Time flies and alumni flyers
Three months of alumni fun passes by!
Dear Friends:
It has been some time since my last Alumni Friday newsletter- I appreciate your patience!
I have moved house since my last newsletter, back to Dublin after 24 years on the west coast of Ireland. Life has been much more than unpacking boxes!
Successful workshops in Hungary, Spain and the EU Alliance HEROES, left my life immersed in alumni inspiration. I am especially impressed by the efforts of alumni professionals working creatively with limited resources! This was a reoccurring theme for my workshops and I hearken back to one of my favourite alumni phrases:
Be the conductor of the (alumni) orchestra!
Here's an archived Alumni Friday that offers some ideas to ensure you (as the alumni professional) are not the only one responsible for organising alumni events and initiatives. Diffuse this across your institution! Is there an inspiring seminar on campus? Invite alumni! Submissions for a school's time capsule? Ask alumni to contribute! Company speed meet event for students looking for a placement or career path? Nudge a colleague to include alumni in interesting organizations.
Time flies when alumni fun is the tune!
Alumni flyers too! I also was a judge again this year for the AB50C - Almabase 50 Champions - along with fellow stellar judges Dr Shalonda Martin, Jenny Cooke Smith of CASE and Dr Jay Dillon - what an inspiring bunch of alumni and advancement professionals that were celebrated earlier this month! Plan now to put in a nomination for a stellar colleague or a self-nomination - this is for alumni professional worldwide (and I know you are out there! And I know you are awesome!!) Nominations for 2026 will open in April 2026! (Oh and I love this story of how I became a part of this esteemed judging panel - a story of networking!)
Finally, The Alumni Way, the book that started this journey for me turned 4 this year. No longer a wobbly toddler, this book is confidently finding its way around the globe inspiring alumni and alumni professionals to be inspired and love alumni!
No specific challenge this week. Perhaps you can draw some inspiration from Alumni Fridays in the archive! Share this newsletter with alumni-facing colleague (or a student or alum) who needs an energizing boost!
I will try to be with you more regularly from now on. If you would like to have me live (online or in person!) to inspire your alumni or alumni professionals - hit reply - let's talk!
Yours with alumni sparkle,
Maria
Photo: Best recent example of alumni conductor! Álex Garcia (right!) - This was a fabulous alumni event I got to attend while visiting Miguel Hernandez University. A wine tasting! Alumni were the owners of the local, regional and even international wineries- showcasing their wares! An event organized entirely by the faculty (not the alumni office!) but still alumni build that deep affinity back with their alma mater (and drum up interest, profile and business for their winery!) Bravo! Glad I could make it (that's me in the middle and UMH communications guru with the mic Ángie!
