Our Mission

Our mission is to inform, involve, and invest students and alumni in advancing UMass Amherst as a top-tier public research institution. 

The Alumni Association’s role as an advocate for UMass Amherst is vital to the university’s continued growth. Through ongoing engagement efforts, we are helping to build a strong and inclusive student and alumni community to support the future of our great alma mater.

As an organization, the Alumni Association will help:

  • Engage alumni and other community constituents in a lifelong relationship with UMass Amherst

  • Promote UMass pride, traditions, and achievements to our constituents

  • Inform and mobilize students, alumni, volunteers, and donors in support of university priorities

As a collective, the Association's Board of Directors will:

  • Serve as a representative conduit between the alumni community and UMass Amherst

  • Provide strategic insight on alumni programs, communications, and other engagement activities

  • Maintain fiduciary oversight of organizational interests, resources, and 501(c)3 governance considerations

As individual board members, Directors will:

  • Serve as informed advocates and ambassadors of UMass Amherst, personally promoting campus initiatives and achievements to their respective constituents and community members

  • Actively support alumni programs, volunteer activities, student engagement initiatives, legislative advocacy, and giving opportunities through personal participation

  • Recruit alumni and other constituents to be involved with events and programs, benefits and services, volunteer activities, and giving opportunities in support of campus priorities

  • Foster constituent participation in mentoring, internship and career pathway opportunities for students and young alumni

  • Identify alumni and corporate contacts as potential hosts for internships, job shadows, coops, or alumni events

  • Suggest potential speakers, influencers, award recipients, or prospects for future consideration

  • Contribute to volunteer recruitment, stewardship and recognition efforts

FY 2024 Board Priorities

  • Recommend opportunities to strengthen integration of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across all alumni programs, communications and volunteer activities

  • Increase Directors' participation in alumni programs, events, and other activities to elevate Board visibility, expand overall alumni engagement, and support university philanthropic initiatives

  • Leverage Directors' professional expertise and insight as Connect UMass Ambassadors and industry experts to support career development opportunities for students and young alumni

  • Finalize programming and marketing plans for the 150-year celebration of the UMAAA (2024)

  • Support ongoing promotions of Memorial Hall renovations and associated fundraising efforts

  • Support director participation in capital campaign initiatives as appropriate through awareness and training opportunities