Terra Strange's journey from college graduate to impactful roles at The Blood Connection (TBC) over the past 17 years showcases the power of education and passion intersecting with a vital cause.
Prepared with a bachelor's degree in communications from Lander University in 2006, Strange entered the workforce equipped with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical communication skills essential for her career path.
“My communications studies at Lander gave me a solid background in marketing and public relations and prepared me for my previous and current roles at TBC,” she said.
Her initial job as an account coordinator included working both on-site and in the community at mobile along with coordinating blood drive sponsors. “After a short time, I realized that this was not just a job,” she said. "My desire to find purpose in my work and truly make an impact — not just in my life but in others — guided me to my career." Strange shared.
Her dedication soon led to a promotion as a territory manager, where she supervised regional blood donation efforts for over six years. In 2017, she transitioned to the role of promotions and community engagement coordinator, a position that allowed her to fully utilize her communication skills and educational background. In this capacity, Strange worked closely with the public to increase awareness about the critical need for blood donations.
She was recently promoted to Upstate Donor Resources Manager tasked with overseeing the blood donation efforts for the upstate. “I love working with our coordinators, being in the community and knowing that all the hard work is truly making a difference in my community and supporting those community members who rely on the blood products that we collect daily in order to support our local hospitals,” Strange said.
The Greenville native also frequently speaks at various civic organizations and appears on television public affairs programs, where she advocates the importance of blood donation. She credits her time at Lander for broadening her horizons.
"My studies in mass communications at Lander allowed me to explore marketing and even theatre, which helped build my confidence and adaptability in real-life situations," she said.
The Blood Connection is an independently managed, non-profit community blood center with 15 centers in South Carolina North Carolina, and Georgia. It serves 100 hospitals in over 90 counties. For more information, visit thebloodconnection.org. For more information on Lander’s media & communications programs, visit www.lander.edu/media.