UD Connections
University leaders engage with Blue Hens in Florida, California
8:22 a.m., Feb. 5, 2015--The University of Delaware is only as strong as its people, and its alumni and friends are integral to the continued advancement and success of UD.
That was the message President Patrick Harker delivered earlier this month at two regional events, designed to engage and reconnect the University with Blue Hens in Naples, Florida, and San Diego, California.
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“We want to remain true to the mission to serve students and prepare them for success; to invest in our people and in the facilities they need to do the best work; and to stay on the vanguard with new ideas, technologies, methods and partnerships,” said Harker, speaking to alumni and supporters at the Naples event.
“We’re doing great things, but we can’t do them alone,” he added. “We need your time, insight, dedication and support to ensure our continued success.”
On Jan. 5, more than 60 guests joined the president and six deans at the Naples Yacht Club to discuss the latest University news and happenings. Hosted by University Trustee John Cochran and his wife, Patricia, the event was open to all alumni and friends in the area. There, amidst great food and drink including a Blue Hen specialty cocktail, guests enjoyed the company and conversation of fellow Blue Hens and learning more about the University’s plans for the future.
George Watson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, spoke with CAS alumni James (Class of 1976) and Kitty (Class of 1979) Coughlan about problem-based learning (PBL) in the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Laboratory.
Mike Lancellot, a member of the Class of 1978 with a degree in business administration, meanwhile, spoke of how his alumni engagement began as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board and grew when he started mentoring UD business students.
As a judge for the Horn Program in Entrepreneurship Hen Hatch competition, he discussed how important it is to volunteer and stay involved. “We all love UD,” he said. “Therefore, we can and should promote the University as proud advocates.”
Just a week later, on Jan. 13, another 70 alumni and friends attended a reception in Encinitas, California.
Relaxing at the Spanish-style home of Kirk (Class of 1990 in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment) and Connie Malloy, alumni, friends, parents and members of the San Diego Alumni Club gathered to reconnect with the University and hear more about its future, with remarks from both Harker and Nancy Targett, dean of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE).
“In CEOE, we work to create leaders that can address global environmental and energy challenges, leaders who can link science and society in a way that generates not only understanding of environmental issues, but solutions to the problems,” she said.
One such leader is Kirk Malloy, senior vice president and general manager for the life sciences businesses unit of Illumina, a company that provides complex, cutting-edge gene-analysis technologies.
“I loved my UD experience,” said Malloy, who now serves on the CEOE Dean’s Advisory Council. “My first choice for grad school was Duke, but in the end I published more papers and did more research at UD than my friends did at Duke. So glad I chose UD.”
UD’s Career Services Center has begun efforts to strengthen connections between students and alumni across the country and globe. “Meeting alumni now living and working in the San Diego region was truly a pleasure,” said Matthew Brink, director of career services. “Current students interested in making a similar transition will benefit greatly from the strong network of alumni located there.”
For a list of all upcoming alumni events or to suggest a regional event, visit UD Connection.
Featured upcoming alumni event
March 12 – An Evening of Conversations and Connections with New York Alumni. This event, now in its fourth year, will take place at 650 Madison Ave. (26th floor) at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 12. The evening will feature an interactive discussion focused on the different aspects of the fashion industry and feature a distinguished panel of alumni working in merchandising, visual, social media, business, marketing, creative and other aspects of the industry. Reception at both start and close of event.