Jo Becker

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I’d been exposed to L&C by growing up in Portland. I loved the campus and, when the time came to apply to schools, I decided I wanted to stay close to home in the Pacific Northwest. In the end, L&C was the only school I applied to.

What have you been doing since graduation?

In terms of work: residential real estate sales; fair housing law (civil rights in housing); public speaking and writing related to housing, disaster preparedness, and understanding/communicating with other species; contracted computer work (customer service/first-level tech support).

How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for your career?

My time at L&C built on a foundation of asking questions, trying new things, and thinking outside the box.

What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?

How incredibly rich and varied life is—there’s hardly time enough to sample it all!

What’s your favorite part or most memorable experience of serving on the Board of Alumni?

I loved being involved with campus and community events, playing hostess and helping others feel welcome.

How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?

I love receiving the L&C Magazine in the mail, as well as updates in my inbox. In addition, since I live nearby, I return to utilize campus resources or simply stroll through the beautiful grounds.

Have you been to Alumni Weekend or other programming, like Homecoming, etc.? What did you enjoy about the event(s)?

I’ve attended several Alumni Weekends—I love sitting in on sessions with current professors, hearing about college news, and meeting new friends.

How do you encourage other alumni to give back to the college?

To me, it all starts with reconnecting with the school and getting engaged.

How do you describe the liberal arts?

To me, the liberal arts are the glue and relevance that holds and brings together everything else. They’re all about living (and defining for one’s self) a fulfilling life.

Why did you major in business?

I remember walking across campus before classes started my first year. I was there to turn in some paperwork. I knew I had to declare a major, but hadn’t a clue what I wanted to do in any specific terms. I decided then and there, without ever breaking my stride, that a focus on business would serve me well, whether I landed at a corporation, started my own business, or landed in the nonprofit world. I assumed I’d have multiple careers and incarnations and, indeed, have had each of those career experiences and my choice has served me well.

What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?

More than any one class or professor, what stands out in my mind—and is, for me, indicative of the opportunity a liberal arts education offers—is the breadth of subjects I sampled and the variety of instructors I learned from.

Where did you find your community on campus?

Mostly within my department.