Melissa Lee believes that the Odum School of Ecology has something for everyone.
“We all share the same resources,” said Lee, who is the school’s development and alumni relations coordinator. “We need to take care of them.”
Lee, who has roughly 19 other family members who attended UGA, earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the Lamar Dodd School of Art in 2010. She then went to Florida State University for her master’s degree in nonprofit arts administration.
During her master’s program, she developed an interest in fundraising and thought she might build a career doing that for museums. After graduating, she found a job working as an administrative assistant for Terry College’s Executive Education and MBA programs in Atlanta. Through that work, she connected with the college’s Development and Alumni Relations team and took on extra administrative duties with them.
At that point, Lee knew she wanted to work in development. In 2015, she returned to Athens to work in stewardship and held a variety of roles during her seven years with Development and Alumni Relations.
“I really do enjoy relationship-building,” she said. “The initial goal for me was to advocate for something I care about, whether that be the arts or the environment. In higher education, it all fits.”
In 2021, Lee lost her husband, who also worked in development at UGA and who she said was “deeply committed to environmentalism.”
“After he died, I knew that I wanted to work in a field that would help me feel closer to him,” she said. “So, I was excited when this job opening came up at the School of Ecology because I could stay at UGA and move up in my career while also honoring something that he cared about.”
Lee has been in her role since December 2022. She felt nervous to take it on, but she knew it aligned with her beliefs. In that time, she’s had the opportunity to learn more about the academic side of the university, working with faculty and students on scholarships, research fundraising and science poster sessions.
“I feel like the way ecologists study relationships allows them to recognize beauty,” she said. “There’s an inherent crossover in the way we view the world. Even if they are more data- and scientific-based than me, there’s a natural connection between artists and ecologists.”
This role has given Lee the opportunity to expand into other areas of development like alumni relations and fundraising. In particular, she worked closely with Dean Mark Hunter to develop a fundraising goal for the school and is implementing an Alumni Board and Dean’s Advisory Council. These boards and their initiatives raise money for student and faculty research such as coastal ecology, pollinator conservation and clean energy. She also enjoys being a part of the school’s well-known Waffle Wednesdays and Spring Fling.
“At the Odum School, you’re supporting students, but you’re also supporting the planet,” she said.
On a typical day, Lee spends time checking on gifts to the school, thanking those donors and sharing the impact those donations make — in addition to sending and answering emails, speaking with alumni and potential donors, attending meetings with colleagues across campus and creating various communications.
One of the things Lee appreciates most about her work is the opportunity to work with multiple schools, colleges and units across campus on collaborative gifts.
“I like to say that you need to partner with an ecologist in order to make a real impact, whether that’s science, policy or sustainable, circular economies,” she said.
Lee said that the most impactful part of her work is connecting someone new to the Odum School of Ecology and retaining those who are already connected.
“Some of our most generous donors support schools across campus. Making sure they have the best experience with UGA is really the bigger goal,” she said.
Outside of work, Lee still enjoys painting, playing with her two dogs, Hubble and Banjo, and visiting art museums. She also continues to volunteer with arts organizations and loves watching live music and films.
But in her work and in her life, Lee appreciates the opportunity to share her “love for the dirt.”
“It makes me feel grateful and connected to everyone when I remember we’re all sharing our environment.”