Alumni Council
It’s my pleasure to provide an update on three areas relating to the Alumni Council this issue. As background, you’ll remember the council’s mission is “to sustain a fully informed, representative and engaged exchange of information and sentiment between alumni and their College, and to enhance and inspire alumni involvement that furthers the mission of the College.”
First, thanks for sharing your perspectives with the College and the council’s alumni liaison committee (ALC) this past year. The ALC has released its fifth annual report to the board of trustees, summarizing alumni sentiment collected and analyzed by the council, including 700-plus alumni e-mails. I know that the president and trustees value this analysis, so please keep those communications coming. The report is available online at alumni.dartmouth.edu/leadership/council.
Second, a critical responsibility of the Alumni Council is to “nominate competent, qualified, independent alumni candidates to serve on the Dartmouth board of trustees” (constitution of the Alumni Council). This spring you’ll be asked to vote to confirm your support for board nominee Mitch Kurz ’73. Balloting takes place February 12 to March 12. This nomination follows an extensive review process in which 300-plus alumni were considered by the council’s nominating and alumni trustee search committee, before the council unanimously approved Mitch’s nomination.
We’re thrilled that Mitch has agreed to stand for election. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1973 with majors in economics and psychology, lettered in lacrosse and was a member of Alpha Theta. Following a successful career in branding, marketing and advertising, culminating in his serving as president of Young & Rubicam, one of the leading global advertising agencies, Mitch began a second career, serving as academic dean, director of college counseling and chair of the math department at the Bronx Center for Science and Math. He’s currently in his 11th year teaching in the South Bronx, in the poorest congressio- nal district in the United States. The official election website www.voxthevote.com lists Mitch’s biography, the election guidelines and additional information. You should also hear about Mitch’s nomination from your representative councilor. Mitch Kurz would make a superb addition to the board, and I urge all alumni to vote for him.
Third, the council held its 205th meeting in Hanover on November 1-3. Each alumnus should receive a report on the meeting from his/her councilor, but a few highlights follow:
In recognition of the Dartmouth Year of the Arts, the directors of the Hood Museum and Hopkins Center addressed the council and we toured the beautiful new Black Family Visual Arts Center.
Interim President Carol Folt provided an update on the strategic planning process and key recent events on campus.
Director of athletics and recreation Harry Sheehy led a student panel on balancing academics and athletics.
Chair of the board of trustees Steve Mandel ’78 discussed the presidential search process and board priorities.
Thirteen council committees met to advance their work in such areas as academic affairs, enrollment and admissions, and honorary degrees.
Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson talked about student wellness, discussing issues related to hazing, binge drinking and sexual assault.
Dartmouth Alumni Awards were presented to Leigh Miller Garry ’84, Tom Daniels ’82 and the family of Roger Aaron ’64, Tu’65. In addition, Todd Cranford ’85 received this prestigious award at the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association reunion during Homecoming Weekend, and Doug Wise ’59 received the award at his class mini-reunion in September.
The council meets again May 16-18. I hope you’ll contact your representative or me (at marty.lempres@gmail.com) to share your feedback and questions before the session.
’84, President, Dartmouth Alumni Council, 6068 Blunt Alumni Center, Hanover, NH 03755; marty.lempres@gmail.com
