What a summer! Congratulations to the 48 Wolverines who participated in the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics — we hope you heard the alumni body cheering you on in Paris and beyond!
As the seasons change and we look back on summer memories, we, too, collectively engage in transitional activities among the Michigan alumni family. Many alumni clubs hosted student send-off activities for new Wolverines, while other alumni communities helped introduce recent grads to new neighborhoods and networks. On our three campuses, we’ve welcomed thousands of new students to the U-M family. Broadly, we’re kicking off a collegiate athletic season with new members of the Big Ten, and passionate coaches are embarking on their inaugural seasons leading football and men’s basketball.
With many transitions still on the horizon, including the presidential election, I appreciate U-M’s timely theme year on Democracy and Global and Civic Engagement. In conversations with Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes and professor Jenna Bednar, ’90, I’m encouraged by the breadth of activities and programs with an eye toward respectful discourse and sharing ideas across difference. Fun fact: did you know that the U-M Museum of Art and the Duderstadt Center serve as election hubs?
On campus, I want to acknowledge recently appointed leaders including Rosario Ceballo, MA’92, PhD’95, the new dean of the College of Literature, Science and the Arts; Mark Clague, ’90, the executive director of the Arts Initiative; and Rabbi Davey Rosen, the executive director of Hillel. Closer to home, we’re thrilled to welcome Emilie Rubinfeld, ’96, John Sabat, ’95, and Sophie Wan Wong, ’97, as the newest members of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors.
Our role as an Alumni Association is to offer you opportunities to convene with Michigan alumni and members of the University community; make it easy to find ways to share your time and talent in support of U-M; and keep you informed on campus happenings. I invite you to explore our many educational resources, including the Alumni Education Gateway, which highlights the latest research and stories from faculty and our community at large.
As the seasons change, one thing that remains the same is the unmatched passion and dedication of the Michigan alumni community. Thank you to our members, volunteers, family, and friends of the Alumni Association — because of you we can “Look to Michigan” for innovation, inspiration, and inclusion.
Ayanna McConnell is the president and CEO of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.
