1. Megan Porter Evans Community Manager of Health Initiatives at American Cancer Society Public Relations and Communications Kansas City, Missouri Area

2.  It would be impossible for me to accurately describe the infectious personality of Megan!  Her passion for her job lights up a room.  An Oklahoma State Graduate, Megan is currently working for American Cancer Society in Kansas City, Missouri. Megan Porter Evans

3.  BA in Journalism & Broadcasting, emphasis in Public Relations. I was a few hours short from minoring in Spanish. What degree did you receive from Oklahoma State University? Did you have a major and a minor or just a major?

4.  Had I completed it, I would've been highly marketable as a bilingual professional. High need! Why did you choose that major and minor combination (if you had a minor)?

5.  I did two internships with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Dallas and San Francisco. What internships have you done before working for American Cancer Society and can you tell me a little bit about what you would did there?

6.  I was well connected in the St. Jude event leadership team on my campus and asked their staff member if they offered internships. Then went online to browse openings and cities. I received several recommendations from that staff member, professors, and my employer before applying. How did you find the internship?

7.  My prior experience with the organization, passion for cancer patients, personal experience, and highly involved in campus leadership. What do you think set you apart from fellow candidates?

8.  I worked a full 40 hours each week - which was a lot and offered good experience and insight into what the real working world was like. I worked approx. 3.5 months at each. About how much time did you work for the company each week and for the duration of the internship?

9.  Absolutely get involved with several solid organizations on campus. Evaluate what your passions are and align those to various clubs/orgs/leadership teams that apply. Networking is huge and definitely the key. Be highly involved within your college. Attend the student organization networking events, and definitely apply to tak eon more responsibility. When we hire employees, we look for leadership, accomplishments, and a go-getter attitude. Begin your summer internships as soon as possible. Do several! I still rely on my recommendations from my internship supervisors to set me apart on networking sites like Linked In and for use in resume/professional recommendation work. Is there anything you would advise KU students to get involved in to do to set them apart to employers?

10.  city-wide programming for cancer patients  - public speaking and presentations  - volunteer recruitment  - volunteer training  - volunteer communications  - cause related marketing  - health care system collaborations and partnership efforts  - public awareness of programming with the angle to recruit volunteers  - fundraising event support  - patient/caregiver relations  - community resource referrals  - early detection and prevention messaging/marketing  - wig fittings for cancer patients I know you're the Community Manager of Health Initiatives for the American Cancer Society, that's a mouth full! What exactly does your job entail?

11.  When I first went to college I had no idea what I wanted to do specifically. I knew I was good with people and had strong communications skills. A friend asked me to get involved and attend a fundraising event my freshman year. After that event, i was approached by the Up 'til Dawn (St. Jude) leadership team encouraging me to apply for leadership. I wanted to play a small role on the big team, but upon interviewing, I was offered the Assistant Executive Director position. The following 3 years, under my leadership Oklahoma State went from riaising $19,000 to more than $60,000… From knowing you personally, I know how passionate you are about your job. Can you tell KU students reading this why you chose to go into nonprofits and where your passion comes from?

12.  When my mom was diagnosed with cancer the spring I joined the leadership committee, everything became even more real. I wasn't just helping people in need, I was helping people like my mom get well and fight back. I had dabbled in several other non-profit leadership positions in college and knew I was good at this. There were always very valuable open positions in the real world in this field… …Continued…

13.  The non-profit world is extremely unique. It is the #1 best way to gain a wider spectrum of specialties your first year out of college. Unlike most companies who are able to higher several employees to do very specific things, the non-profit world delegates a wide variety of responsibilities to their staff in order to get as much done with minimum manpower. If I ever wanted to leave this position, I know that I could easily get a job with as much experience in different things (HCS management, event planning, patient relations, PR/Marketing, volunteer recruitment, etc.). This field is incredible and so much fun! And don't worry, you actually DO make a paycheck (some people think NP is all volunteering - hahaha) …Continued…

14.  Extremely important. Extremely. No matter what you are doing or who you are, every single person experienced burn out in your job. You have to deal with unruly people, draining situations, etc, but as long as you have passion to remind you why you choose to work there, it will keep you going. If you didn't, I feel like you would completely dislike your job every single day - getting out of bed would be so hard! Luckily for me, I have so many awesome appreciative cancer patients who inspire me to work harder. How important do you think having a passion for your job and for the people you're helping is when working for a nonprofit?

15.  Absolutely - every single day! Sometimes it's face to face, sometime it's phone or e-mail. Every time I find a lady fnd the perfect wig and see that smile/hope on her face, I am reminded that the small things I do make a huge impact on other. We help patients with no faily find transportation to treatement. I find valuable volunteer opportunities that a cancer survivor can feel like they are giving back. Everyone is always so gracious and so thankful. That truly keeps me going, even on the burn out days/weeks. Do you get to interact with people the American Cancer Society helps and how much of an impact do they have on your passion?

16.  The evening we raised $60,000+ at Oklahoma State was incredible. We had two very special children with cancer there with us, and to hear them say thanks to me and my team on behalf of St. Jude brought me to tears. What a humbling and overwhelming experience. There are so many more! You've been in the business for a while now. Is there a certain event that you love(d) to work on or a memory from an event that you could share?

17.  Absolutely!!! I work with the coolest co-workers on the planet, doing what I'm good at, and seeing cancer patients' hope restored on a daily basis. Dream. Job. Would you say that this is your dream job?

18.  Definitely don't be afraid to reach out to those in the professional world. I have little high school students or college kids e-mail or meet with me a lot. It feels good to ask them questions, provide them with honest answers and encourage them to pursue their dreams. Never think anything is too far out of your reach. if you want it, you will absolutely push yourself to get there. It's not always easy, and you will have doubts at times, but you can achieve anything you put your heart into. Finally, is there any advice, or anything else you'd like to share with KU students reading this who are thinking about a career in nonprofits or are deciding if it's the right career for them?