Ginger Passalacqua, Director of Events and Alumni Relations, began working at the university in 1998.
When did you begin working at the College of Veterinary Medicine?
I started at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital on December 2, 2001, and at the university in 1998.
Describe your role at the college.
- Encourage and strengthen the connection to donors, alumni, clients, referring veterinarians and corporate and philanthropic partners as valued members of the College of Veterinary Medicine community.
- Event planning and implementation for the college.
- Manage all aspects of the college’s awards and scholarships program, including everything from kick-off, to thanking donors, to seating guests, to paying students, to notifying recipients, to ensuring fund agreements are upheld, and everything else in between.
Have you held any previous titles or responsibilities at the college?
Have I ever! I started as what was once referred to as a “secretary 4” in the imaging department. Dr. Kneller hired me, and even as recently as last year when we spoke, he claims I am his best hire! So, talk to Dr. Kneller if you have any complaints. I left imaging to become the Client Services Coordinator of the Small Animal Clinic, then took over the Large Animal Clinic side as well. After that I was promoted to Referral Coordinator, Senior Referral Coordinator and then made the jump to CVM Advancement. Here I have been an Assistant Director, Associate Director and now Director of Events and Alumni Relations. I have taken calls in the middle of the night from interns and residents, visited our referring veterinarians, collected and called on bad debt, made appointments, selected furniture and paint colors, created wall art displays, swept the walkway, hired and fired, presented at orientation, moved soiled floor mats, helped at OSCEs and a thousand other things in between.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Well, that’s a multifaceted answer. I don’t want to respond only to the “favorite part of your job”, when the college has afforded me such a broad variety of experiences, and opportunities over the years. Today, I enjoy finding locations and coordinating events in all the places we host our alums. Seeing all the planning come together in the various cities, is interesting and rewarding. I also enjoy listening to the alums and donors tell their stories, as well as recognizing those that give to the college. It is also rewarding to work with and learn about the unique talents and knowledge of the various teams of people we have right here at the college; marketing and communications, design group, iLearning, ASA, our veterinarians, technicians, and so on and so on. Plus, who else on campus gets to see our great animal patients? I feel like for the college to have put me in such a broad variety of situations and circumstances, it either has considerable trust in me or just views me as a sort of very sticky human wad of gum to push in a variety of leaky holes until a permanent solution comes along. I’m just not sure; however, whatever the case may be, I have appreciated and enjoy the ever-winding path and challenges…Maybe not exactly in the moment every single time but looking back, I can’t think of another place on campus where I could have been a part of so many diverse and interesting things.
Complete this sentence: My most memorable day at work was…
…probably something I shouldn’t convey to the masses. So, I’ll go with this memorable moment instead: My most memorable day at work was getting to pick up the tail of a tiger and touch his paws. Before I got to do those things, I had seen the tiger being pulled down the hallway in a cage while walking next to him was our resident in anesthesia at the time, Kurt Grimm. I remember the tiger being very “alert” and letting out a roar that I think you could have heard at the stadium. Kurt and I both jumped. Later while under anesthesia in dentistry, I got to literally “have the tiger by the tail”. I was allowed to pick it up. I fully expected his tail to be soft like a cat. It was not. It felt like a rope and weighed a ton. His paw was the size of my face. I remember thinking how I thought I understood how big these animals are from seeing them at the zoo; however, you don’t really have any idea until you compare it to yourself in person.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I LOVE being outside. I was the kid that was always bored. All I heard my entire childhood was, “You don’t always have to be doing something.” I beg to differ. Just sitting under a tree to read never worked for me, though I do love some true crime reads! I walk my dogs everywhere and through any weather, rain, snow, wind, dark of night, and under the scorch of sun. I greatly enjoy biking, kayaking, and pining around antique shops. If you find me sitting, I promise I’m doing a craft project. I also enjoy creating small paintings… I’m unsure if anyone else refers to them as “paintings” but that’s what they are from a technical perspective, I guess. Give me a craft room with all the goods and you won’t see me for months. Also, we’re incredibly fortunate to have an A-frame cabin down at Lake Sara in Effingham. All the activities noted here are best accomplished when there.
What is something your co-workers may be surprised to know about you?
I sent a letter to Queen Elizabeth. (She, along with Jim Henson, are my “celebrity idols”. I know, weird combo.) I had been given a book titled, “Our Princesses and Their Dogs”. It’s my prized possession. Even though it’s out of print, I packaged it up during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, wrote a letter, included a picture of me and my two corgis at the time, Lupi and Petunia, and sent everything to her requesting that she sign my book. Not surprisingly I received a response stating the Queen doesn’t do such things. They also returned my book and added in a few pamphlets created for her jubilee year. I’m very happy I at least received some sort of acknowledgement along with my book. I have the letter, which was written on royal stationary, the stamp certifying it was sent by royal mail and the pamphlet all framed and hanging at home. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to Jim Henson before he passed away. No way on earth though am I ever discarding my stuffed Kermit from 1976 given to me by my dad, Dennis.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
To go to Scotland…Ok, LIVE in Scotland but I’ll settle for a trip. My husband and I have been putting it off for years. Work just keeps getting in the way. Retirement is coming though!!…Also, to hold a panda. PLEASE my veterinary friends, help me out with this!!
Do you have a favorite restaurant in the Champaign/Urbana area?
Mmm, no not really. I do enjoy certain restaurants and places, but I don’t really jump up and down over any one restaurant or place in C-U specifically. I will say I prefer rolling hills, endless amounts of trees and ponds, and roads less traveled peppered with abandoned buildings. Put me in the backroads of Indiana (where I’m originally from) listening to my dad tell stories, followed by stopping off at a mom-and-pop café or ice cream stand, and THEN, I’m in my favorite place.
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
Being creative. I have NEVER understood people who say, “I’m not crafty” or “I couldn’t do that.” Yeah, ya can! Everybody can!
Do you have any pets?
Yes! Islay, (pronounced: ai-luh) our Rough Collie, who is named after the southernmost islands, off the west coast of Scotland. The island is known for its whisky. Since collie’s are a Scottish breed, my family heritage is Scottish, and it’s a pretty name, there ya go! We also have a 9-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Chipsy Russell. And yes, for you old timers that watched Match Game at grandma’s house like I did, that’s a nod to comedian, Nipsey Russell.
