Plans are under way for a special dinner this spring for diverse members of the alumni and student populations. The leadership of the Black Awareness Society met in Grey Towers Castle on Dec. 8 with Arcadia President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III, Andrew Brooks ’09 and Assistant Professor Doreen Loury of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice.

The leadership meeting followed a general meeting the Black Awareness Society in October, to which President Oxholm had been invited. At that meeting, they discussed different ways of making, supporting and growing connections among diverse alumni and students, while expanding the number of opportunities for all students to benefits from the University’s diversity.

After discussing many ideas at that preliminary meeting, the group decided to make connecting with alumni a priority—which fit in remarkably well with conversations that Judy Dalton, Assistant Dean of Institutional Diversity, and Michael Minetti, Assistant Director of Young Alumni and Students, had begun earlier in the fall, and with the ongoing efforts of the Alumni Association to engage alumni in different affiliate groups and chapters.

“We were excited when President Oxholm asked to meet with us about expanding the reach of the Society,” said Jazmine Goodwin, President of the BAS. “Having the young alumni be interested in partnering with us is a great development.”

Brooks is a leader of the young alumni because he is thankful for the personal attention he received from Arcadia staff and faculty. “They had the biggest impact on me and helped me because they care about students’ success,” he says. “Judy Dalton helped me research post-baccalaureate programs and went out of her way to send me information. Dedicated individuals like Judy speak to the personal attention and assistance Arcadia students receive. I am very glad to help connect today’s students with alumni. I know it will make a difference. There’s nothing but upside for everyone in making a strong network.”

The students are going to be working with Georgene Pilling ’04M, Alumni Director, to compile a list of diverse alumni before the holidays and then use January to try to develop a mailing list. The recruitment effort began later that same week, at the planning meeting for the Black Male Development Symposium, which several alumni attended. They all signed on to the project.

A dinner planning committee will meet in late January.