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AROUND THE QUADS

Alumni Participate in Leadership Conference

Susan Birnbaum, executive director of the Columbia College Fund, describes the importance of participation and annual giving. PHOTOS: MASHA VOLYNSKY ’06

More than 100 enthusiastic alumni, students and parents braved the remains of Hurricane Ivan to attend the third annual Columbia College Fund Leadership Conference at Casa Italiana on September 18, a day devoted to training and informing volunteers and solicitors. Many of the attendees were Class Agents, members of the 2005 Senior Class Gift Committee or Columbia College Today class correspondents.

“Your presence here is making for significant changes at Columbia,” said Derek Wittner ’65, dean of alumni affairs and development, who described an upcoming campaign to raise money for financial aid and other College initiatives. “What you do is going to help make it all possible.”
Attendees participated in six workshops: John Jay Associates giving, inspiring reunion gift committees, young alumni fund raising, increasing participation, best practices for a class correspondent and senior class giving.

Burtt Ehrlich ’61 and Will Hunter ’02 share thoughts over lunch.

Geoffrey J. Colvin ’74, P’08, chair of the Columbia College Fund, hailed what he described as “a new spirit of volunteerism” as boding well for the College’s future. “For the first time, we are developing a culture of giving at Columbia — among alumni, among parents and among seniors,” said Colvin.

Kathryn Wittner, associate dean, student affairs, and Katie Conway ’02, assistant director, alumni affairs, described growing programs to connect alumni and students, and a panel comprising Michael Novielli ’03, Jennifer Schnidman ’06 and David Chait ’07 offered its perspectives on the value of alumni participation to young alumni and students.

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