Loyalty & Commitment: Stacey Mulligan ’01
Stacey Mulligan ’01, a technical writer and editor at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC, was a double major in Theatre and English. A faithful and committed donor since graduation – making her first gift of $20.01 in honor of her class year – Stacey chooses to help bolster Converse through monthly giving. Read on to learn more about her current position, her connections to the campus, and why she remains a long-time supporter of Converse.
What is a typical day like in the National Archives and Records Administration? My office provides access to the official text of Federal laws, Presidential documents, and administrative regulations and notices. My days are spent working with executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government to ensure their general and permanent rules (located in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)) are updated correctly by reviewing their proposed and final amendments to the CFR for format and accuracy.
What is your favorite part of your position? I like the fact that no two documents are exactly the same. There is always something new and different to review. I work with the entire Federal Government, so I can go from reviewing a document about airspace (for airplanes) to a document about catch limits for fisheries to a document setting out safety requirements for cribs. Not knowing what will come in from one day to the next means that work is always exciting and sometimes stressful!
“I think it’s important to give because I think Converse’s mission to educate and empower is important.” – Stacey Mulligan ’01
What’s the most challenging part of your job and how do you manage it? My office receives a steady stream of documents from federal agencies, and we must review them for accuracy and get them published on a deadline. You have to have exceptional time management/ organization skills to stay on top of all the documents you are reviewing, where each document is in the review process, what special publication request specific documents might have, etc. To help keep track of where I am in the review process, I’ve created a system that allows me to easily pick up where I left off and publish documents in a timely manner.
How did your Converse degree help you in your current field? I was a double major in Theatre and English. I was also a member of the South Carolina Institute of Leadership for Women (SCIL), later the Converse College Institute for Leadership. Studying for a double major, while also being involved in extracurricular activities and Converse’s leadership program, taught me the importance of time management and organization. For example, working as a stage manager (keeping actors and stage crew on task, running shows each night, being the point of contact for issues), was an invaluable experience in working with a wide range of people/personalities, the ability to troubleshoot, and multitasking. Those skills have been so important as I work with so many different people on documents across a wide range of topics.
What motivates you to support the Converse Annual Fund as a monthly giver? I give back to Converse because I found value in what Converse gave to me. The skills I gained and honed as a student at Converse are what have propelled me forward in my career, why I am so good at what I do. I want to ensure that Converse can continue the work of educating and empowering for generations to come.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give to Converse? I think it’s important to give because I think Converse’s mission to educate and empower is important. An educated and empowered individual will go out into their community and give back, because they will understand the importance of what they were given and will want to pay it forward. I want to give Converse the opportunity to continue that mission.
In what other ways do you stay connected to Converse and your classmates? I stay connected to Converse and my classmates via social media (Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.). My time at Converse gave me a solid group of friends that I’m blessed to have in my life to this day. Beyond knowing I could go out into the world confident in my ability to take on any challenge life could throw at me, my time at Converse also set me up with life-long friendships that I cherish. I think that is why I still feel so connected to Converse.
Studying for a double major, while also being involved in extracurricular activities and Converse’s leadership program, taught me the importance of time management and organization.” -Stacey Mulligan ’01
What excites you about the Converse of today? I’m most excited to see Converse move forward. These are tough times for higher education, and I know that it takes a lot to survive. I like that Converse is moving forward in a thoughtful manner, maintaining the core values that make the school so special. I hope to see Converse continue to thrive and work to educate and empower far into the future.
What is one fun need-to-know fact about you? I’m a crazy cat lady! My kitties are named Domino and Charmin and, collectively, I call them the BDs (short for Benevolent Dictators).
What is your favorite memory of Converse as a student? This is a hard question because I have so many! When I look back on my time at Converse, I think what sticks with me the most is that I felt like I was in a community of like-minded individuals who supported me. Having that support gave me the ability to explore and ask questions and make mistakes and find solutions, and those are the things that ultimately helped me thrive as a student and a person.