Brian Plum

The phrase “Been There, Done That” doesn’t even begin to cover the experiences Brian Plum has sought out in his life. Brian has visited more than 35 countries and has been to six of the world’s seven continents. He travels not just to see the world, but to learn about the geography, the people, their place in the world, their history, and their culture. AND to learn about himself. Most of his travels involve working with and for the communities he visits.

While Brian has traveled to well-known and popular destinations, like the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Giza, more often he seeks out the road less traveled.

He and his wife toured the Mines Advisory Group Centre in Laos and saw the aftermath of unexploded weapons. They spent the night with sulfur miners in Indonesia. They observed the efforts to rebuild Christchurch, New Zealand after a massive earthquake. They explored salt mines and the Labrang Monastery in China. They trekked from village to village in Nepal, traveled to Lebanon as ISIS attacked Syria, and walked nearly 500 miles along El Camino de Santiago.

When Brian served in the Peace Corps in Guatemala and had to learn Ixil, one of the 21 different Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala. He also learned Spanish. To effectively fulfill his Peace Corps responsibilities, he needed to understand Mayan culture, regional history, and effects of the Guatemalan Civil War. He had to become familiar with new crops, tools, and techniques that were unique to his village.

In Guatemala, Brian questioned why villagers’ hair had an orange hue and why some children suffered and died from diarrhea. He discovered that many were drinking water stored in old oil drums. He researched which vitamins and minerals the villagers needed and determined which crops were viable to grow that could provide the needed nutrition. He learned how to design and build potable water storage systems using materials from the village.

To Brian, curiosity means a “never ending sense of awe and a thirst to learn more about the world.”

His nominator wrote, “He has lived his life eagerly, openly, and joyfully, gaining as much understanding about the world and the people in it as he can, and his curiosity inspires others to aspire to learn and grow.”

Brian is Associate Director of Development in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Some people hear the words “philanthropy” and “fundraising” and assume Brian is just asking for money. But Brian strives to learn what people are passionate about and to help them make a lasting impact in higher education.

Brian, for your passion for learning, your willingness to step outside your comfort zone, and your pursuit of knowledge, we are pleased to present to you the Faculty-Staff Aspire! Award for CURIOSITY.