Working Groups

Alumni Giving Council (AGC)

The Alumni Giving Council is a group of volunteers who cultivate a culture of philanthropy among alumni by encouraging financial support of the Fund for St. John’s College. The Alumni Giving Council:

• provides ideas, advice, and feedback to the college’s annual giving staff on new and continuing fund raising efforts
• recruits new volunteers to participate in Alumni Giving Council programs
• makes direct solicitations for the Fund.

Liaisons: Claiborne Booker (A84) and Merry Peckham (SF07)
Staff: Mark Piekarski, Director of Annual Giving (505-984-6104 | mark.piekarski(at)sjc.edu)

Alumni Leadership Forum (ALF) Working Group

The Alumni Leadership Forum Working Group plans and hosts the annual Alumni Forum, which is intended to:

• Offer new and evolving opportunities for dedicated and energetic alumni volunteers to get involved and contribute to the health and growth of both the college and the alumni community.
• Bring together college alumni, staff, and leadership for a weekend of collaboration.
• Provide an occasion to recognize, reward, and thank alumni for the critical roles they play in the success and sustainability of the college. Provide a venue for alumni to cultivate the strong relationships that define our community.

Liaisons: Katarina Wang (A88) and Heather Upshaw (SF04)​​​​
Staff: Chris Aamot (SF04) (505-984-6114 | cca(at)sjc.edu)

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee identifies who among alumni should be given certain awards and honors bestowed by the association. In addition, the Awards Committee considers whether other awards or honors are appropriate to institute, and may recommend any such additional awards or honors to the board for its consideration. The Awards Committee also periodically checks that any awards given in the name of the association to students (such as athletic blazers or essay prizes) are meaningful and fairly balanced between the campuses.

Liaison: Adrian Trevisan (A84)
Staff: Chris Aamot (SF04) (505-984-6114 | cca(at)sjc.edu)

Career Services Advisory Group

The Career Services Advisory Group works with the Career Services offices of the two campuses to identify, develop, and manage (if appropriate) programs intended to assist students and alumni in all aspects of the career and job search, from initial exploration through later career changes.

Liaison: Josephine Escalante (A92) and Sheila Virgil (A88)
Staff: Jaime Dunn (410-626-2500 | jaime.dunn(at)sjc.edu)

Chapters Working Group

The Chapters Working Group works to facilitate:

• the flow of information between the Alumni Association Board and other alumni groups
• the sharing of ideas, best practices, and success stories within groups.

Liaison: Briana Saussy (A04, EC05)
Staff: Maia Banks (410-295-5532 | maia.banks(at)sjc.edu)

Events Working Group

Liaison: Jim Berrettini (AGI92)
Staff: Chris Aamot SF04 (505-984-6114 | cca(at)sjc.edu)

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee recommends to the board the nomination each year of alumni candidates for:

• Members of the Board of Directors (at-large directors and officers of the association, i.e., president-elect, treasurer, secretary)
• Alumni-elected members of the BVG
• Honorary membership in the Alumni Association
• Members of the Awards Committee

Liaison: Mark Parenti (AGI92)
Staff: Chris Aamot (SF04) (505-984-6114 | cca(at)sjc.edu)

Student and Recent Alumni Working Group

The Student and Recent Alumni Working Group works to:

• increase awareness of the Alumni Association and its activities among students (who will become alumni in the future)
• foster contacts between alumni and students for their mutual benefit.

Liaison: Sabina Sulat (A88)
Staff: Sophia Dillard (A15) (505-984-6103 | sophia.dillard(at)sjc.edu)

Strategic Communications Working Group

The Strategic Communications Working Group works to:

• facilitate awareness within the Alumni Association Board of the interests and concerns of alumni at large so that it can respond to them promptly and appropriately
• increase awareness of the Alumni Association and its activities among the alumni at large in order to increase alumni participation.

Liaison: Elisabeth Long (A86) and Billy Trabaudo (SF17)
Staff: Carol Carpenter (323-459-4661 | cdcarpenter(at)sjc.edu)
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