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Colgate's Alumni Council

After 6 years of service on Colgate's Alumni Council, I "retired" yesterday. It's amazing what I learned by attending the meetings on campus 3 times each year. Watching the college grow stronger over time is amazing. Hearing what each part of the university does to build the total picture--sometimes completely overwhelming.


My favorite work was with the students and younger alumni. They taught me with their optimism and their curiosity about others and life. We shared our life experiences to help them make their next right choices. We built on the Real World program and added the Maroon Advantage. As alumni we built our own networking skills, raising Colgate's "hello" tradition to new heights.

I'll miss this service so much, that I'm already identifying ways I can continue to stay connected and give back to a "place" which feels more and more to be a family home.

My learning: invest in a place and its people and notice how that act of giving returns to you more than you can ever give.

I will really miss RuthAnn Loveless, and moreso because she's stepping down from her role on campus in charge of Alumni Affairs and doing a new chapter of her life to bring her closer to her own core family and personal life. And yet, with Colgate (graduated 20 years ago) and RuthAnn, it's up to me to keep the relationships fresh.

Invest in meaningful human connections through places you love. Volunteering builds a network that can be your safety net in your next job search. It warms the heart and fills you up beyond your day to day work. So do it.

Live well.

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