An engaged and enthusiastic leader who founded and served as the first president of PACT (Philanthropy, Advancement, Community and Traditions) at the University of Lethbridge has earned a 2021 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Fellowship in Advancement.
Kierian Turner (BMus ‘20), a graduate of the Digital Audio Arts program in the Department of Music, is currently working as an alumni engagement assistant in the University’s Advancement office. The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Fellowship provides funding to support his position for a further 12-month term, and strongly emphasizes the professional growth of each fellow, ensuring the strength of tomorrow’s advancement professionals. Turner is one of only two recipients selected from across the country to receive the award and the second U of L student in the past three years (Karissa Hartley (BA ’18)).
Turner initially began working as a caller in the student call centre. He has excelled in student engagement, relationship-building and event management. In leading the establishment of PACT, Turner spurred the group’s executive to develop and execute two new programs that supported the connection between students and alumni and promoted young alumni giving.
“I learned a great deal during my inaugural PACT presidency, but perhaps the greatest revelation was the degree to which our community is eager to give back time, talent and treasure to offer support to students,” he says. “This shared belief will be the guiding light of my fellowship, especially as members of our University community look to one another for support during this especially difficult year.”
Turner has quickly grown into his role with Advancement and brings a full slate of talents to the team.
“His knowledge of the inner-workings of Advancement combined with his cross-institutional experience are just what we need to steward the University towards a culture of philanthropy,” says Lyndsay Montina, manager, Alumni Relations. “Kierian is an exceptional young leader with unmatched enthusiasm, and I can guarantee he is worthy of this fellowship.”
Turner was the 2020 Department of Music Most Distinguished Graduate and won multiple scholarship awards, including: 2019 MusiCounts Scholarship; 2019 Fine Arts Shining Student and 2019 Arts & Science Shining Student; 2018 Joyce & Ron Sakamoto prize for Research and Development in Digital Audio Arts.
Turner is excited to lay the groundwork for the creation of a culture of philanthropy amongst students, beginning with a research project that will ultimately inform a student engagement plan tied to the University’s Annual Day of Giving. The proposed project will be foundational in building an environment where students understand, celebrate and engage with philanthropy while simultaneously building stronger affinity.
