Scholarships
Thanks to the CASE President’s Excellence Fund, a scholarship has been provided to support a professional’s participation in the CASE Minority Advancement Institute (MAI). The Institute focuses on developing leadership and management skills for advancement professionals from diverse backgrounds who are poised to become senior leaders in the field. By investing in their development, the fund not only enhances CASE’s diversity and inclusion efforts but also strengthens the future of educational advancement.
This year, thanks to the generous support of our donors, the President’s Excellence Fund proudly supported an exceptional recipient: Boosaba Tantisunthorn from the University of Maryland. This scholarship not only recognizes her dedication and potential, but also empowers her to further her contributions to educational advancement.
Hear the Impact
We had the pleasure of connecting with Boosaba after her attendance in April to learn more about the impactful experience she had at MAI.
Boosaba Tantisunthorn, Associate Director of Development at the University of Maryland, experienced a significant boost in her career thanks to the CASE Minority Advancement Institute (MAI) scholarship. This opportunity not only provided financial relief but also had a profound impact on her professional journey and self-esteem.
Reflecting on her selection, Boosaba shared, “Being selected for the scholarship provided cost savings to my team and a boost to my self-esteem. I felt seen as a rising leader in the advancement profession.”
Attending the CASE MAI was a pivotal moment for Boosaba. It allowed her to quickly expand her network and connect with other people of color in the development profession. She found it incredibly inspiring to see individuals of color holding senior, and even the highest, positions in higher education fundraising operations.
“It was inspiring to see people of color in the room that hold senior level, if not the highest position, in higher education fundraising operations. This exposure was invaluable. It’s true when they say, ‘you have to see it to be it.’”
The experience at CASE MAI elevated her expectations for her professional career and provided her with a supportive network of individuals committed to “lifting as they climb.” Boosaba noted, “CASE MAI raised the bar for what I could expect of myself, in terms of my professional career. It also gave me a network of people who are invested in ‘lifting as they climb.’ The VPs of Advancement in the room seemed genuinely interested in offering their time, experience, advice, and empathy to participants.”
Boosaba expressed deep gratitude to the donors who made this experience possible. She acknowledged that being a person of color in this field can often feel isolating, as if one is out of place. However, her time at MAI showed her that people like her could rise to top leadership positions while staying true to their unique identities.
“Thank you to the donors who made this experience possible for me and others like me. There are often where being a person of color in this field can seem lonely - like you’re out of place. Being at MAI let me see how people like me could ascend to top levels of leadership while doing things their own way - from the way they dress, to the way they speak, influence, and lead.”
Boosaba’s journey through the CASE MAI scholarship is a testament to the power of representation in advancement. Opportunities like these not only empower professionals from underrepresented backgrounds but also pave the way for a more inclusive future in educational advancement.