Mar

Alexis Nolan returns to OVS for a second tour of duty

“Life is not about accumulation, it’s about contribution.” -Stephen R. Covey

Mr. Covey must have had Alexis Nolan on his mind when he said that! Alexis has recently rejoined the Smithsonian’s Office of Visitor Services and Volunteer Management as its new Lead Volunteer Coordinator.

Alexis Miller

The job is as interesting as the title sounds. Alexis works with and supports volunteer coordinators across the Smithsonian, advocating for volunteers and all the programs they are part of. Whether special projects or Institution-wide issues, if it involves volunteers, Alexis is certain to be found lending her ear and expertise. One of the biggest underlying goals Alexis brings to her work is to find the best ways to streamline processes and develop best practices. These efforts in turn maximize the value of volunteer contributions to the Smithsonian as well as make the experience more enjoyable for all.

This is not Alexis’s first tour of duty with OVS. From 2019 to 2022 she served as the department’s Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Assistant. Among her more notable accomplishments was organizing the Smithsonian Volunteer Appreciation Event which featured Secretary Bunch as the keynote speaker. Alexis also developed and managed the monthly Smithsonian-wide Volunteer Enrichment programs hosted by OVS. Many readers of Volunteer Voices are probably regular attendees to these programs which continue to this day. It was Alexis who during the pandemic helped transition what had always been in-person events to completely virtual. These days, enrichment programs for volunteers are often a mix between virtual, in-person, and sometimes hybrid. They remain one of the most valued and consumed benefits of volunteering at the Smithsonian.

Alexis Miller with Smithsonian Castle as a backdrop

Alexis Miller on her last day working at the Castle before joining the Zoo in 2022.

In 2022, a career opportunity emerged to take on managing all volunteer programs at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI). For Alexis at the time, it was a dream job, as her love of animals merged with her love of volunteers. She was no stranger to the zoo. Before working for OVS, she was a volunteer herself, as a Keeper Aide at the Zoo’s Kid’s Farm as well as the Small Mammal House. During her time at NZCBI as the Lead Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Alexis restructured the volunteer program department, brought back the Interpreter program following the pandemic, developed a volunteer program for the opening of the new Bird House, and said goodbye to the pandas (no, she was not the one responsible for their leaving).

Her landing in DC and the Smithsonian may have always been in the cards, but the journey was not a short one. Alexis is originally from the suburbs of Los Angeles, CA. Her early years were spent visiting museums and cultural institutions such as the Getty, the La Brea Tarpits, and the Stagecoach Inn Park. She initially came to our region in 2010 to attend graduate school, but when she realized she wanted to work in the museum field, it became obvious she had found her new home. Her earliest experiences in the museum field were in education, teaching kids on school field trips, and of course, working with volunteers. It was that experience of working with volunteers that made her change her career trajectory to where it has taken her today.

In her free time, Alexis loves spending time with her husband and two dogs. They enjoy exploring new parks and visiting local breweries. It may be during these quieter moments when she can reflect on the work she is so dedicated to.

When asked what her message to Smithsonian volunteers as Volunteer Appreciation month approaches, she started off as we all would: “Thank you!” Alexis also wants to acknowledge the astounding contributions that volunteers make to the Smithsonian. “We appreciate your dedication, your excitement, your joy, and of course, your time. Time is the only thing you can never get back. It’s precious. And you choose to give yours to us. So, thank you. Enjoy this month that is all about you!” Well said!

Steven R. Covey tells us that life is about contribution. For Alexis, all that she enjoys involves making contribution. Her museums, the animals she gets to care for, and the volunteers she is so committed to supporting all benefit from her contributions.

Welcome back to OVS, Alexis!