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When Pamela Gaary Holran ’88 left Lafayette, she never imagined that she would remain connected with her alma mater in such an active way.
Now she serves the College as vice president at large of the Alumni Association Executive Committee and member of the Board of Trustees.
“When I graduated from Lafayette, staying connected to the College was the farthest thing from my mind,” says the history graduate. “At that time, I had no idea as to the number of alumni who spend countless hours working for the good of the college community.”
Holran began volunteering for Lafayette after earning her law degree from George Washington University in 1991. She and her husband, government and law graduate Peter Holran ’87, joined international affairs graduate Jeffrey McCafferty ’89 in leading the Washington, D.C. alumni chapter.
“When I first started volunteering, Jeff, Peter, and I simply were having fun and felt we could contribute,” she recalls. “We enjoyed planning events for the chapter and working with the College to create an alumni chapter that was responsive to the needs of the College and the local alumni.”
She worked in wireless telecommunications law at Lukas, Nace, Guttierez and Sachs, currently located in Tyson’s Corner, Va., for eight years. After the birth of her second child, Holran decided to leave her practice to spend more time with her children.
“Throughout my years at the law firm and over the past several years, Lafayette has been a comforting, rewarding, and challenging part of my life,” she says.
Holran has served on the Executive Committee since she was invited to join in 1998. She believes her involvement with the committee allows her to provide historical perspective as it moves forward with new initiatives. She also served on the Volunteer Task Force, was a board associate, and was a member of the Presidential Search Committee. In 2005, she was elected to a five-year term on the Board of Trustees.
“As I became more involved, I realized that I was also continuing my education,” she says. “The numerous meetings and planning sessions afforded me the opportunity to express opinions, think strategically, and generally practice many of the skills I was also required to use as a young attorney. In addition, I could learn through watching and listening to others – no small benefit when you look at the quality of Lafayette’s alumni, staff, and faculty.”
Holran applied to Lafayette on the recommendation of her guidance counselor without even visiting campus. She soon found that Lafayette was a home away from home.
“Now, for so many reasons, I believe that Lafayette was meant to be part of my life,” she says. “Lafayette has truly been a unique, lifelong experience for me. As an undergraduate, I felt comfortable in class and supported by the professors, and I fulfilled my goal by being accepted to law school. I met my future husband and made lifelong friends both as a student – many of those friends I continue to see every summer for ‘Girls’ Get Away Weekend’ – and as a graduate connecting to alumni whom I did not know particularly well at school.”
She credits Jacob Cooke, John Henry MacCracken Professor Emeritus of History, with making her academic experience motivating and fulfilling. He also encouraged her during the application process for law school.
“There were a number of professors I remember with fondness and respect, but I have a special fondness for my adviser, Professor Cooke in the history department,” she says. “His dry sense of humor – especially about college students – and depth of knowledge made class interesting. His matter-of-fact confidence that I could go to law school relieved my doubts.”
Nearly 20 years after graduating, Holran believes her Lafayette experience is still in progress. She says the College’s mission has inspired her to remain involved and to continue searching for ways to contribute to its improvement.
“Because of that steadfast mission, I received an education that has proved valuable in many ways,” she says. “Today, as I volunteer with Lafayette, I am continuously struck by the commitment of the many dedicated staff, faculty, and alumni volunteers. I believe this commitment stems from an appreciation for the College, its traditions, and its mission. Lafayette College provides a warm, dynamic environment with countless opportunities, both big and small, to contribute, to grow, and to enjoy.
“I highly encourage young alumni to volunteer with any organization that is meaningful to them for the exposure and extra training you receive.”