“I’ve brought my label maker,” Peggy Carlson laughed. She has always been a go-getter even from childhood—when she was six, she learned to drive a riding lawn mower alongside her family. Today, she’s the new alumni director in the Advancement Office. Her new role at Union requires organization and attention to detail, two things she’s skilled at. It also helps that she is taking the place of a woman she’s known and loved for a long time, her mother-in-law, Kenna Lee Carlson.
Peggy graduated from Union with a business administration degree in 2000. Six weeks later, she married Dan Carlson and joined the Carlson family. She, like Kenna Lee, was a stay-at-home mom for her kids—Katie and Alicia—for a few years before taking up a position at Rainwood Interiors as the office manager.
But Peggy’s passion is learning new things, so she’s happy to be in a position now that requires growth. “I like to challenge myself,” she said. “This seemed like a good opportunity to try something different that’s not in my wheelhouse. And so far everyone’s been very helpful and accommodating, which is very sweet.”
She’s also excited to return to her alma mater and be a part of what was her past and what might be her kids’ future. “I am really excited to be back on campus,” Peggy said. “I was a fourth generation Union College student myself. My Union roots are deep. Being able to be back here is just powerful.”
by Maria Kercher, senior communication major