The Board of Directors oversees the Alumni Association’s efforts to advance and support alumni, students, and the university. As the Alumni Association's governing body, the Board is composed of alumni whose demonstrated service and leadership display a strong understanding and commitment to our mission.

Meet Alumni Association President,
Rachel Spates ’05MS

What was your UMass Amherst experience as a student—and as an alum?

As a graduate student in the McCormack Department of Sport Management, I spent a lot of time in the Isenberg School of Management studying and working with my classmates on several hands-on, experiential learning projects. The Sport Management graduate program is small, and my classmates and I formed a very cohesive, tight-knit group which have resulted in some amazing friendships.

I also served as a Teaching Assistant within Sport Management and was lucky to develop several close relationships with the faculty and staff within the McCormack Sport Management Department and many remain mentors and trusted advisors to this day.

The strength of the alumni network is one of the many reasons that UMass has the top-rated graduated Sports Management program, and from the very beginning, we were encouraged to reach out to alumni in the field to research prospective career paths. The willingness of our alumni to take the time to answer my calls and emails, and to offer valuable advice and words of wisdom, left an indelible impression on me.

In fact, I joined the Boston Celtics as a PR and Sports Information intern after completing my studies through connecting with a UMass alum. I spent several years doing PR and Marketing Communications in sports before joining my current employer, Sun Life.

How did you get involved as a volunteer leader?

I started out participating in networking events hosted by McCormack and Isenberg, and then branched out to mentoring a few students, helping with things like how to build out their LinkedIn profile and craft a resume.

I was also heavily involved with the Boston Chapter of WISE, Women in Sports and Events, and served on the Board of Directors where I met a fellow UMass graduate who was actively involved in volunteering with the Alumni Association. She was the one who first opened my eyes to the great work of the Association. I knew that this was a group that I wanted to be involved with, so I submitted my name in the upcoming elections that year.

How will you strengthen the alumni community during your term?

I look forward to supporting Chancellor Reyes as he takes over leadership of our flagship campus and continuing to build and strengthen the Association’s relationships within the greater University community. I am particularly interested on focusing on building up our many affinity and regional chapters as well.

The Alumni Association will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2024 and much work will need to be done to prepare the groundwork for those celebrations. Additionally, we will also continue our efforts to renovate Memorial Hall. I hope to involve the entire alumni community in these endeavors.

Considering the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Affirmative Action in Higher Education, it will be imperative that we do all we can to continue to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus and alumni community.

While this is a time of great change, it is also a time of great opportunity for the UMass Amherst Alumni Association. I look forward to getting out into the community and meeting as many alumni as possible to learn how we can help further strengthen their ties to UMass.

Why are you so passionate about giving back?

Being of service to others is something that was ingrained in me from an early age. I have been involved with several non-profits and have served in many capacities. Because I benefited greatly from the time that our alumni gave to me when I was a student, I decided I would pay it forward someday when I had the opportunity to give back.

It has been a rewarding experience and I would strongly encourage others to give of their time as well.