UNMC for the record

MMI ‘sock drive’ aims to help community, raise Down Syndrome Awareness

March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day, and the Munroe-Meyer Institute is participating in a “Rock Your Socks” drive. Until the end of March, the MMI Department of Community Engagement will be collecting new socks — size infant to adult — to be donated in April to a local shelter.

There is a collection box at the front desk of the administration offices and at the first floor concierge desk at MMI’s new building at 6902 Pine St. Socks can also be sent via intercampus mail to: Community Engagement/Melonie Welsh, ZIP 5450.

“MMI has held a ‘wacky socks day’ the past several years to mark World Down Syndrome Day,” said Melonie Welsh, director of community engagement at the institute. “This year, we are hoping to build on the enthusiasm here at MMI, as well as reach out to others in the MMI and UNMC community, and see if we can do some good as well as raise awareness.”

In addition, many MMI staff and supporters again will “rock” their own wacky socks on March 21 to show support for World Down Syndrome Day. Members of the community are invited to participate in “Wacky Socks Day” as well, by taking photos of their own wacky socks and posting them on MMI’s Facebook page.

UNMC’s Mello named to AAMC group on institutional advancement’s steering committee

Catherine Mello, director of the UNMC Alumni Association, has been named to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Institutional Advancement (GIA) Steering Committee. Mello’s term will begin on April 8 and end on the last day of the 2022 AAMC Conference for Institutional Advancement.

The AAMC helps individuals within academic medicine grow and learn in their professional roles and develop their leadership capacities. In her new role, Mello will work on the committee planning 2021 and 2022 GIA programming, including the 2022 AAMC Conference for Institutional Advancement.

“I am honored to serve the advancement profession through a volunteer leadership role with the GIA,” Mello said. “With this work, I look forward to bringing more national best practices in engagement to our alumni association at UNMC.”