Chris Sanger began as an administrative assistant in the financial aid office in 1981. Five years later she moved to the advancement office and today is the director of donor relations and advancement services.

Q. Forty years with any employer is very rare. What has kept you at Viterbo for more than four decades?

A. So much good happens at Viterbo, and that has been the case throughout my entire time here. The university is a family to me. The people have a great deal of passion for their work and the good of the students is always central to everything we do. I have also been blessed to know so many of the FSPA. It’s been comforting to witness so many examples of their love and support for Viterbo over the years.

Q. Today’s Viterbo must seem like a different world than the university of 1981. What are some interesting facts about that time?

A. Ninth Street was right down the middle of campus in front of Murphy Center and Mississippi Street ran between the south end of Murphy Center and the Fine Arts Center. Before it was Assisi Courtyard, the back of Murphy Center was outlined with a brick wall. The only academic buildings were Murphy Center, the Fine Arts Center, and Brophy Nursing Center. A very positive change over the years has been the collaboration, and less segmentation, of all employees. There is more of a “community” feel that continues to evolve and grow even today.

Q. You see firsthand the difference scholarships can make in the lives of students. What would you like people to know?

A. Our students are so appreciative of the scholarships they receive. I get hundreds of heartfelt thank you letters from them, and I get the privilege of sharing these with donors. Benefactors create scholarships for a variety of reasons, and I get to be a part of that as well.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. I love traveling (my bucket list of places to visit is pretty long). I also enjoy reading, being outdoors, watching the Packers and Brewers, and music. Most of all though I love spending time with my grandchildren. They keep me busy in a way that fills me with so much joy. My grandma Charlotte was a pretty special lady to me, and it is my goal to be the same for them.

Q. Included in your many travels have been three visits to Ireland. What is it that makes the Emerald Isle special to you?

A. You just have to say “Ireland” and my heart melts. There is a feel about that country and the people that connects with me. My family roots begin there too. I love traveling the coastal parts of the country because that is where I feel you find the true character of the people. The countryside is beautiful, the people are so genuine, friendly, and fun. I love the fishing towns where you watch the fishermen come in with their catch and how they tend to their boats. Of course, there are the pubs where the locals gather to share a good Irish tale and a pint of Guinness. Life “seems” simple there.