Amazing Davidson Students Prompt Former College Employee to Give Back

Lisa Smith spent 15 years working as part of Davidson’s then-named Information Technology Services and another eight years at E.H. Little Library. The highlight of both positions and all 23 years: Davidson students.

Lisa was always stunned by how much Davidson students would accomplish, even when they were on break from classes.

“I would ask my students what they did during their time away, and it was never sleeping late or binge-watching TV shows, which would have been my answers,” Lisa joked. “No, these students had worked in hospitals abroad or set up a new company with a roommate or interned with a senator.”

She was so inspired by students that she and her husband, UNC Charlotte Professor Moutaz Khouja, have included a generous gift to Davidson in their estate plans.

“Students were always respectful, delightful, intelligent, driven—unbelievable people,” she said. “So we figured what better way to put our money forward than investing in people who are doing such great things in the world.”

While Lisa’s own college experience was not at Davidson, and she has worked at several higher education institutions, including her current employer, UNC Charlotte, Davidson remains a special part of her life.

“I’ve been singing in the Choral Arts Society for as long as it’s been going on, and there’s no way to describe it other than to say it’s a spiritual experience,” Lisa said. “It is such a meaningful opportunity to bring together staff, faculty, students and the community, so that is why we hope to make a difference for the music department and students pursuing those interests.

“Just like athletes preparing for a game, a student performing on stage or in a concert gets one shot to do their best job,” she continued. “A lot of places talk about a commitment to excellence, but Davidson achieves it. Everyone pulls together to make the college the best it can be. We want to support that.”

To learn more about estate planning and how you can support Davidson College, please contact Dawn Smith at 704-894-2103 or dasmith@davidson.edu.