So, how did you end up back in Hanover?When I graduated, I moved to Boston and worked as a strategy consultant for five years, helping technology companies. I was a volunteer for the Dartmouth Club of Boston, overseeing all of their young alumni programs, but it wasn't my goal to come back to Dartmouth. Then this position opened in Alumni Relations, so I applied and got the job in 2005. I'd always been interested in working with nonprofits, so I saw this as a good opportunity to work for a nonprofit and support the College which I really care about and get some really great experience before going to business school.
Could you explain what your job entails now?My job is to oversee all of our student and young alumni programs we define young alumni as alums who graduated within the last 15 years. I support their class leadership by organizing their class reunions, newsletters, web sites. I also do events for young alumni around the country. The main goal is to keep young alumni connected to each other and to the College. When I graduated, I realized I didn't have a lot of connections to alumni as a student, and I felt that was disappointing since Dartmouth has such a strong alumni network. So when I returned, I really made it my mission to increase the opportunities for students and alumni to connect. So, I created the Hill Winds Society, student and alumni ambassadors who do programs to connect students and alums on and off campus. I also created the Class Connections Program, where students are connected to their 50th reunion class and a program called TASTE, Take a Student to Eat, so when alumni come back to campus they can sign up and go out to breakfast, lunch or dinner with a student.
How does alumni enthusiasm affect your job?When I talk to Alumni Relations officers at other schools, they talk about how easy my job is, because they have to convince their alumni to come back or to stay connected or to care about their school, whereas at Dartmouth, it's ingrained. Many alums do care and do want to come back. With the programs and events I work on, it's kind of like, "If you build it, they will come." They're already there, they're ready and excited to learn about Dartmouth.
Are you ever surprised by your job or the alumni you meet?I'm surprised by how many young alums I meet who have their own pong tables, or are still playing pong, or can't wait to play pong. It's just a part of the Dartmouth culture that's unique. Another thing that surprises me is how many of them say that their ultimate goal is to retire and move back to Hanover Dartmouth alumni are definitely nostalgic, and they're jealous that I'm living in Hanover. And also, how many people still wear their Dartmouth shirts. I'll go to an event in San Francisco and people will come with their Dartmouth jacket and they're just so proud. They're really proud to be a part of Dartmouth, they're proud of the alumni that have been on the news lately in the Obama administration, on athletic teams. They're just really excited to support Dartmouth, and they want the student experience to be as engaging as it was for them.
What are the major differences between Dartmouth and the real world?I think when Dartmouth students graduate, one of the biggest shocks is that there aren't extensions in the real world. You can't tell your boss, "Oh I was up late working on another project and I just didn't get it done." I think adjusting to a firm deadline is sometimes hard for Dartmouth students who take on so much that they have trouble meeting deadlines. I think it's also just different that you don't have your best friends right there with you all the time to talk and commiserate. You have to make an effort to call your friends or to meet up for a meal, instead of just running into them on the Green.
Do you have any advice for the '09s?Don't worry so much if you don't have a job yet and you don't know what you're going to do. I graduated and didn't have a job and didn't find my consulting job until July after graduation. Especially with this economy, it's just hard to find jobs, but definitely reach out to alums even if it's just for coffee and you're interested in talking about their career network with them. Networking is really important, and alumni, whether you believe it or not, are there and are excited to talk to you about your experience and then help you in any way they can. But also, really enjoy these next few weeks as much as you can, even though everyone has exams and papers hopefully not their theses anymore but really enjoy it and try to do the things you've wanted to do. Sit back and relax and breathe. Just enjoy your friends and Dartmouth itself before you leave. Because once you leave, you realize how special Dartmouth is.
