When Abby Shearer talks about leadership, she speaks with the confidence of someone who has spent more than twenty-five years building teams, driving strategy, and helping organizations grow. Her professional background spans merchandising, planning, product development, marketing, and executive leadership for public companies, where she has led initiatives involving digital commerce, domestic and international expansion, and cross-functional collaboration.
“I am a collaborative leader,” Abby explained during her interview with me. “I build high-performance teams and work closely with cross-functional executives.”
Today, she is bringing that same collaborative mindset to a different kind of growth: expanding the network of Conversations to Remember student organizations across college campuses throughout the U.S. As a member of the Board of Directors and now President of the Board, Abby has become a driving force behind the initiative to support existing C2R student clubs and help new ones get started.
Driven by Passion and Personal Significance
Abby first became involved with Conversations to Remember after seeing a posting for a board position. Although her professional experience was rooted in business leadership, the organization’s mission immediately resonated with her on a personal level.
“I think most people are touched by what Conversations to Remember is helping with, which is the social isolation of older adults,” she said.
Her connection to the mission of C2R comes from her own family’s experiences. Abby’s grandmother lived with Alzheimer’s disease, and she witnessed first-hand the challenges that cognitive decline can bring not only for the individual but for the entire family. She also saw the impact of loneliness on her grandfather after the loss of his wife.
“I was fortunate that I was able to have a lot of interaction with my grandfather,” she shared. “My sisters and I included him in our lives, and I could see how vital that connection was so that he didn’t feel isolated.”
Those experiences shaped her passion for the organization’s work.
“The mission of what Conversations to Remember is doing is something I experienced myself,” Abby said. “I saw what my grandparents went through, and I feel really passionate about the importance of what the organization does.”
Supporting a Growing Network of Student Leaders
While the Board of Directors provides overall guidance for the organization, Abby has taken a particularly active role in developing and supporting Conversations to Remember’s student organization initiative.
“What I’m really excited about is having that day-to-day impact,” she explained.
One of the ways she stays connected with student leaders is through Rocket.Chat, where club officers can quickly ask questions, share updates, and receive support from the national organization that they are representing at their respective colleges. As a new academic year begins, much of her work has focused on helping clubs prepare for a successful semester.
“Right now we’re gathering a lot of information,” Abby explained. “As students graduate, we need to make sure we have updated leadership information and know who is taking over those positions within each club.”
She is also working closely with student organizations as they develop their semester plans. Each club is asked to complete three core events:
- A Senior Support Event, where members create a personalized and meaningful gift for their assigned older adult.
- An Awareness Event, designed to educate peers about aging, loneliness, and social isolation among older adults.
- A Fundraising Event, such as a bake sale, to help support Conversations to Remember’s nonprofit mission.
“The goal is to make sure these are meaningful events,” Abby said. “We want alignment between the student organizations and Conversations to Remember so that everyone understands what the club is working to accomplish.”
Although these three events are the minimum expectation, Abby encourages clubs to expand beyond them and develop creative programming that reflects the interests and strengths of their campus communities.
Creating Awareness Across Campuses
For Abby, she sees the student organization initiative and these clubs that are being created as powerful opportunities to educate students about an issue that is often overlooked.
“I think there’s so much that students can get involved with,” she said. “The clubs can be at the forefront of bringing awareness to Conversations to Remember and the important mission the organization is on.”
She believes that college students are uniquely positioned to make a meaningful impact on older generations, whether through direct volunteer calls, awareness campaigns, or community-building events.
“As a young organization, understanding the impact that students can have on older adults is super important,” Abby explained. “These clubs give students a way to participate together and really get the awareness of aging and social isolation out there.”
Many Ways to Make a Difference
One of the key points Abby emphasizes is that there are multiple ways for students to get involved with Conversations to Remember.
“You can volunteer to be on the calls with a senior, which is incredibly important because you get that direct interaction,” she said. “But you don’t have to be a call volunteer to participate in a student organization.”
This distinction has been especially important as new clubs have formed. Some students join the clubs because they want to participate in virtual companionship calls with the national organization, C2R, while others are drawn to the club’s awareness events, fundraising efforts, and service projects.
“The clubs allow students to have that connection with their fellow students on campus while still supporting the mission,” Abby explained. “It’s another meaningful way to volunteer and get involved.”
Encouraging Future Clubs
As interest in Conversations to Remember continues to grow, Abby hopes more students will consider starting clubs at their own colleges and universities.
“First, understand what your college requires to start a student organization,” she said. “Talk with student activities, find an advisor, and learn what the process looks like. Then reach out to us so we can explain our expectations and help support the mission.”
Her vision is not simply to create more clubs, but to build a sustainable network of student leaders who are committed to reducing loneliness among older adults and creating meaningful intergenerational connections.
“Connecting lonely older adults, including those with cognitive decline, with college-age students is at the heart of what we do,” Abby said. “I think a lot of students have been touched by this issue in their own lives, which makes it something many people can relate to.”
With Abby helping guide the student organization initiative, Conversations to Remember is laying the foundation for a growing community of student leaders who are turning compassion into action. Through awareness and direct service, these clubs are ensuring that older adults across the country are reminded of something deeply important: they are valued, remembered, and never alone.