Building connections, creating impact: Meet Dentistry’s new Development Officer

A conversation with Brooklyn Zenkewich

Tell us a little about yourself and your professional background. What experiences have shaped your career and prepared you for your new role as development officer?

Brooklyn: I graduated from the Edwards School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Human Resources in 2023. After completing my classes in December 2022, I joined the HR and Payroll team at Nutrien's Cory Mine, where I gained valuable experience working with people, building relationships, and supporting organizational priorities.

In January 2024, I returned to Edwards as a Development Coordinator on the Advancement team. During my two and a half years there, I learned so much about fundraising, alumni engagement, and donor relations, and I quickly discovered a passion for the work. I've always enjoyed building relationships and connecting with people, which is what initially drew me to Human Resources. Development has allowed me to combine that passion with the opportunity to help people make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

What attracted you to the College of Dentistry?

Brooklyn: What attracted me most to the College of Dentistry was the opportunity to work with a community that has such a direct and meaningful impact on people's lives.

I was also drawn to the opportunity to reconnect and engage alumni to showcase the incredible growth, advancements, and transformation the college has experienced over the years. There is so much exciting momentum within the college, and I look forward to helping alumni and supporters see the impact of that progress and remain connected to its future.

What does the role mean to you, and how do you see development and philanthropy contributing to the college’s ability to make a difference in Saskatchewan and beyond?

Brooklyn: Dentistry plays such an important role in people's overall health and quality of life. Oral health is closely connected to systemic health, and access to quality dental care can have a lasting impact on a person's physical well-being. To me, dentistry is about much more than treating teeth and gums. It's about helping people live healthier lives, preventing disease and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities alike.

Philanthropy plays a critical role in helping the College of Dentistry continue to make that difference. Donor support helps provide students with access to scholarships and awards, enhances learning environments and clinical spaces, supports research and innovation, and creates opportunities for outreach and community engagement. Advancement is about connecting generous individuals with opportunities to make a lasting impact, ensuring the college can continue to educate future dental professionals.

Brooklyn Zenkewich

What is your personal philosophy when it comes to philanthropy, donor engagement and developing meaningful, lasting relationships?

Brooklyn: My philosophy is centered on relationships, gratitude, and understanding impact. Coming from Edwards, where I primarily worked in donor relations and alumni engagement, I saw firsthand how meaningful a simple thank you can be. Most people don't give because they want recognition; they give because they want to make a difference. What they do want is to understand the impact of their support and know that it matters.

I believe successful donor engagement starts with listening. Every donor has their own story, motivations, and connection to an institution. Taking the time to understand those perspectives helps build trust and creates relationships that are genuine and lasting. When donors can see the difference they're making, they become partners in the success of the college rather than simply supporters of it.

As you begin your new role, what opportunities, priorities, and aspirations do you see for strengthening connections and advancing the College of Dentistry's mission?

Brooklyn: I see tremendous opportunities to strengthen relationships between the college, its alumni, donors, community partners, and the dental profession by creating meaningful ways for people to stay connected and engaged. The College of Dentistry has a passionate and supportive community, and I look forward to building on that foundation through events, alumni engagement initiatives, student opportunities, volunteer involvement, and philanthropic partnerships.

On a more personal note, what would you like the dental community to know about you beyond your professional role? What are some of your interests, passions or activities outside of work?

Brooklyn: Outside of work, I'm someone who values spending time with family and friends. I enjoy staying active, whether that's through fitness, spending time outdoors, or hobbies like golfing, slo-pitch, snowshoeing, and spending time at the lake. On campus, you can often find me taking a walk along the river or through the Bowl during my lunch break.

What I'd most like the dental community to know is that I'm genuinely excited to get to know people and learn their stories. Building relationships is one of my favorite parts of this work, and I look forward to connecting with alumni, donors, students, and members of the dental profession and hearing about their experiences and connections to the College of Dentistry.

Most importantly, don't hesitate to stop by and say hello. I always enjoy meeting new people and am never one to turn down a good conversation.

To contact Brooklyn about opportunities to support the college, reach out to her at  brooklyn.zenkewich@usask.ca