Introducing Lara Edwards, Director of Advancement & Constituent Relations

Welcome, Lara! 

From Head of School, Anne Glass: Lara is thrilled to harness her innate curiosity of people, passion for philanthropy, and love of education to advance the wonderful mission of empowering gifted learners to be active and compassionate citizens of the world. 

INTERVIEW:

What is your new position at Roeper - details like what subjects you will be teaching or for staff, what your job entails, which building will you be working in and who will you be working most closely with? 

Hello Roeperians! I am the new Director of Development and Constituent Relations. My office is in the Hill House and I look forward to meeting you in whichever building you call homebase. I have the pleasure of working alongside Shani Yapa-Kimpson and Paige Wilson.

 

What were one or two highlights in your life? 
I’m already stretching the rules here, but there are three main highlights: Ruby, Amon, and Dawson, my three kiddos.

 

I was born in Boston but grew up in rural mid-Michigan in the ‘80s, in a time characterized by total childhood freedom. My husband Kyle and I lived in a lot of fun college towns together across the U.S. and moved back to the area almost 20 years ago for his job as a film professor at Oakland University

 

What do you like to do when you’re not working?  
I like to spend as much time as possible with my husband and kids. On Saturdays during the winter, you’ll find us on bleachers in the “cult” of wrestling for our youngest two guys. I also love to read, garden, and force my family on nature walks.

 

What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why do you like to?
I love reading children's stories. That may have been where I peaked as a parent–and now I am so excited to have the chance to pop into the Lower School buildings to listen to and read aloud again with kids.

   

What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you first became acquainted with the school? 
Oh my goodness. The first time I visited Roeper you could have lifted my jaw up off the floor. I had no idea education could be like this. It is just so amazing.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Just that I adore the Roeper mascot.