The Alumni Network Board of Directors, an advisory board to RIT’s
alumni relations program, will be expanded to 25 members. Selected from
a wide spectrum of graduation years and geographic areas, the members
of the board represent the voices of more than 86,000 RIT alumni.
Kelly Redder, alumni relations executive director, reports that the
decision to greater reflect RIT’s alumni population was unanimous.
“We’re all excited about the prospect of bringing more active
alumni into the program development process,” she says.
The Alumni Network Board of Directors has numbered between 12 and 15
members for the last few years. The Board voted to expand their membership
to a minimum of 25, with additions coming from the nominating committee
as well as from President Simone and the college deans.
“Dr. Simone helped considerably by appointing alumni, faculty
and staff representatives to the board,” shared Don Naylor, chair
of the nominations committee. “RIT is one of the largest employers
of graduates in the area and they will provide a unique perspective
on our alumni programming,” he continued. Deans from each of the
eight colleges, with assistance of their alumni relations and development
officers ,recommended alumni for board membership.
“We are very interested in providing representation for RIT’s
special interest or ‘affinity’ groups,” states Ken Reed
’71, president of the Alumni Network Board of Directors. Alumni
who participated in fraternities, sororities, athletics, in minority
groups and student leadership organizations also will have a seat on
the board offering suggestions for targeted population programming.
Along with expanding the total membership of the board, Redder announced
the creation of a new committee structure. Membership benefits, communications,
regional programs and reunion committees have been formed in addition
to the existing executive and nominations committees.
“Our program focus is shifting and we need alumni input to succeed,”
says Redder. “These committees will serve as the focus groups to
help send us in the right direction.” Redder estimates that the
expansion process will continue through the academic year and will be
completed by the July 2002 meeting.
