With Enthusiasm, Pride and Gratitude
Photo by Dan Loh.
by President John E. Jones ’77, P’11
At the conclusion of our moving and joyous Commencement ceremony each May, it is natural for some folks to assume I’ll be immediately unplugging and taking a break. Of course, that is never the case, because we immediately pivot to final preparations for Alumni Weekend. These June weekends have grown in popularity year after year, and indeed this year we set a record with over 1,700 attendees.
Each Alumni Weekend leaves its own special imprint. From showing off the newly renovated HUB and Britton Plaza, to welcoming back President Emeritus Bill Durden ’71 for our joint lunch appearance, to the food trucks on Morgan Field, to the session on the global economy with Trustee Mark Burgess ’81 and Trustee Emeritus Tom Kalaris ’76, to the alumni awards ceremony, to the many class dinners, the exuberance was palpable. Our terrific college advancement team added a special treat this year as staff members outfitted the social hall with big-screen TVs to allow alums and guests to watch as Leon Rose ’83 led the New York Knicks to win the NBA championship.
If I were to encapsulate the predominant emotions our alums demonstrate both over the weekend and in other interactions throughout the year, I’d suggest they are three—enthusiasm, pride and gratitude. As to the first two, one of my goals when I took the helm over five years ago was to ensure our alumni network felt not just connected to but proud of our college. And I wanted our alums to be excited about the college’s momentum. The numbers tell the tale. Whether it is record-setting attendance at Alumni Weekend or the arc of alumni engagement year over year, including the stewardship shown in this issue’s report on giving, I can submit to you that Dickinsonians across the world are stepping up as never before.
As to gratitude, time and again you have expressed thanks to me for leading our alma mater. I am both humbled and grateful, but you should know this—I love what I do, which continues to be the honor of my life. There is much more work ahead of us, and I am excited to keep us moving forward and constantly innovating.
Speaking of engagement and enthusiasm, for over a dozen years Connie McNamara worked to raise Dickinson’s profile in her capacity as vice president of marketing and communications. She was a key member of my senior team, as well as a dear friend. As you’ve likely noticed, I’ve been able to lift our college’s visibility through various turns on national television and other media as a legal commentator. This, along with so many other accomplishments, is a product of Connie’s laser-like commitment to Dickinson. This past June, Connie elected to take a much-deserved retirement, and we will miss her more than she can know. But with her leaving comes very positive news.
We commenced a national search this past spring to find Connie’s successor. One of the applicants was our own Matt Getty, executive director of editorial services, social media and advancement marketing, who has worked on Connie’s team for many years. Matt went through the crucible of a highly competitive interview process against some superb outside candidates. But in the end he showed us that he is worthy of joining our senior team. I am proud of Matt and tremendously excited to be working with him. He will be terrific in this critical post.
As Beth and I start our sixth year, it is important to express our thanks to you. Just as you are, we are enthusiastic, proud and so grateful. The class of 2030 is arriving, and we can’t wait to greet them!
Read more from the summer 2026 issue of Dickinson Magazine.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published September 8, 2026