Jamie Seward
Baltimore native and Navy veteran Jamie Seward spends her days engaging with alumni volunteers around the country to connect them through shared interests and professions. Through her work Jamie brings together alumni from all nine divisions to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other. She is also the staff liaison for the Alumni Council’s Student and Alumni Engagement Committee, and a two-time Community Impact Leader as part of the Johns Hopkins United Way Campaign.
Jamie started at Johns Hopkins with the Office of Annual Giving in January 2017 and then moved to her current role in the Office of Alumni Relations in January 2019.
Jamie earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1997 and a law degree from New England Law in 2000. Before coming to Hopkins, she was an officer with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps at the Washington Navy Yard and at the U.S. Naval Academy. Following her service, Jamie worked as an assistant attorney general with the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. She was also in private practice for several years before transitioning to her career in development.
What brought you to Johns Hopkins?
I have always felt a strong connection to Johns Hopkins. My grandfather, Joseph Blum, MD, graduated from Hopkins as an undergraduate in 1926; my grandmother, Edith D. Blum, graduated from Peabody in 1930 at the age of 16; and my uncle, M. Barry Blum, MD, received his undergraduate degree from the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences in 1957. He is an ophthalmologist at the Wilmer Eye Institute. Also, as a Baltimore City native, I have always valued the positive impact Johns Hopkins has had on my hometown.
How did you get into the development and alumni relations field?
When I was practicing law, I found that I really enjoyed the volunteer leadership roles I held in the community for a variety of philanthropies and organizations. I loved collaborating with other people to create unique, valuable experiences. When the opportunity to have a career in what I was doing as a volunteer presented itself, I had to take the leap and I could not be happier!
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
My proudest accomplishments are my sons, Teddy and Tommy. As a parent, I do my best to instill the importance of volunteering, of giving back, of being inclusive and compassionate, and of being a good person. They make me proud and they make me laugh — a lot.
What do you like most about your job?
I love working with our incredible alumni. Getting to know them, their pursuits, and their interests allows me to continue to learn and grow. When I see alumni connect with one another, that connection strengthens their ties with Hopkins.
What do you like to do when you are not in the office?
I practice hot yoga, play tennis, ski, and drive my boys to all of their sports and activities.
Tell us something we don’t know about you.
In 2017, I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I am always looking for the next adventure. I believe that getting out of my comfort zone is the key to growth. As John A. Shedd said, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”