DIA honors WSU business alumna as "Volunteer of the Year"

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Staff Aides Committee has named Doreen Lawrence as its 2013 Volunteer of the Year. Lawrence (B.A. ’78) has been volunteering with the DIA for the past six years.

As a staff aid volunteer, her Wednesday morning duties typically include assisting various departments within the DIA by copying and collating documents, assembling information packets, stuffing envelopes and filing paperwork. Since 2009, Lawrence has been responsible for arranging the quarterly enrichment activities and luncheons for the staff aides in conjunction with their quarterly meetings. The enrichment activities often include behind-the-scenes tours of places such as the Detroit Athletic Club, Flint Institute of Arts, G.R. N’Namdi Gallery and Cranbrook Art Museum. The staff aides have said that they enjoyed the enrichment activities immensely and have learned so much and visited so many places they had always wanted to see.

Lawrence loves being surrounded by the beauty and creativity in the DIA. She enjoys seeing the eager faces of guests as they soak up the riches the museum has collected throughout the years. She has enjoyed regular visits to the DIA since she was a young girl and has continued the tradition with her daughters by celebrating their birthdays at the museum, chaperoning school field trips, leading Brownie groups and attending the Detroit Film Theatre.  

Lawrence is married to Jon Lawrence, a project manager, and they have two grown daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine. Elizabeth, a chef, is currently obtaining her business degree, and Catherine is an executive recruiter. Both of her daughters live in Michigan and are getting married this year.

Since retiring as an entrepreneur, Doreen Lawrence has enjoyed her hobbies, which include travel, working with senior citizens and gardening.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been adapted from a DIA media release.

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