The American University Alumni Board recently added a number of new members, and I am honored to have been selected to join the group. Yesterday I attended my first meeting, and it was a great learning experience, led by Board President Brian Keane and Tara Lang and her team in the AU Alumni office.
The Board spent 12 hours together, touring various parts of the campus that have changed in recent years and meeting with a number of AU officials to discuss how their departments work with and on behalf of alumni.
We wrapped up with dinner where we had a chance to chat among ourselves more informally and get to know each other better.
The newly constituted Board seems to do a great job of bringing together voices from many aspects of the AU alumni community, including undergraduate, graduate, and WCL, as well as representatives from all across the United States and even a couple of people who live all or part time overseas. Kudos to Board VP Erin Fuller for leading a process that resulted in such a high-quality panel and discussion.
The experience and perspectives of each individual should ensure many unique ideas and opinions and hopefully help provide meaningful guidance to the University administration.
President Neil Kerwin and Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Tom Minar are both deeply committed to strengthening the vital bond between alumni and the university community. It will be a two-way street where AU works to help alumni and provide real value to them, but everyone will also be asked to do their part by volunteering, contributing expertise, and of course even giving money.
I am confident there will be great strides made in the next 12 months and I look forward to doing what I can to be a small part of the effort. Stay tuned to this space and be sure to stay plugged in on the AU Alumni web site for more information on a variety of initiatives.
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