When it comes to focusing on what’s important, Colgate students have bifocal vision. While studying with some of the world’s best professors, they’re interacting with alumni and parents to prepare for their careers after commencement. The winter months were packed with activity, and as we touch on just a few of the many stories, we want to say thank you to members of the community who have made it all possible by giving generously of their time and talent.
The Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to offer many ways for alumni to stay in touch with each other, and with Colgate! E-mail me with questions or concerns at tmansfield@colgate.edu.
— Tim Mansfield, associate vice president, institutional advancement; director of alumni relations
Questions? Contact alumni relations: 315-228-7433 or alumni@colgate.edu.
Making MORE Connections
Lisa Hillenbrand ’79, P’16, director of global marketing at Procter & Gamble, chatted with students and alumni before her keynote address
Nearly 100 alumni returned to campus for SophoMORE Connections, January 16 through 18. The annual event, formerly known as Real World, helps second-year students explore career opportunities through inspirational conversations with alumni, faculty, and staff. Almost 400 sophomores attended their choice of 14 different sessions. They also participated in workshops on networking, interviewing, and using LinkedIn.
The highlight of the weekend came on Friday, when Lisa Hillenbrand ’79, P’16, director of global marketing at Procter & Gamble, spoke to undergraduates. Hillenbrand leads marketing efforts for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, from Olay and Cover Girl to Vicks and much more. You can watch her complete address below.
Noting the number of alumni who took time from their busy lives for SophoMORE Connections, President Jeffrey Herbst told students, “That they have come back here this weekend is a testament to their commitment to the institution and to you. What you hear today and the resources available through career services and the alumni network — these are all for you, and you should take advantage of them in order to complement a wonderful liberal arts education.”
Registration was up nearly 30 percent for the weekend-long program, “the result of our new strategy to work with students earlier in their Colgate careers,” said Associate Vice President and Director of Career Services Michael Sciola. You can play an important part in that new strategy: click here to find out how you can use your professional experience and expertise to help advance the career of a student or recent graduate.
Wolk conference on health care careers
In February, more than 50 students aspiring to careers in health care attended the Michael J. Wolk ’60 Conference on Medical Education — a two-day program featuring speeches and panel conversations with representatives from a variety of health care professions and organizations. Each session focused on a different facet of the theme Health Care Reform: The Future is Now. Conversations covered big-picture subjects like the Affordable Care Act as well as nuts-and-bolts topics like the medical school process.
The conference keynote was delivered by Dr. Fred Ochieng, co-founder of Lwala Community Alliance. Dr. Wolk followed with a presentation on the Affordable Care Act, expressing his hope that the legislation will help the uninsured gain access to lower cost, higher quality health care.
“We have to think about how we will be able to change the system of medicine and the delivery of care,” Wolk said.
The combination of practice- and policy-related content was a plus for attendees. “I came looking to gain some information on the Affordable Care Act, because I want to be more familiar with it as I go into the public health field,” said Jessica Staley ’14.
The conference also served as a forum to announce the launch of the Health and Wellness professional network on February 19 in Boston. The network creates mentorship opportunities for pre-med students, peer educators, and Wellness Institute interns.
Alumni-powered immersion
Student members of the Colgate Entertainment Group visited the set of
Saturday Night Live.
During the January break, two professional networks offered immersion experiences for Colgate students. A dozen undergraduates from the on-campus Colgate Entertainment Group (CEG) met their alumni counterparts in New York City.
The CEG students headed to NBC Universal, where they toured the sets of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and the Today show, stopped for a visit to the set of Saturday Night Live, and took part in a presentation about obtaining internships. They also visited MTV, Part2pictures, and public relations firm Prosek.
For students interested in real estate careers, the Colgate Real Estate Council hosted 10 sessions with professionals working at some of the industry’s biggest firms. During the course of two days in Manhattan, eight students heard from alumni like Charlotte Myers ’13, who went on the trip one year ago as a senior.
The connections she made helped her get a job at Massey Knakal Reality Services, the leading building sales firm in New York City. The company’s CEO, Paul Massey ’82, also spoke to this year’s group. “It has been a lot of information, a lot to take in,” said Albert Boateng ’14, “but it has been great.”
Colgate’s healthiest network
Graduates working in health-related fields helped launch Colgate’s Health and Wellness Professional Network on February 19 in Boston. “This is an example of how we’re starting to think differently about how we interact with alumni and how we can continue a 70-year dialogue after graduation,” explained Michael Sciola, associate vice president and director of career services.
The university believes that these distinctive networks will also promote the Colgate community’s impact on the world, identify internships for students, and remind alumni that their support plays a crucial part in every undergraduate’s Colgate experience.
Attendees heard Alexandria Dyer ’14 talk about her father’s experiences growing up on Antigua — the inspiration behind her choice to pursue a career in public health. Dr. Ken Sands ’81, senior vice president for health care quality at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, followed Dyer to the podium. He discussed positive trends in U.S. hospital care: greater transparency, greater engagement with patients, technology, and financial alignment.
The Alumni Club of New York brought a splash of maroon to the Sears-Peyton Gallery when Celia Gerard ’95 launched her ninth solo exhibition this winter. Gerard is a visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute. See images from the exhibition, which included Untitled, 2012 (above).
Aveni shows Class on western tour
The stars in their courses couldn’t keep up with Tony Aveni, Russell Colgate Distinguished University Professor of astronomy and anthropology and Native American studies, this winter. As January gave way to February, he went on a western state circuit that included an event at the San Diego, Calif., home of Betty and Brian Dovey ’63 — “fab hosts,” according to the professor.
Alumni from the classes of 1942 to 2009 in the Club of San Diego heard Aveni read stories from his upcoming book, Class Not Dismissed, which tells the tale of his five decades at Colgate.
Before departing for fun with alumni in Tucson and San Antonio, Aveni joined former students and friends for a tour of the nuclear sub- marine U.S.S. San Francisco with retired U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Fischbeck ’71. Watch for faculty visits to your city on the calendar of alumni events.
Ending winter break on a high note
For the Colgate Thirteen, wintertime is tour time. In January, the a cappella group traveled to Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Nashville.
“Despite the negative fifty-degree wind chill in Minneapolis, we were fortunate enough to perform the national anthem for a Timberwolves game when they played the Oklahoma City Thunder,” Thirteen leader Ross Nicholson ’14 said. “After a short stop by Mount Rushmore, we made it to San Francisco, where we sang for several schools in the area, toured some national parks, and performed for a crowd of more than 100 at the home of John Weingart ’64.”
In St. Louis, Fred Meyland-Smith ’68 and Joel Currier ’00 made the Thirteen feel at home, and before the tour was over, Charles Polk ’16 had a chance to sing at the Whitfield School, his alma mater, in Nashville.
The good time in Boston? It was Beecher’s Fault
Boston-area alumni got to see Beecher’s Fault, the Queens-based band cofounded by Ben Taylor ’10, rock out this past January. The set featured old classics, cover mashups, and new material. Since its formation in 2011, the band has toured and built a fan base along the East Coast. When they were booked at the Middle East Bar in Cambridge, word spread quickly through the Colgate Alumni Club of Boston.
“It was awesome to see so many familiar faces and old friends at the show,” said Taylor. “Colgate does an excellent job of supporting alumni who pursue the arts, and I’m very thankful that Karl Fries ’10 and the Boston Alumni Club did such a great job of promoting the show.” Check out more pictures from the event.
