UW-Eau Claire alumnus Shawn Pfaff has made a career of advocating for worthwhile causes, including rallying support for several building projects at the university.
Now Pfaff is advocating for Blugold students who want to explore future careers with nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies through establishment of the Shawn W. Pfaff Advocacy Internship Fund. The funding is facilitated through a partnership between the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and Career Services.
“We need the next generation out there to tell the story and to really advocate for good things, whether it’s for Alzheimer’s research or raising money for a symphony,” Pfaff says. “In my case, I lobby for clients in the state Capitol. I was pleased to be a part of UW-Eau Claire’s efforts to get a lot of these buildings on campus, so I felt it was good to get the next generation involved.”
Pfaff, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1994, is the owner of Pfaff Public Affairs, a government and media relations firm. He established the advocacy internship fund this spring to provide up to $3,000 for students who accept summer internships in unpaid positions focused on advocacy work with nonprofits or government agencies.
“Basically, I’m helping pay the rent and helping to open up a few doors,” Pfaff says.
Financial support important for recipient
Senior sociology major Dylan Peck of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, was the first recipient from the advocacy fund to benefit from financial assistance for his internship this summer at Downtown Eau Claire Inc., a nonprofit that promotes development of business, housing, cultural resources and activities in the city’s downtown.
“It’s so invaluable,” Peck says of the funding. “I likely wouldn’t have been able to take on an internship or anything really that translated to my career plans and my education. Because of the generous gift, I can focus on gaining these skills I’ll get from the internship and helping Eau Claire in general.
“I think something Shawn and I both agree on is just the power of advocating for something bigger than yourself. It’s what he chose to do with his life, and it’s why I came to UW-Eau Claire.”
Alumni giving back opens doors
Blugolds who give back to the university help create lasting impact by opening doors for current students to explore meaningful careers, says Julia Diggins, vice president of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. Alumni like Pfaff demonstrate how Blugolds can be a part of shaping public policy and creating change through government relations, strategic planning and coalition building, Diggins says.
“Supporting opportunities for students to engage in this kind of work through paid, high-impact experiences is a unique and powerful way to give back by connecting classroom learning with real-world influence and leadership while ensuring all students can access transformative career-building opportunities,” Diggins says.
