A message from Alumni Board of Governors Executive Chair Don Jubel
As alumni, we all have our own Washington University stories — shared experiences and memories that last a lifetime. However, our stories don’t end when we graduate.
Many of you had a professor who changed your life. Some of you made dear friends who have been with you through all of life’s milestones. Many of you are looking forward to returning to campus to celebrate your Reunion this year. In many ways, the community we all valued as students is still there for us as alumni.
As the governing body for the Alumni Association, the Alumni Board of Governors (ABG) strives to strengthen the relationship between alumni and the university. As executive chair, I represent the interests of alumni on the Board of Trustees, and the entire committee works closely with university staff and other alumni volunteers throughout the year to provide tangible benefits to all alumni.
For example, alumni and students alike have long recognized the power of LinkedIn as a business networking tool. In 2012–13, the ABG focused on building awareness of the Alumni Association’s LinkedIn group, and as a result, membership in the group increased an impressive 24 percent.
Another new offering developed by the ABG in collaboration with the university’s Career Center is a series called Summer Meet-Ups. These small networking dinners, held in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and San Jose last summer, were well-received, and we plan to expand the series in 2014.
Perhaps the best occasion for meeting with old and new Wash. U. friends is Reunion, and the ABG has helped design Reunion to appeal to as many undergraduate alumni as possible. Based on results of a 2010 ABG taskforce, the 1st through 45th Reunion classes now celebrate during Thurtene Carnival weekend, a move that has thrilled many and increased attendance overall.
Regardless of how different our individual Washington University stories may be, we are all bound together as one proud community of alumni with a shared love of our great university. The ABG seeks to help strengthen those bonds — both with the university we remember from yesterday and the university that serves the students of today.
Sincerely,
Don Jubel, BS ’73
Executive Chair,
Alumni Board of Governors
Alumni Board of Governors
2013–14 Executive Committee:
• Executive Chair: Don Jubel, BS ’73
•Immediate Past Chair: Jeff Rosenkranz, BSBA ’84
•Executive Vice Chair: Jeff Gentsch, MBA ’86
Vice Chairs:
• Iqbal Brainch, AB ’96
• Sue Pruchnicki, AB ’86, MArch ’88
• Alan Swimmer, AB ’82
• Callaway Ludington Zuccarello, MBA ’93
Looking for a Way to Get Involved?
Learn about five alumni and parent volunteers and how they stay connected with the university.
Alumni Board of Governors (ABG)
In conjunction with Alumni & Development staff and university leaders, the Alumni Board of Governors is charged with the responsibility of carrying out the programs of the Alumni Association.
John Altmix, BS ’94, MBA ’94
Altmix has been an involved alumnus since graduation, beginning with his senior class gift in 1994. He and his wife, Diane, MBA ’93, have been active with the Cincinnati WU Club since 1997, and he has served on the Engineering Alumni Advisory Council since 2010.
Altmix has increased his involvement with the university over the years, and last fall he joined the Alumni Board of Governors. The opportunity came at the right time, since he had been looking for the best way to become more involved.
“There are few things that have had more of an impact on our lives than our education,” he says. “It is extremely important to me and my wife to stay connected to Wash. U. and give back to the institution that allowed us to reach this place in our lives.”
Altmix offers advice for other enthusiastic volunteers: “Try not to spread yourself too thin,” he says. “It’s important to recognize when you need to say ‘no’ in order to give your best to the opportunities that are most important to you.”
Reunion
Volunteers are the key to a successful Reunion. By reaching out to friends and encouraging them to attend Reunion, volunteers help ensure classmates return to campus for an incredible celebration.
Khara Washington, AB ’99, JD ’03
Washington served as an executive chair for her 10th Reunion in 2009, and when she received a call this year about volunteering for her 15th Reunion, she did not hesitate. A lawyer living in the Chicago suburb of Elgin, Washington has always prioritized giving back to the university. “My policy has always been, if Wash. U. needs it, I’m going to try to do it,” she says.
Whether she is working on a letter to build enthusiasm for her Reunion Class Gift or reaching out to classmates to ask them to “save the date” for Reunion weekend,
Washington loves being involved. Washington feels her intense extracurricular involvement as an undergraduate suits this volunteer role perfectly. “As an undergrad, I think I had friends in nearly every school and program,” she laughs, “and we want everyone to return for Reunion!”
Washington University Clubs (WU Clubs)
Washington University Clubs — 28 in cities throughout the U.S. — seek to establish and maintain a meaningful connection with alumni, parents and friends of Washington University through social, cultural and educational events.
Shirley Juster, AB ’69
Juster has served as program chair of the San Francisco WU Club for seven years and chair for the last 16 years. Her longtime leadership has provided stability for the popular Bay Area club, but she is thrilled to report that young alumni are bringing their fresh perspectives and new ideas to the group.
With nearly 5,000 WUSTL alumni, parents and friends in the Bay Area, Juster tries to make sure the club offers something that appeals to everyone. Some events are purely social, such as the annual Giants vs. Cardinals baseball game. Other outings — such as a faculty-led Eliot Seminar Series event or an architectural walking tour — are meant to educate and inspire.
“When there is something new in the Bay Area, I try to make sure our group has an opportunity to learn about it,” Juster says. “That’s one way we stay educated and informed about our community.”
Alumni and Parents Admission Program
The Alumni and Parents Admission Program (APAP) is a group of dedicated Washington University undergraduate alumni and parents who assist with the undergraduate admissions process. There are currently 71 APAP committees worldwide.
Bob Frachtman, MD, and Sherrie Frachtman
Bob and Sherrie Frachtman of Austin, Texas, have been involved with the university since 2003, when their oldest child, Julian, enrolled as a freshman. Their daughter, Adrienne, will graduate in 2014. As APAP volunteers, the Frachtmans have hosted summer send-off parties for first-year students, staffed the Wash. U. table at college fairs, and entertained nervous parents during interview days.
Bob and Sherrie are also listed on a “Parent’s Resource List” for parents with questions or concerns. Bob remembers one anxious mother who called to discuss her pre-med student’s grades. “I think just having the opportunity to talk to another parent helped her put things in perspective,” he recalls.
Sherrie feels that APAP has provided a wonderful way to become involved with her children’s college experiences, from a distance. “We’ve really enjoyed having the opportunity to meet other students and families in our area, and it feels good to be a resource for them,” she says.
Visit alumni.wustl.edu to find out how to get involved, or contact the Alumni Association at alumniassociation@wustl.edu, or call (314) 935-7378 or (800) 867-ALUM (toll-free).