Let’s inspire collective positive action by alumni!
Let’s inspire collective positive action by alumni!
Dear Friends,
This week I had the pleasure of presenting a session to one of the universities ranked in the Top tier on the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
This preliminary research had me rereading Professor Julie Ellison’s work on Citizen Alum, including her chapter in Democracy’s Education (Boyte 2015) where she states: “While alumni may tune out fund-raising appeals, many are looking for ways to sustain the civic activism they pursued as undergraduate, graduate, or professional school students.” (p.165) To a two-pager version is here.
Ellison was ahead of her time. The Impact Rankings and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are front and centre to many of our universities and organizations. The challenge is to find meaningful ways to engage these civically-minded alumni collectively to tackle some of the greatest challenges facing our world. In my research some alumni relations programs are doing this well, aligning their work to these sustainable development values of their institution. As Ellison says:
“How can we see, value, and collaborate with public-minded alumni, while also crafting new ways for them to relate back to campus?” (p.161).
Your challenge:
For alumni and advancement professionals: Review your university’s student engagement work, including on volunteering and civic activism. How does your alumni relations work align or extend this work? Can alumni see the link to ways to connects to the UN SDGs?
For students and alumni: Take a moment this Alumni Friday to read about fellow alumni who create social impact on the world. Your institution’s web site will likely feature many of these trailblazers. Be inspired! Consider ways you can get involved and volunteer – remember: think global, act local.
One last thing…
My response to Julie Ellison’s question? I am developing the Impact Alumni Program! It combines career readiness and alumni engagement with social impact. Curious? Some preliminary information on the Impact Alumni program is available here. If you would like to get some more information on the program, hit reply and I will add you to the waiting list.
Want to inspire your alumni leaders to continue a life as an active citizen? I have all 17 SDGs covered with alumni events and initiatives! Book a Discovery Call with me and I can bring this your alumni leadership!
With alumni inspiration,
Maria
Quote from the book
“Our degree doesn’t prepare us for independence, but interdependence . We must embrace collaboration, partnerships, and teamwork, fostering our potential for effective leadership.”
The Alumni Way, p. 73
Below Photo: In good company! I managed to sign my books at the Trinity College Dublin Bookshop this week! Exciting times! The Alumni Way is still 50% off with Policy Press until the end of the month!
