Creating high-impact experiences for others has been ingrained in Elizabethtown College alumna Lisa Andrews’ philosophy. The Etown Psychology major, who initially started out in Biology, built a foundation of serving others on the Etown campus.
“I was a first-generation college student and I felt I needed a lot of resources around me for that first year,” Lisa Andrews ’93 shared. “Reflecting back on it now, it’s the best choice I could have made.”
It was a choice that would influence a pathway of success for her own life. Lisa immersed herself while at Etown in many activities and clubs including theatre, served as a Resident Assistant, and worked for the Dean’s and Student Affairs offices. She even took courses with then Professor Elizabeth Rider, now President.
“I remember really being excited to take her classes,” Andrews said. “I really connected with her right away, and I have always considered her to be inspiring.”
The combined experiences led Lisa to pursue a career in higher education. Gaining her master’s in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University and her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Arizona, Lisa felt well prepared to tackle the degrees from her Etown days.
“I became a whole person at Etown as it gave me the chance to grow in a safe environment,” Andrews said. “I was provided with the support I needed from academic, emotional, psychological, and social perspectives. It set me up for a great future.”
More than 25 years later, Lisa has worked in student affairs and career development offices on several college campuses as well as a brief stint in the nonprofit world as a career coach at a homeless shelter. Ultimately, her desire for higher education and helping others find their own passions never left her. Lisa currently works at Georgetown University as the Director of Integrated Career Development at the School of Continuing Studies.
“Finances should not be a barrier for students to reach higher education,” Andrews said.
Lisa spends her daily role counseling and preparing adult learners to succeed in a higher education environment while seeking full-time employment opportunities. It’s the hope she has for her own students that she also has for Elizabethtown College students.
“If I am able to lessen the financial burdens and make the decision easier for students to attend Etown for a valuable experience, I feel fulfilled,” Andrews said.
Wanting to find a tangible way to give back to the place that gave her a jumpstart in life, Andrews made the decision to create an Impact Scholarship for promising Etown students to gain more access to resources to help them thrive.
“I highly encourage others to give impact scholarships at Etown,” Andrews said. “You’ll never get the opportunity again to explore who and what you want to be, and if I can help a student pursue that dream on a safe and supportive campus, I feel I’ve truly made an impact.”
About Impact Scholarships
Impact scholarships are annual scholarships that support Etown students who have financial need. They enable the College to recruit and retain the best and brightest while providing greater access to a transformational Etown educational experience. Consider giving to an Impact Scholarship.