This article originally appeared in the fall 2015 Harker Quarterly.
The alumni office is launching a program called the Alumni Connect Initiative. The initiative is aimed at connecting alumni both to each other and to the school in ways that are meaningful to them.
Karri Sakai Baker ’84, Harker’s director of alumni relations, reported that the first step is on the way. Class agents are forming committees to help collect updated information on as many alumni as possible. In addition to contact information, they will update the regions of the country in which alumni live, the industries in which they work and the programs at Harker they may be interested in getting involved in or keeping updated about (e.g., performing arts, athletics, science, business and entrepreneurship, etc.).
Having updated information will allow the alumni office to segment communications to alumni and keep everyone up to date on activities and opportunities that are of interest and value to each individual alumnus.
Teré Aceves, director of middle and upper school volunteer programs, has expanded her role to include supporting alumni volunteers. Such engagement might take the form of returning to Harker to be a guest speaker in a class or at an event, or to serve as a judge for a debate tournament.
Another part of this reconnect is the “virtual mentor” program, allowing current upper school students to video conference and engage with alumni from all over the world. The goal is to help alumni find ways to volunteer and reconnect with the school, beyond attending social events.
“The idea behind the Alumni Connect Initiative is to enable Harker alumni to benefit from making strategic and meaningful connections and taking full advantage of the ‘Harker network,’” Baker added.