The BUAA Board met during Homecoming, virtually, of course! Though we were limited to Zoom meetings, we were able to move several items on our agenda forward. Interested to learn what we’ve been up to? See below for a quick recap:
New BUAA Board President! The Board is so excited to welcome Christine Kelleher ‘91 as our new President! Though she is starting her term under unique circumstances, she, our new executive team, and the Board’s members are excited about the opportunity to add value to our students and alumni, affect change on campus and off, and give back to our alma mater.
Strategic planning: We made significant progress over the summer soliciting feedback from our Board members and the University to inform our strategic planning this past summer. We announced our priorities for the next three years – and will unveil our final strategic goals and strategy at our winter meeting. Stay tuned!
Diversity & inclusion: Our statement against racism and social injustice was posted here on our blog and on social media this summer and was sent by email to University executives, alumni, emeritus board members, students, and alumni affinity groups. The statement was widely read and sparked dozens of conversations through Be Herd, our method of direct correspondence with alumni.
- As a follow up, Nikki Young, Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusive Excellence, hosted a workshop, “Anti-racism as a Foundation for Inclusive Excellence at Bucknell,” with the Board during the Homecoming meeting. The leadership of three of the four alumni group co-signers of the statement also participated. Denelle Brown, Associate Dean of Students, Diversity and Inclusion, and members of her team presented on the programs they offer to support our students.
- You can get a taste of what we discussed by registering for the Bucknell 360° Webinar: Understanding Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, taking place on Thursday, September 24 at noon.
- Malik Malone, Executive Member at Large for Diversity and Inclusion, presented on the Board’s response to Bucknell’s Diversity Plan 2014-19 and will continue to spearhead our DEI initiatives going forward. More to come!
Student mentoring: The Careers & Transitions Committee launched a very successful mentorship program this summer for rising seniors. 60 students and 33 alumni and emeritus board members participated. We are discussing ways to continue this in the future and would love your continued support!
BPIP scholarships: The Board provides funding through the Bucknell Public Interest Program to support Bucknell students who have non-profit summer internships. Many of these students would not be able to take advantage of these opportunities without this financial support. The Board supported five internships this past summer.
Stay tuned for more updates from the BUAA Board’s winter meeting!
Want an update on what’s happening on campus? Below are some links to stay informed:
- Campus reopening
- Bucknell COVID-19 Dashboard
- Bucknell’s response to the meal plan increase
- The University’s response to meal plan quality and food security
- Bucknell’s response to international student visas
PS: Staying connected to Bucknell and Bucknellians is easy! Join fellow alumni for a Bucknell in Your City event this fall to virtually connect with fellow Bucknellians and welcome new alumni to your community!