The high level of alumni involvement is a testament to the value of an Amherst education and the importance of Amherst relationships.

Amherst relies on alumni engagement to further its mission—be it service as a Pathways mentor or class officer, or participation in the Annual Fund or the Alumni Trustee Election. Alumni—more than 20,000 of you—are a critical part of the life of the College.

During the past year 13 percent of alumni took on volunteer roles and nearly 70 percent engaged with the College through events, giving or online programming, or by offering feedback. This level of involvement is a testament to the value of an Amherst education and the importance of the relationships formed at the College.

Many of these alumni engagement opportunities stem from the ongoing work of the Executive Committee of the Alumni Council. For more than 80 years, since its creation in 1929, the Executive Committee has served as an advisory body between alumni and the College and as an avenue for alumni to become more involved with Amherst. The Committee supports the work of the Advancement office and its goal to provide mutually beneficial engagement opportunities, and it also has responsibility for appointing representatives to an array of alumni committees. The Executive Committee meets three times a year, in addition to the annual meeting of the Society of the Alumni held at reunion.

Bill Woolverton ’73 speaking in Johnson Chapel
As chair of the Executive Committee, Bill Woolverton ’73, P’17, ’12, (left) with the alumni secretary, oversaw the adoption of new bylaws to expand committee membership from nine to 15 members and streamline its work. Increasingly, the Executive Committee is expanding its role to support the flow of ideas between alumni and the college, as demonstrated with the Executive Committee’s call for feedback on the College’s strategic planning process.

During the past year 13 percent of alumni took on volunteer roles and nearly 70 percent engaged with the College.

This fall will usher in a change of leadership for the Executive Committee, with Woolverton concluding his term as chair and with Kerry Brennan ’77 taking the helm. Meanwhile, in the College’s Advancement office, Elizabeth Anema and Betsy Cannon Smith ’84, P’15 have been appointed to new roles. Anema will serve as the executive director of alumni and parent programs and annual giving, supporting the work of the Executive Committee, and Cannon Smith as alumni secretary, with strategic oversight for special communications and projects within Advancement.

Though leadership roles have changed and the Executive Committee has expanded, its core mission remains the same—to create a strong link between alumni and the College. “From the start, the Executive Committee has fulfilled its mission because of the dedication and keen insight of its members. Bill Woolverton epitomized those qualities, and the changes he oversaw are integral to the committee’s continued success,” said Megan Morey, chief advancement officer. “Now, we look forward to welcoming Kerry Brennan to the chair position, and we’re excited about creating additional innovative and engaging opportunities for alumni to connect with Amherst.”

To learn more, offer feedback, nominate a classmate or contact the committee, visit amherst.edu/alumni/volunteer/society or email alumni@amherst.edu.

Executive Committee Members

Kerry P. Brennan ’77, Chair of the Executive Committee
Leo P. Arnaboldi III ’81,  P’17 ’14, Alumni Fund Chair
Angela N. Brown ’00
Aimee Carroll Flynn ’99, Alumni Fund Chair
Katherine K. Chia ’88, Alumni Fund Chair
Kelly Louise Close ’90
Stephen Gang ’72, P’09, ’04
Alessandra Bianchi Herman ’86
Steven Klugman ’73
Mabel I. Lajes-Guiteras ’99
Edwin M. Macharia ’01
Annie C. MacRae ’04
Joseph F. McDonald ’58, P’93
Michael D. Mulligan ’68
Kirsten Poler ’88, President of the Society of the Alumni
Evan A. Redwood ’12
Anne-Claire C. Roesch ’08
Annette Sanderson ’82
Elizabeth Julier Wyeth ’80