Alumni Council
It's my pleasure to provide an update on the work or the Dartmouth Alumni Council. 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." The council has been actively supporting this mission on behalf of the College and its alumni since its formation a century ago.
The council held its 206th meeting in Hanover May 16-18. While each alumnus should receive a report on the meeting from his/her councilor, let me share a few highlights.
President Folt provided an update on the strategic planning process, key recent events on campus and plans through the summer. The council expressed its gratitude on behalf of all alumni for her service to Dartmouth during the last year.
Annette Gordon-Reed '81 shared an update from the board of trustees and information about board priorities and perspectives and discussed the transition for our new president, Philip J. Hanlon '77.
Dean of admissions and financial aid Maria Laskaris '84 gave an introduction to the incoming class of 2017.
I was thrilled to present the Dartmouth Alumni Award to Andrea Lordan '86 and the Dartmouth Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award to David Wagner '99 for their extraordinary service to Dartmouth.
Thirteen council committees met to advance their work in areas including academic affairs, enrollment and admissions, athletics, and diversity and inclusion.
On behalf of the council's alumni liaison committee (ALC), let me extend my thanks to all of you for sharing your take on all things Dartmouth with your councilor. The ALC is close to releasing its sixth annual report to the board of trustees, summarizing alumni sentiment collected and analyzed by the council, including feedback from more than 700 alumni e-mails.
I know that the president and trustees value this report and analysis, so please keep those communications coming. Last summer's report is available online at alumni.dartmouth.edu/leadership/council.
According to its constitution, a critical responsibility of the Alumni Council is to "nominate competent, qualified, independent alumni candidates to serve on the Dartmouth board of trustees."
We're thrilled by the recent alumni vote to nominate Mitch Kurz '73 to the board. The council had unanimously approved his candidacy, following an extensive review process in which more than 300 alumni were considered by the council's nominating and alumni trustee search committee.
In closing, as I pass the reins of council leadership to Mark Davis '81, Tu'84, I'd like to thank all of you for your continued and terrific support for Dartmouth and the council. It has been a blast serving as council president this past year and a wonderful honor, experience and opportunity to serve the College we all love.
'84, President, DartmouthAlumni Council, 6068 Blunt Alumni Center, Hanover,NH 03755; marty.lempres@gmail.com
