The Quiet Power of Generosity
Published: August 19, 2025
Author: Liz Dowell
She doesn't want her name in the lights. She isn't looking for recognition. But her fingerprints are woven into Greenville University's story—from the quiet corners of classrooms to the lives of students, her gifts continue to make an impact.
"I've never thought of myself as a motivator," she laughs softly. "But if sharing why I give helps someone else see its value, then maybe it's worth putting words to."
She first came to Greenville as a child, visiting her grandparents, who lived just blocks from the college. Later, her parents became students here. Eventually, she and her husband met as undergraduates at Greenville College. Years later, both of their sons would walk the same halls.
“It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.”
After earning her degree in education and psychology, she embarked on a long and impactful career in teaching, eventually becoming an administrator at a community college and working in higher education across several states. But no matter how far her work took her, Greenville was always the foundation.
“It was a Christian liberal arts education,” she says. “It didn’t just prepare me for a job. It prepared me for life—travel, literature, music, and a deeper understanding of the world. I can’t overstate the value of that.”
She recalls walking into her first graduate course at the University of Illinois and being told she was the only student in the room prepared for advanced study. At another point, an out-of-state school fast-tracked her teaching certification because she came from Greenville.
“I heard it over and over throughout my career: ‘You’re well-prepared.’ And I knew—Greenville had given me something special.”
That “something” is what she hopes to protect for future students.
“I give out of gratitude. I give because I believe in the mission of Christian liberal arts education. And I give because I want other students to have what I had—opportunities rooted in faith and academic excellence.”
But for her, it’s not just about faith and education—it’s about stewardship.
“I don’t give because of brochures or fancy stories. I give when I see a real need and see that need met. If you give to a project, you want to know what became of it. That follow-through matters.”
She believes that everyone's motivations for giving are different. For her, it's a mix of faith, memory, and the assurance that giving makes a tangible difference.
"There's a sculpture of Jesus at the table near the library. That gift came from someone who didn't even attend Greenville but fell in love with the campus and the mission because someone took the time to build a relationship with him. That's what this place does. It welcomes people in."
Though she remains anonymous, her message is clear: preserve the heart of Christian higher education, honor the legacy, steward the gifts generously, and let students soak it all in—because these years are once-in-a-lifetime.
“Just… soak it in,” she says. “The learning, the faith, the relationships. You’ll carry it with you, always.”
Like this alumna, your giving helps preserve the mission of Christian higher education for students today. Thank you for supporting Greenville’s future.
