Engaging With Alumni Where They Are

I hope you are all well and will find ample time to enjoy the summer with family and friends.

One of my priorities since becoming president of the Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA) in January has been to engage with alumni where they are and to listen to their concerns and opinions. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you at College events, including the John Jay Associates Reception, Lions basketball games, the John Jay Awards Dinner, the West Coast Honors in San Francisco and Los Angeles and — most recently — Columbia Reunion. I am grateful for the many well wishes and expressions of support I have received, and I continue to work toward meeting more of you in cities around the country and during my travels abroad.

I am also immensely appreciative of the members of the CCAA Board of Directors for their unwavering commitment to furthering alumni engagement. The fond memories we as alumni recall and the new memories we make at Homecoming and reunion are made possible by the dedication of the board, committee members and Alumni Relations staff. Intellectual programming such as Mini-Core Courses, Big Topics | Short Takes, Café Columbia and AlumniTALKs, offered both in person and virtually, provide alumni with opportunities to delve deeper into current topics of interest as well as to learn from distinguished professors in subjects as varied as artificial intelligence and Art Humanities.

Welcome Receptions and New Student Summer Send-offs, Alumni-Hosted Dinners, the Odyssey Mentoring Program and Adulting 101 classes provide opportunities for alumni to welcome students before they arrive on campus and then guide them during their time at the College and into the next phase of their lives, after graduation.

Whether through joining alumni community groups, participating in giving societies, or supporting major fundraising events like the Alexander Hamilton Award Dinner and John Jay Awards Dinner, there are countless ways for College alumni to stay engaged and make a difference in the lives of other alumni and students.

One of my takeaways from these six months of alumni conversations is an awareness of the anxiety that many are feeling about the uncertainties faced by Columbia, its peer institutions and the country as a whole. Concerns about Columbia’s funding and its agreement with the federal government are palpable, as is concern about certain government actions under review by our judicial system. However, Acting President Claire Shipman ’86, SIPA’94 has made it clear that we must “stay true to our core mission as an educational and research institution, and true to our community” and that we will also protect “the University’s academic and operational integrity and independence.” In times of uncertainty, it is our shared values and the strength of our alumni community that can help to light the way forward. I am deeply grateful for the bonds that connect us. Together, we will contribute to shaping Columbia’s bright future.

That said, many parents I have spoken with have indicated that their children have overall been enjoying their undergraduate experience. I echo that, as, on a personal note, my youngest daughter graduated from the College in May (I’m also the parent of a CC’21 and a CC’23). Watching her grow and thrive within the same com- munity that has given, and continues to give, me so much has been a source of immense gratitude and pride. I am especially excited to see her begin her own journey as an engaged alumna, continuing the tradition of connection and service that defines our Columbia experience. Moments like these remind me how powerful and lasting the Columbia bond truly is across generations.

I’ve also had the privilege of speaking directly with many College students, not just in recent months but also through the years. And I am glad to share with you what you probably already know: We have incredibly bright, talented, focused and ambitious students who are also caring, vulnerable and in need of guidance. They need us to continue supporting them and we need to continue supporting each other as we build up our alumni community.

While we have significant challenges to resolve, I remain confident in the Columbia College community. Please feel free to be in touch with me (ccalumni@columbia.edu) with any ideas or suggestions regarding how the CCAA can better support you and the College.