Newly recognized at the national level for their virtual engagement strategy, MBU’s Office of Alumni Engagement this month is featuring three opportunities for alumni to get involved in important and timely initiatives including retention efforts, alumni communications, and Reunion planning.
Last week, the MBU team competed for the title of Top Virtual Series of 2019–20 at the Council of Alumni Marketing and Membership Professionals virtual conference. Adrienne Teague, executive director of alumni engagement, presented about their content creation and goals of connecting graduates and providing them with digital resources for career development and lifelong learning.
“While MBU didn’t come away with the prize, we were one of five finalists that also included Texas A&M University, the University of Utah, the University of Central Florida, and Texas A&M, Corpus Christi,” said Teague. “To compete at the national level among these peers as the only small private college in the running and share the story of Mary Baldwin alumni through the lens of the innovative work happening here is really thrilling for us.”
Teague recognizes the vital role alumni presenters and participants have played in garnering this national nod, and the alumni engagement team is opening up even more opportunities for graduates to contribute to their alma mater looking forward to the coming academic year.
“When we called, alumni answered with enthusiasm,” Teague said. “We know there are many more alumni out there with a variety of skills and expertise that are just waiting for an opportunity to come on board and volunteer with MBU, too.”
From feedback conveyed in the all-alumni survey, alumni engagement is working to provide even more opportunities to volunteer and connect with students, starting with three this month.
“Now more than ever, we need to band together as an MBU family to keep our connections to one another strong, and share the MBU community spirit with incoming and returning students. These three opportunities are just the first of many more to follow, and we invite the strength, passion, and expertise found in our alumni network to join us for this journey.”
Alumni can volunteer to connect virtually with first-year students at Mary Baldwin at three strategic touch points during the year: a welcome in August, after completing their first six weeks in October, and after completing their first year in April.
“Through our partnership with admissions and student engagement, we know that support in the first year of college is crucial to a student’s success. These touchpoints for congratulations, well-wishes, and check-ins from fellow Fighting Squirrels around the world will encourage our students and keep them connected to our larger MBU community.”
These new efforts focused on first-year residential students expand the scope of the BRAVO organization to include retention. It is now called the Baldwin Recruitment/Retention Alumni Volunteer Organization, though the acronym remains the same.
“These three opportunities are just the first of many more to follow, and we invite the strength, passion, and expertise found in our alumni network to join us for this journey.”
Adrienne Teague, executive director of alumni engagement
Alumni who have professional or volunteer experience in communications, or those who are interested in the field, have the opportunity to assist the Office of Alumni Engagement as members of the new Communications Committee. They will help review and test the new online alumni portal before its launch in the fall, come up with a name for the new site, and give feedback on the communications roll-out plan for the entire community of alumni.
Looking forward to Reunion 2021, alumni in class years ending in ’1s and ’6s can volunteer to take on leadership roles in planning celebrations and events. The date for Reunion weekend will be announced soon, but those interested can volunteer now on their class Reunion committee to help shape the weekend’s programming.
Alumni interested in joining BRAVO or the Communications Committee, and future Reunion class leaders can find sign-up information under the “Be Involved” tab on the alumni website. While these three volunteer opportunities are top of mind for alumni engagement moving into the fall, there are many additional ways to join the Mary Baldwin alumni community listed there as well.