Advisory commuttee is reaching out to young alumni

Young alumni are defined as those individuals who have graduated, or passed at least one semester, from the university within 10 years of the most recent graduating class. One challenge that all universities face is recruiting these young alumni to become more involved with their university. Mississippi State University is doing something about this situation.

Recently, the Mississippi State University Young Alumni Advisory Committee was organized through the Alumni Association to help develop programs that will nurture lifelong relationships between young alumni and the university. The mission of this committee is to increase young alumni interest and participation through the development and implementation of programs, activities, and events for young alumni and friends.

After graduation, many people believe that the only way to participate in an alumni association is through donations. While financial support is important, the Mississippi State Alumni Association seeks to provide programs of interest for its alumni and to help its alumni advance personally and professionally.

The Young Alumni Advisory Committee first met in April to develop an agenda to reach out to those young alumni. The committee is comprised of young alumni from across the country. Dawgs from all walks-of-life, all ages, and all backgrounds participated in helping design programs to increase participation of young alumni. Many strategies were discussed.

A great deal of enthusiasm existed with the members to develop processes to update our records on existing young alumni, encourage young alumni networking, and enhance young alumni personal and professional development. The Young Alumni Advisory Committee is working to create professional development seminars to enhance communication skills, financial management, leadership, motivational techniques, and computer literacy. The committee realized that one of the strongest resources available to facilitate these activities is through the chapter structure.

The committee will meet again in September. If you have ideas about how more young alumni can get involved, please send your ideas to Mississippi State University Young Alumni Program, P.O. Box AA, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5526, 662-325-8425 (fax), e-mail: aarledge@alumni.msstate.edu. Voice your opinion about what your Alumni Association can do for you.

Donna Echols Mabus ('87)
Young Alumni Advisory Committee