AR : What are some fears that alumni may have about losing their connection to CDU ? AM : One of the primary concerns about losing connection with alumni is the fear of missing out on valuable mentorship and networking opportunities . To address this , we ’ re building a sustainable platform for ongoing engagement . Along with the mentorship program , we offer a quarterly Alumni Newsletter to boost outreach , social media , and the AlumniConnect webinar series . Our goal is to provide alumni with a holistic experience , both during their time at CDU and long after graduation .
AR : What strategies are in place to encourage alumni to volunteer their time and expertise for students and university initiatives ? AM : Alumni are seeking a consistent source of information and networking opportunities . Currently , there ’ s more engagement at the program director level , encouraging alumni to return to campus . For example , Professor Eugene Hasson , MS , RT , ( R ) with the College of Science and Health and Professor Attallah Dillard PhD ( c ), MSN , RN , CMSRN with the College of Nursing have both been actively involved in bringing alumni back to CDU . Alumni can encourage their employers to offer clinical training opportunities for CDU students , share their personal stories about CDU and what they gained from their education with peers and colleagues . We encourage peer to peer mentorship as well because success happens across the table not just from the top down . To create sustainable engagement opportunities , CDU has approved and adopted a mentorship platform with Graduway with plans to launch in 2025 .
AR : When it comes to the alumni , how can they advocate for CDU , both within their communities and on a broader scale ? AM : Alumni can play a pivotal role in supporting CDU by encouraging their employers to offer clinical training opportunities for current students . Sharing personal testimonies and experiences about CDU can help build connections and open doors for collaboration . Additionally , alumni can strengthen the university ' s efforts in securing state and federal funding simply by providing letters of support for budget and grant requests .
AR : How do you plan to gather feedback from graduating students ? Would it include post-course surveys or using institutional research ? AM : Yes , we are already implementing an Alumni Experience Survey to get insight from our alumni and recent graduates . Also , during Grad Fest , we have a brief survey consisting of seven to ten focused questions asking graduates for feedback , such as areas for improvement and what they enjoyed most . This allows us to collect real-time insights while presenting them with their alumni gift . Too often , we create programs without considering the diverse age range of our CDU students . By actively considering the diverse age range of our CDU students , we are making sure our programs are more inclusive and effective , addressing the unique needs of all our students .
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AR : So , would you say CDU is more accommodating to non-traditional students ? AM : Yes , Our average undergraduate student is 29 , and our average graduate student is 33 , so our programming can ’ t be the same as for schools where the average student might be 19 . We ' re a commuter campus , and the age of our students is a big factor in how we design our programs .
AR : How does student diversity at CDU benefit underserved communities , and how does the university ' s commitment to DEI stand out , especially as other institutions face challenges in this area ? AM : We ’ re [ CDU is ] focused on people ' s desire to serve those with unmet healthcare needs , particularly from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds . Just as our purpose states , “ We are a private university with a public mission .” It ' s about our commitment to communities with a history of being underserved , we focus on the person , not their race . When we enroll students , we ' re looking beyond the standard metrics and have always looked beyond the standard metrics . And by this I mean test scores and GPA . We ' ve always looked at how people have overcome or persisted in spite of the ZIP code that they come from . We ' re doing something very , very different at CDU . And when you can assert that 80 % of your students at any given time across the university are students of color and practice in underserved community not every institution can say that . DEI is being threatened at some institutions , but DEI is in our DNA . We ' re not threatened .
AR : You ' ve set a clear direction for sustainability , diversity , and inclusion . What legacy do you hope to leave , especially in fostering lasting connections between the university and its alumni ?
AM : I hope to leave a strong foundation for alumni engagement , where alumni take pride in their CDU education and actively contribute to the university . Whether through mentorship , job shadowing , peer networking , or even teaching , these connections are vital . It ' s important for alumni to know we ’ ve expanded student and alumni support services , thanks in part to fundraising efforts that have boosted scholarships and classroom technology , all aimed at promoting student success .
CDU is a promise to the community and those most impacted by the lack of healthcare accessibility — people of color ," she explained , echoing the words of Dr . Gus Gill . " I remain focused on keeping my promise to give CDU and my community my best .
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