Hello, Greyhounds!
Fellow Alumni Ambassador leaders Bob ’86 and Chris (Ayers) Martin ’86, Artie Rogan ’04, Kevin Peterssen ’08, Christina Graziano, Esq. ’10, and I would like to congratulate the Class of 2021 on becoming the newest members of the Assumption alumni community.
Building upon what we accomplished in 2020, the Alumni Ambassador program has continued to offer wonderfully engaging virtual programming so far in 2021. This has included a number of events in partnership with the Career Development & Internship Center (CDIC) to provide opportunities for alumni to share their expertise during Career Networking Nights, a major-specific webinar series, and the annual Career and Internship Fair. We engaged with the Admissions Office to explore new and innovative ways to recruit future Hounds to the University. The Alumni Office has also been hosting virtual programming featuring alumni speakers, giving the alumni community a chance to engage, participate, and reconnect. Alumni from all over the country have attended these events; it’s truly been inspiring to witness, and we hope to continue this type of programming in the future, as it’s a great way to reach alumni both near and far. Please continue to check your email and monitor the social media channels for announcements about future virtual programming.
I wish everyone a wonderful second half of 2021, and I hope to see you at another Assumption event very soon!
Remember, we’re always welcoming new Alumni Ambassadors. If interested, please visit assumption.edu/alumni or email us at alumni@assumption.edu to sign up.
Thomas E. Wales, Ph.D. ’98
For more information on the Assumption Alumni Ambassador program, please contact:
Amy Logue Gontarz ’01, G’08
Director of Alumni Relations
alogue@assumption.edu / 508.767.7011
ALUMNI CONNECT AND SHARE VIRTUALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The Office of Alumni Relations continues to connect with alumni all over the country through a variety of virtual programming. Alumni had the opportunity to start off the New Year relaxed and refreshed with a yoga session led by Lauren D’Angelo ’99, learned how to network during a pandemic through the Professional Development Series, and much more.
For years, alumni have shared their expertise and knowledge with students through the annual Career Networking Night (CNN) and Alumni Networking Series. This year’s CNN keynote speaker, Megan Evangelista ’13, provided insightful information on how to define one’s personal brand and how to set oneself apart from others during a virtual presentation to students.
Through the Alumni Office’s Professional Development Series, several alumni shared advice on career development, such as how to improve networking skills and how to overcome the challenges of searching for a job during a pandemic. The series featured presentations by Megan Evangelista ’13, diversity team lead for university relations at Dell Technologies; Lise Keeney ’10, a communications consultant; Caroline Rufo, Ph.D. ’11, senior manager of investment relations for Relay Therapeutics; and Jon Weaver ’06, G’17, president and CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives and a current member of the Assumption Board of Trustees.
Elaine Ingalls ’17, a disaster service worker for the County of Santa Cruz, CA, shared her firsthand experiences with the California wildfires, in particular the California CZU Lightning Complex fire, during a virtual conversation with fellow alumni.
Tom Leary ’75, a Foreign Service officer with over 30 years of U.S. State Department public affairs experience in eight countries, including nine years in Russia, shared his reflections in the lecture “Russian Society, Government, and Relations with the United States.”
Stephen Knott, Ph.D. ’79, HD’13, shared insights on his book, The Lost Soul of the American Presidency, during a lecture moderated by Washington, DC-based lawyer Christina Graziano, Esq. ‘10. During the lecture, Knott, who is a professor in the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College, discussed the idea of the American presidency and how it no longer resembles the institution it was meant to be.
Have an idea for programming? Please send an email to alumni@assumption.edu. Visit assumption.edu/alumni/events for a list of virtual events and programs.
