semester abroad in London interning at the Palestine Exploration Fund which was loosely associated with the British Museum. After graduation I moved to Chicago ready to dive into the art world, however I soon found out the art world was not an easy field to enter and took a position in healthcare working as a medical assistant. This is where I like to think my true education began – my first “real” job with insurance and all of those “adult requirements” needed to pay rent and buy groceries. The medical practice I worked for served public aid and social security disability applicants. The medical providers I worked with were brilliant and the most kind and humble I have encountered. My medical director was driven – absolutely driven and I’m not sure when he slept, if ever. My co-workers had graduated from the likes of Loyola and Notre Dame and for most of them this was a brief stop on their way to medical school. And here I was – small town Iowa girl – with eyes wide open - soaking it all in. In contrast many of our applicants had not graduated high school. Some applicants were fresh out of prison. Some were drug addicts. Some were
abused children. Some were just like you and me but had chronic illnesses that had remained undiagnosed for years. Many suffered from mental illness. The job made some of my co-workers cynical but not me. I was compassionate. I listened. I reached out for help when it was necessary. I also broke up a fight or two in the waiting room but those are stories for another day. Sure there were some applicants who tried to cheat the system but most of our applicants truly wanted better circumstances for themselves and their families. I often wondered and still do if we could all have a seat at the kitchen table together what might be different. I came full circle by moving back to rural Iowa to be closer to family and eventually met my husband. We have two children and reside in the lovely small town of Britt, about 20 miles southwest of Forest City. We recently refinished an old kitchen table handed down from my great-grandparents. My hope is that my children will feel the same way about that table as I do the table at my parent’s house. Since joining Waldorf in mid-January I have had the opportunity to connect with several of our alumni and feel as though I have been welcomed to their kitchen tables to share stories of how Waldorf has shaped their lives and those of their children. Many of the stories have led me to take a deeper dive into the history of Waldorf including our vast archival collection in the library. One of the Waldorf legends I find most endearing is Tillie Rasmusson. Perhaps it is simply because once again her kitchen table was a place of gathering for faculty and staff to share lively stories and enjoy coffee and snacks. Perhaps it is because Tillie reminds myself a bit of my own mother who is always welcoming to those who sit at her table and is also known for her delicious cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies. Whatever it is that draws me to Tillie it is something that I think each student, faculty, or staff could find in the history of Waldorf – a connection to something familiar. And perhaps a few good stories to share around the kitchen table. I want to extend a sincere thank you to all who have welcomed me to Waldorf. I look forward to serving our current students and alumni in my new role while continuing to learn the rich history and cultivating relationships with the staff and faculty. When I find that chocolate chip cookie recipe of Tillie’s you are all welcome at my table to share cookies and stories.
Jaclyn Sifert Director of Alumni Relations & Gifts Officer
The Waldorf Magazine—a combined effort of the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation and Waldorf University—is published for alumni and friends of Waldorf University. Please help us keep our records up-to-date by notifying the Foundation if you have moved, changed your name or updated your email address. Contact Janet Berhow at berhowj@waldorf.edu or 641.585.8140. Waldorf University, 106 South 6th Street, Forest City, IA 50436 // 641.585.2450 // 800.292.1903
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WALDORF MAGAZINE // SPRING 2021
waldorf.edu
