Keeping Up to Date on Dickinson
Photo by Dan Loh.
by Bruce Rychlik '89, Alumni Council President
Thank you for your kind messages following my inaugural Dickinson Magazine article. The first email response I received was from former music faculty member Beth Bullard, who taught my class on Indian music and culture. I last connected with her in front of Old West at the inauguration of President John Jones ’77, P’11, in September 2022, so it was nice to hear from her again.
Welcoming Our Newest Dickinsonians
Speaking of Old West, on Aug. 31, Dickinson’s newest students walked up the stone steps and through the doors into Memorial Hall during their first Convocation ceremony. It is an important day for all of us as we begin our connection with these Dickinsonians who will also become alumni. As Alumni Council members, many of us have already interacted with a significant number of these students and their parents on campus last April and at accepted and enrolled student receptions near our homes. Many of them have told us directly that they appreciate our presence as alumni at these events and the information we readily share.
Informed Engagement
For Alumni Council members to engage most effectively with you, the school and current and prospective students, Dickinson regularly updates us on new and ongoing initiatives, highlights and milestones, as well as challenges that the school and higher education are facing. This occurs while we are on campus three times a year and through periodic virtual meetings. At our September meeting, in addition to hearing from President Jones, we met with Director of Projects Steve Bobb, who gave us an update on the remarkable HUB renovation project. Dean and Director of Education Abroad Katie DeGuzman provided a talk on the evolution of global education, in which Dickinson remains deeply committed. These are only two examples of the many things the college encourages us to speak about during our interactions with the community.
Easy Ways to Stay Informed
I would like to mention ways in which you, the alumni community, can increase your engagement with our alma mater, some which will be obvious and others less so. I also made certain that each of these topics is searchable on Dickinson’s website. Feel free to explore.
- Follow some of Dickinson’s many social media platforms
- Subscribe to Dickinson Today, a daily email newsletter
- Contribute to class notes in Dickinson Magazine
- Attend a regional event in your area
- Interview a student through the Center for Career Development
- Join an alumni network
- Connect with a former faculty member or classmate
- Participate in an online summer class or periodic virtual programming
- Read a book about Dickinson or Carlisle, or one written by a faculty member or alum
- Take a trip through Dickinson’s Alumni Global Adventures
- Visit campus anytime—attend lectures and concerts, and cheer on a team
- Spend a few nights at the John M. Paz ’78 Alumni & Family Center
- Make a donation to Dickinson College
An Example of Our Initiatives at Work
Last, I would like to update you on an initiative that the Alumni Council created in conjunction with the Center for Career Development. This past January, we hosted in-person mock interviews for 70 students. Given significant demand, we are expanding our offering to students through virtual interviews this fall and a greater number of in-person interviews occurring in February. More than 80 alumni have volunteered to participate in this activity, a sign of their willingness to engage and assist the next generation of Dickinsonians.
Please send any comments, questions or requests to brucerychlik@mac.com.
Read more from the fall 2025 issue of Dickinson Magazine.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published December 1, 2025