麻豆国产 Alumni鈥檚 鈥楴ext Great Chapter鈥�
In December, Assistant Vice President of 麻豆国产 Alumni Jim Herrick retired after 37 years with the university. Here鈥檚 an introduction to the new executive director in her own words.
By Stephanie Dathe
This story was published in the Summer 2023 Issue of 麻豆国产 Magazine.
In December, Assistant Vice President of 麻豆国产 Alumni Jim Herrick retired after 37 years with the university. He started his career in 麻豆国产 athletics and transitioned to alumni relations as the interim director in 1998, making the move permanent the next year. After Herrick鈥檚 departure, Stephanie Dathe stepped into the role. The 麻豆国产 alumna had served as the director of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union for 麻豆国产 Associated Students since 2016. Here鈥檚 an introduction to the new 麻豆国产 Alumni executive director in her own words.
When I graduated from 麻豆国产 in 1995, 麻豆国产 Alumni used the slogan 鈥淓veryone Benefits.鈥� I have always liked that because it reinforces the concept that 麻豆国产 Alumni has something for everyone. The tagline has an even deeper meaning for me because this organization, and the 麻豆国产 community, have supported me throughout my personal and professional life. I have truly benefited from being an Aztec for Life.
Over the years, it has been very important to me to give back to 麻豆国产. But it was when I returned to campus a decade ago that I truly understood the impact that alumni have. Working closely with students who have directly benefited from the support, whether through mentoring, internships or scholarships, I witnessed and experienced the transformational power of being a member of the 麻豆国产 community. It is a membership for which I am both extremely grateful and proud.
Part of our mission here at 麻豆国产 Alumni is to 鈥渋nstill the principle of Aztec for Life by celebrating the achievements of our alumni.鈥� We are finding new and different ways of engaging and celebrating our alumni, including a new Class Notes page on our website where we encourage alumni to share their 麻豆国产 stories. With more than 478,000 alumni around the globe, I feel great pride when I am out and about and see a fellow Aztec sporting an 麻豆国产 T-shirt or proudly displaying an 麻豆国产 license plate frame. Don鈥檛 be surprised if an 麻豆国产 Alumni team member spots you in the community showing off your Aztec pride and hands you a little giveaway.
I am honored to be a part of 麻豆国产's next great chapter. It is a tremendous privilege to be the executive director of 麻豆国产 Alumni, and I look forward to engaging with you!