Alumni Leaders Listen and Act

With the help of several alumni leaders, SMU is aiming to give alumni broader opportunities for involvement and giving to support the University's rise in national prominence, according to Connie Blass O'Neill ('77), 2007-2009 Alumni Board Chair. Feedback from focus groups has prompted the creation of four new committees and chairs: Campus Outreach (chaired by Jennifer Cronin '94), Travel and Education (Andrea Zafer '88), Regional Outreach (Bill Vanderstraaten '82), and Networking (Stewart Henderson '81.)

Connie O'Neill ('77)

"We want to offer quality programs our alumni want to be involved in and we want that sense of family. Our constituency is very broad-based in age and interests," says O'Neill, who will serve as chair for two years. The Board wants to engage alumni from all walks of life, including the non-profit and business worlds, the arts, public service, ministry and high tech fields, to name a few.

The 34-member Board represents a diverse cross-section of graduates, who range from the Class of 1957 to 2006 and live across the nation as well as in the Dallas area.

One of SMU's goals is to double the alumni giving rate to 30 percent over the next several years, according to Marcus Malonson ('93), immediate past chair. "At great institutions such as Harvard and Yale, the percentage of their alumni who give back to them is well above the national average," he says, adding that alumni giving rates can impact both college rankings and support from foundations.

Marcus Malonson ('93)

Making alumni and their families feel welcome on campus is a major objective. One way is through the Boulevard, offering pre-game festivities each football Saturday at home. Popular Dallas restaurants are sponsoring free food at the alumni tent. "After-parties" are being held for young alumni at regional University events. A Legacy reception was held for graduating seniors and their alumni parents at graduation. And alumni now have a home base in the recently remodeled Faculty Club on Daniel Avenue, where they are encouraged to join the club and connect to academic life through a faculty luncheon series and special themed dinners. Another new program is the SMU-in-Taos Cultural Institute, offering weekend courses each July with distinguished University faculty.