This is my last ICView column as president of the Alumni Association. The past seven years of serving on the alumni board, two as president, have been extremely rewarding, as I got to know current students, recent graduates, and alumni from various decades.
I learned so much as a past chair of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, especially when it came to invisible disabilities, changes in the ways students and alumni identify themselves, and the respectful language they (and I now) use.
IC in the City was a major highlight last fall, along with an amazing Cortaca Jug game at Yankee Stadium. I didn’t think the 2019 game at MetLifeStadium could be topped, but IC is always full of surprises. The excitement, atmosphere, and victory stayed with us long after the weekend was over.
The resilience I have witnessed, through a pandemic and an economic downturn, has been comforting and makes me hopeful for the future. I want to thank all of you who haven’t given up on IC, those who attend our regional events, those who volunteer for our alumni board committees (yes, you can do that without being a board member), and those who continue to give back to our alma mater in so many other tangible ways.
I encourage you to nominate your classmates for the Alumni Board ofDirectors and for Alumni Awards, so the entire campus community can learn how diverse our ideas, experiences, and accomplishments are.Collaborating with campus partners, especially students, produces the most rewarding feeling.
Current students are future alumni, and the work we do now, through internships, externships, and other experiential learning opportunities, creates bonds that last a lifetime. You have broken records on IC Giving Days in ways that change students’ lives on and off campus. Keep up the incredible engagement with your professional schools, sports teams, and affinity groups.
If you haven’t already, I hope you have a chance to visit with President Cornish as she continues her inaugural tour to meet alumni.
Thank you for your feedback, your heart, and your commitment to IthacaCollege as we forge a future of infinite possibilities. I will stay involved, as an active alumna, helping with events in Washington, D.C. If you are in the area, feel free to contact me. I love mini-reunions and meeting alumni. Please continue to read the following alumni notes to learn more about what our fellow alumni are accomplishing and the difference they are making throughout the world.With much gratitude and solid solidarity, Go Bombers, and I’ll see you October 27–29!
TANYA HUTCHINS
Ithaca College Alumni Association President
Class of 1989 (Park School)
@TanyaHutchins
alumni@ithaca.edu