University hosts regional alumni visits with events in Florida, Seattle and Washington D.C.

President Barry Maloney and members of University Advancement spent two weeks in March connecting with alumni on the East and West Coasts, in celebration of the university’s 150th anniversary. The team made visits to Florida, Washington, D.C., and Seattle.

“There’s nothing quite like catching up in person,” said Louise Taylor, director of gift planning and scholarships. The trip to Florida, with stops in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca Raton, she said, “was a wonderful chance to meet alumni where they are and have meaningful one-on-one conversations.”

Advancement staff organized a number of events for alumni in Florida, including lunches, a reception with more than 50 alumni in attendance, and a Red Sox game. Alumni of all ages and backgrounds attended the events, said Ursula Arello, the university’s major gifts officer.

“It’s a nice way to let people know that we care and connect with people we otherwise would not have an opportunity to meet,” said Arello.

In Washington, D.C., President Maloney and Taylor hosted a casual after-work gathering for alumni working in the city, with help from alumna Britt Rheault ’07. They were joined by President Maloney’s daughter Liv and a group of her fellow University of Maine interns working on Capitol Hill for a fun evening of connections and conversations, along with individual meetups with alumni living and working in the area.

Taylor observed how special the connections among alumni can be. “Even if they’ve never met before, they always find something in common,” she said. “The visits were a wonderful way to bring people together and help those connections grow.”

In Seattle, President Maloney was on hand with Felicia Riffelmacher, executive director of Development and Alumni Relations, to greet and thank alumni, scholarship, and legacy donors.

“A Worcester State education is the type of education that can put you in prominent positions and give you a breadth of opportunities,” said Riffelmacher. “Worcester State alumni are impacting the whole country. And we want to connect with as many alumni throughout the country as we can.”

Future visits may include California; Washington, D.C.; New York; North and South Carolina; Seattle; and the Midwest. Most visits will range from three to five days.

Riffelmacher hopes to have regional alumni ambassadors in those locations who will help find venues and plan activities that are popular in their area. Anyone who is interested in serving in that role should contact Suzanne Nebelung, associate director of alumni relations and engagement, at snebelung@worcester.edu. Alumni who live in other parts of the country should reach out to the office as well. “We’ll see if we can plan a trip,” Riffelmacher said.

“When you graduate, you don’t stop being a Lancer,” she added. “We’re still invested in your success.”

Top photo: President Maloney and University Advancement hosted a casual after-work gathering for alumni working in Washington D.C.