More than 20 alumni volunteers serve on the board, and together with university staff they help set the goals for alumni relations and programs. The board has been working to take alumni relations to a new level, and we’d like to give you an update.

Highlights from 2015-16

• Developed and approved a five-year strategic plan
• Supported expansion of BearFest Village MarooNation alumni tailgating tent
• Supported additions to Homecoming in 2015: Homecoming Headquarters and Welcome Reception; Breakfast with Boomer family-friendly event; MarooNation alumni tailgating tent expansion (now includes food and beverages for alumni)
• Changed alumni awards program: Bears of Distinction event moved to early summer; award categories expanded to include “Bears of Excellence”
• Created “Be A Bear” T-shirt program, in which more than half of proceeds from shirt sales support scholarship fund for students who need assistance
• Held monthly virtual networking events called Bear-to-Bear Online Networking
• Piloted an alumni social media ambassador program
• Held focus groups for young alumni, and in selected regions, to identify alumni priorities and recruit volunteers

In progress for 2016-17

• Starting in fall 2016, will launch BearTalks, a collaboration with student affairs to build a “speakers bureau” of alumni who can discuss topics with students such as leadership, life after college, etc.
• Will collaborate with the office of community involvement and service to provide alumni with more opportunities to volunteer for community projects and Bear Breaks immersion trips
• Will participate in first-ever university volunteer leadership conference (June 2017)
• Will expand benefits and services for all alumni
• Will continue to focus on strengthening regional networks and growing alumni affinity networks

Introducing your new leadership team

Officers

• Dan Cogswell, ’07, chair, Kansas City, Missouri
• Tina (Chasteen) Stillwell, ’72 and ’81, chair-elect, Springfield
• Frank Burkybile, ’08, vice chair, Atlanta
• Jami Goodwin Medina, ’03, vice chair, San Francisco

Immediate past co-chairs

• Jim Anderson, ’71, Springfield
• Lori (Clifton) Matthews, ’88 and ’94, Springfield

Newly elected board members

• Zandra L. Carson, ’94, Catonsville, Maryland
• Kelly (O’Hagen) Krause, ’05, Overland Park, Kansas
• Thomas “Haven” Miller, ’77, Ozark, Missouri

View the full list of board members

Meet Dan Cogswell, new board chairman

Dan Cogswell, ’07, is dedicated to helping current students connect with alumni. We have a profile story and video about Cogswell to introduce you to your new Alumni Association Board of Directors chair.

Learn more about Dan Cogswell