All along the way, connections matter. At Columbia, as our alumni climb the ladder, they are taking other alums with them. The fact that so many of our faculty are working professionals with in-depth knowledge of their respective fields can also mean that our students have a head start when seeking employment. I'd like to see alumni actively involved all stages of a student's experience at Columbia, from the recruitment of new students to the mentoring of recent graduates. Second, we need to really work at expanding opportunities for alumni to tell their own stories, be it in small hamlets or on the national or global stage.
Alumni are our best advertising.
Last, we want to let alumni know how important they are to us. This means consistently communicating with alumni and providing opportunities to involve alumni at all levels in the college's growth.