Beyond the Limestone Walls: New Directions

Ty Saini '93, Alumni Council president

Ty Saini '93, Alumni Council president

by Ty Saini ’93, Alumni Council President

As I write this column, I am just returning from our first Alumni Council meeting and, as always, I find myself energized and excited about the coming year.

We have 41 members, 12 of whom are new. Some come from as far as California (in fact, three do!) and Florida, and they represent a variety of decades, professions, hobbies, passions and affinity groups.

The intentional goal of achieving this diversity and magnitude of volunteer strength has been a challenging and lengthy task. We have been seeking dedicated and energetic alumni who will work together to help fashion new ideas and collaborate with the college on its initiatives to advance the international reputation of Dickinson. I am very proud of how much the Alumni Council has grown in a short period of time.

This past spring, we heard from Joyce Bylander, vice president and dean of student life, about a new program to strengthen the student experience. Known as First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs), this opportunity brings together first-year students with junior/senior and faculty/staff mentors (see Page 5). After hearing about this wonderful approach to enhancing a first-year student’s experience and building a stronger community, Alumni Council members asked if they could add another dimension. As of today, 40 alumni also are volunteering as FIG mentors.

The recently launched and well-received One College One Community program is a chance for all Dickinsonians to understand, discuss and debate a meaningful and relevant topic. This will occur each semester and is an extension of the high-quality and compelling education we received as students. The Alumni Council helped the college consider how to unveil this latest offering to alumni and ensure that our graduates could participate in the dialogue, no matter where they are.

Finally, the Alumni Council continues to enjoy shaping and participating in the Career Conference (formerly known as Networking Day). Being able to talk with seniors and help them navigate future plans or address questions and concerns (which we can all remember having), brings a great deal of satisfaction, knowing you had an immediate impact on a future alum. These students are bright, articulate, driven and proud to be at Dickinson. We can expect great things from them.

Soon, the college and the Alumni Council will unveil a new structure and support mechanism for all alumni to connect with Dickinson. It is our intention to empower and strengthen the alumni network around the world.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a way to renew your commitment to our alma mater, please consider supporting one of the activities I mentioned above. I can promise you it will not take much time to realize how worthwhile, easy and fun it can be to stay connected. Thank you to all the Alumni Council members for your great work, and I wish a warm welcome to our new members!

New Alumni Council Members
Stan Springel ’68
A. Pierce Bounds ’71
Albert Masland ’79
Artrese Morrison ’92
Tania Conte ’93
Francesca Dea ’93
Monique Ribando ’93
Darren Silvis ’00
Michael Pennington ’07
Caroline Salamack Clark ’08
Jason Fine ’09
Darrell Pacheco ’12

Read more in the fall 2014 issue of Dickinson Magazine.

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Published November 5, 2014