I couldnât be prouder of how our faculty, staff and students pivoted in response to the pandemic. Their actions kept our university open and allowed us to deliver on our promise of a transformational education. But the work didnât stop there. The Office of Alumni Relations has done a masterful job connecting our Vandal Family in new ways. They were among the first in the country to offer virtual alumni programming â not easy for a group of extroverts accustomed to meeting their audiences face to face. Over the course of the past year, theyâve delivered Vandals an opportunity to gather online for cooking classes, yoga and meditation, trivia, Wine Down Wednesdays, pre-game celebrations and more. One of the most successful online offerings is the Cup of Joe series, which features interviews with members of the Vandal Family or those of interest to alumni. Itâs been so successful, in fact, it was recognized with a Bronze Award in the âpandemic pivotâ category by the District VIII Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). More than 1,500 Vandals have tuned in to Cup of Joe to listen to and ask questions of alumni including SpaceX executive Tom Mueller, former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and retired Seattle Times Editor Don Shelton. These online engagements will continue even after the pandemic is over. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with Vandals in this way when I was interviewed for the series and look forward to doing it again. The Vandal Mentor Network â also launched during the pandemic â connects current students and alumni of all ages for career advice. The online platform matches more than 1,200 alumni and students to discuss resumes, interview preparation and how to land that first job. I encourage you to check it out, build a profile and share your experiences with your fellow Vandals. This partnership among the Office of Alumni Relations, Office of Career Services and School of Journalism and Mass Media, in service to our students, is why Idahoâs businesses seek our graduates and continue to provide for them the highest starting salary of any public university graduates in the Gem State. Some things sparked by necessity in the pandemic will become the norm long after COVID-19 is part of the distant past. The work of the Office of Alumni Relations provides new ways for the Vandal Family to connect, strengthen relationships and benefit our students, all for the benefit of our alma mater. |