Clark University - Clarknews fall 2005
Alumni news and notes (fall 2005)
Dear Clark Alumni,
The new academic year is under way. Thanks to a large number of alumni volunteers and their work with students it is turning out to be quite a busy semester.
Regional Alumni Communities held special kick-off receptions in July where students and alumni welcomed incoming stu dents and their parents into the Clark family. Thank you to all the hosts and the alumni for their participation in these receptions. On Aug. 20, more than 30 alumni, staff and students helped the Class of 2009 move into Wright and Bullock Halls. While other schools have student help, proud and happy parents continue to tell us Clark is one of the few that also involve its alumni.
This past year, our Clark family continued to grow with more domestic Regional Alumni Communities and Communities in South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand. Visit the newly designed community pages on the Alumni Online Community to get more information about how to get involved with or start a Regional Alumni Community in your area.
One of Clark's newest traditions, Homecoming/CougarFest was held on Sept. 23 and 24, in conjunction with Family Weekend. Hundreds of alumni and Clark family members came to campus for the fun. Some of the highlights in cluded the men's and women's alumni soccer games, the 25th-anniversary alumni hockey game, the third-annual Pasticcio Bowl and a celebration honoring alumni who volunteer on behalf of the University. During the Alumni Association meeting held during the weekend, new strategies to increase alumni participation in the alumni trustee election process were also established. Details on these changes are on the alumni Web site, www.clarku.edu/bylaw.
On Nov. 7 and 8, the Alumni-in-Residence Program returns for its second year. Many alumni from various backgrounds were invited to campus to teach classes in their field of expertise, participate in career panels and meet informally with students and faculty. This program provides positive role models for students, brings an outside perspective into the classroom and involves alumni in the life of the University.
This summer, we also said goodbye to a good friend and supporter of the Alumni Association. Debbie Bieri, wh o has served as Clark's vice president for University Advancement for the last seven years, left Clark to become a senior vice president for Institutional Advancement at Berklee College of Music in Boston. During her tenure at Clark, Bieri led the successful Campaign 2000 to its conclusion and worked closely with President Bassett and the trustees to reorganize and upgrade the University Advancement Office. She was instrumental in helping the Alumni Association achieve many of the goals in its Strategic Plan.
As the search for her successor is under way, Alumni Affairs Director Bill Bennett M.P.A. '97 has been appointed interim director of University Advancement. Bill and I are enthusiastic about Clark's future and the role our Alumni Association will play in advancing the University. Throughout the year, at regional events around the world, at Reunion 2006 (May 19–21), and at every alumni, parent and friend function, you will be hearing the rally cry to stay engaged with this wonderful University, keep informed about all the new initiatives and help promote Clark whenever possible. We have much to be proud of at Clark, including the University's recent selection as one of the 25 hottest colleges in the nation by Kaplan/Newsweek with the designation “Hottest for Student Research.”
As always, I urge you to get involved with Clark. Your support is vital and always appreciated.
Sincerely,
Faith Linsky '76
Alumni Association President
Alumni and Parent Admissions News
Three years after leaving my post as the assistant coordinator of the Alumni Admissions Program, I have come full circle, once again working with our alumni in my new position as director of the Alumni and Parent A dmissions Program. I embrace and look forward to this opportunity. When I arrived at Clark in 1996, Debra Wingood headed the Alumni Admissions Program (AAP). She implemented systems that created a strong base upon which the AAP could build. Andy Schechter '90 and Tricia Uber '94, two of her successors with whom I had the privilege of working, each guided the program to new growth and expansion. With your continued support, that growth will continue.
Last month, we welcomed an extraordinary class of young adults to campus as the newest members of the Clark community. These students are bright, curious and socially engaged in the tradition of the classes before them. As AAP representatives, you played a significant role in helping the Admissions Office recruit these students. You helped us in so many ways: introducing students to Clark by representing us at college fairs, providing qualified students with fee waivers, hosting regional information sessions, interviewing students for admission and for scholarships, calling admitted students to congratulate them and offering to share your experiences and answer their questions. We depend on you because there is no substitute for talking with the experts—the alumni who lived the Clark experience and whose lives illustrate the value of a Clark education.
As the program's new name suggests, there is an added focus to my position. I have been charged with developing a parent volunteer program that will complement the work of our alumni. I am eager to begin working on this exciting challenge and will update you on the progress of this new program.
During my tenure at Clark, I have had the good fortune to be surrounded by people who share my love of the University and its commitment to making a difference in the world. Because Clark alumni are so generous in sharing their gifts of time and self, I am confident the Alumni and Parent Admissions Program will continue to help the admis sions staff attract and enroll the type of students who will strengthen and maintain the integrity of a Clark degree. I look forward to working with you and encourage you to invite any Clark alumni you know to join this program. For more information, please contact me at 508-793-7775 or jearls@clarku.edu.
Sincerely,
Judy Earls
Director, Alumni and Parent Admissions Program
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