As the first frenzied months of my term as WCAA president went by, I found myself thinking about Wellesley. All. The. Time! That’s not going to change anytime soon. I think about alums who are engaged, but also about those of you who are not. I think, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a focus group with alums who don’t feel connected to the College and find out why?” It has made me feel a belated kinship with the grammar school teacher who spoke frustratedly to the kids in class about those who weren’t there. Am I doing the same thing when I talk to our most engaged alums about our fellow alumnae who are not?

And why does it matter?

This topic is of particular interest in the context of reviewing data from the all-alumnae survey (highlights of which you can see in the article “Survey Says”). “Who are you? What do you care about? What are the ways you support the College? How can we harness your enthusiasm for Wellesley in support of its mission?”

Creating opportunities for each of you to stay connected to Wellesley matters, because it is incumbent upon us all to do what Wellesley needs us to do so that the College can continue to provide an excellent academic program, fulfill its mission to educate women who will make a difference in the world, and maintain its status as a premier liberal arts college.

So please—join the HIVE, participate in a Mentorship Affinity Pod, make sure your employer recruits at Wellesley, tell that amazing high school student you met to consider applying to Wellesley, help out if your regional club is hosting an admission yield event this spring, make your gift to The Wellesley Fund to support financial aid and areas of greatest need, sign up for the WCAA Book Club, read about this year’s Alumnae Achievement Award winners and nominate an alum of distinction who you know would be a worthy recipient, or check in with your class officers to see if you can host a Zoom for classmates so that you and your friends can discuss the latest offerings in the virtual Faculty Speaker Program.

I’ll be thinking about you!