Donor Stories

Berea experience brings opportunities to twin sisters, changing life trajectories and influencing philanthropic goals.

Twins Linda and Lana have always lived intertwined lives, from childhood, through college and even with unanticipated similar journeys throughout their impactful careers. Their great love of Berea College, both past a present, fuels their current and future philanthropic support of their alma mater and its high-achieving students.

Both first-generation college students, they appreciate the College’s “commitment to the Appalachian region and the understanding that kids can be really smart and not be in an academically advantageous environment,” said Linda.  Born and raised with their seven siblings in a small Appalachian town in Kentucky, they gravitated toward the smaller, supportive environment of Berea and the College’s no-tuition promise.  They found the College to offer a robust academic environment and a community of support and learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

Always curious and academically strong, they credit their successful experience at Berea and beyond to a solid foundation of great elementary and high school teachers and parents who taught them honesty, hard work, and generosity.  The sisters and their siblings attended a one-room school through elementary school and Lana said, “a lot of people would look at going to a one-room school as a detriment.”  She noted that this environment allowed them exposure to lessons being taught to students in higher grades, and their supportive teachers encouraged their intrigue and accelerated learning.

Linda, who earned an undergraduate degree in psychology, values the small class sizes at Berea and believes there is greater opportunity in a smaller learning environment with attentive faculty.  She indicated that this kind of nurturing and reinforcement helped students understand that “there is a bigger world out there than you may have experienced.”  She notes that, “it is the commitments of the institution, the quality of individuals who want to be connected to this institution, and the size that provides the opportunity to develop relationships.”

Lana, who earned an undergraduate degree in sociology, remembers learning from faculty who were committed to the Appalachian region.  While studying at Berea, she traveled with classmates to the Highlander Center, an advocacy organization for the Appalachian region, where she had opportunities to participate in activities to advance her learning. She traveled to Hazard, Kentucky, to work with an organization that assisted miners, and also participated in an internship at the Presbyterian Children’s Home in Buckhorn, Kentucky. “I had a lot of opportunities to really get socially involved with some of the major causes in terms of the region at that point in time,” said Lana. These experiences inspired her continued education and professional work, with Lana securing her first job at the Presbyterian Children’s Home.

After their time at Berea College, Linda and Lana unknowingly applied to graduate school at the University of Kentucky at the same time, with both applying for admission to the College of Social Work.

Linda earned a master’s degree in social work and initially had an interest in a clinical environment.  A few years later, she realized an appreciation for the more administrative aspects of organizations and returned to the University of Kentucky to earn a Master of Business Administration degree.  Throughout her career she served in various roles including clinical administrator for a health care center, senior vice president/chief financial officer for a regional health system, a consultant, and director of compensation, benefits and recruiting for University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).  Upon reflection of her career experiences, she said what ties her career together is the idea that “every person has a story, and it was one of the most important lessons I learned — everyone’s life path is different.  Every person’s story is different.  It is one of the marvels of the universe, and as a person of faith, I think it is a marvel in terms of how we were created that every person has a unique contribution to make to the world,” said Linda.  “When you get right down to it, there’s cultural and customs differences, and at their core people are people all over the world. The goal of organizations and leaders, and maybe us as a society and community, is to learn how to leverage those people and the unique contributions that they can make to the world.”

Lana obtained her master’s in social work from the University of Kentucky, and several years later earned her Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Utah.  While Lana started her career working in more clinical settings, she also moved into administrative roles.  She spent more than 20 years working for the state of Utah and reached the position of deputy director for the department of human services.  Of her many career accomplishments, Lana is most proud of her role in securing a federal grant based on a principle of systems of care and building the supports around children and families while honoring parent voice.  “The concept around the system of care is that the parent and child were at the center and then it was our responsibility with that system of care grant to bring supports and services into the homes of those children and families,” said Lana.  “It was a family network and is the culmination of my whole professional career.”  According to Linda, “throughout her career Lana has been known as an innovator and someone who is able to grow programs and systems.”    “One of my first jobs after I got my master’s was with a community mental health center, and I was really fortunate to have supervisors who pushed the limits of innovation,” said Lana.  She credits Berea College with instilling in her confidence and a knowledge of her own capability.  “I have to acknowledge that I had a certain skill set that Berea helped nurture and start, and I had the fortitude and willingness to go beyond what Berea started,” said Lana.  “I saw Berea as a great start,” and it assisted her in, “learning how to actively advocate for others.”

While the twin sisters shared time as undergraduate students, graduate students, and even colleagues at one employer early in their careers, they each forged a strong path that positively impacted so many who benefitted from their career endeavors.  They both credit the mentorship they received at Berea to be of significant importance and influence upon them, and they wish to provide this type of solid foundation and opportunity to future academically talented students who do not have the means to afford higher educational opportunities.

The sisters are loyal supporters of Berea College through annual gifts and their planned gifts. Linda notes that she and her husband, David, have included Berea College in their estate plans. “I think there are people who have invested in us and everybody with a story there has incredible talent, capability, intellect and a gift, and I want to support that,” said Linda.  She and David are excited to invest “in someone who’s showing initiative and promise and seems to have a potential that you don’t know who they’re going to be and what contribution they’re going to make to the world,” said Linda.  “It’s investing in potential.”

Lana knew years ago that she wanted to implement a savings strategy for the benefit of Berea College.  While planning ahead and saving for her family, she also intentionally established an investment retirement account designating Berea College as the sole beneficiary.  By making bi-monthly, pre-tax deposits into this account for 25 years during both good and challenging times, she said her bequest gift will be, “beyond what I ever thought I could give.”  She notes that thoughtful philanthropic planning offers a multitude of ways to impact the College and its students and, with deliberate intention, donors can establish a gift planning mechanism that works best for them and their considerations. 

Lana feels strongly about supporting students from the Appalachian area. “Some of my best friends are from Appalachia, so that is my provision—I want the money to be used to educate kids from Appalachia because it is the highway out of poverty and a whole different life,” said Lana.  “Linda and I were lucky that we did well academically in high school, so we had options,” she said.  “I want to make sure that kids who have that academic ability have the opportunity.  My hope is this will encourage somebody else to give.”

The College recently learned that Linda and Lana’s sister Tammy Lambert ’82, who graduated from Berea College with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, also created an estate gift for the College.  The family’s legacy to Berea and its students is growing!