Alumnus Returns to IC as Alumni Engagement Leader

By Kyle Hornyak, September 30, 2022

Brett Bossard ‘95 joined the college on September 19.

Brett Bossard, in his new role as executive director of alumni and family engagement.

(Photo submitted)

Brett Bossard is combining his love of IC, passion for community-building, and expertise in management in his new role as executive director of alumni and family engagement.

The Class of 1995 alum most recently served as executive director of Cinemapolis, Ithaca’s non-profit art house movie theater, for nine years. Prior to this, Bossard was executive director for the Community Arts Partnership, which serves as the arts council for Ithaca and Tompkins County.

In each of these roles, he was responsible for assessing, strengthening, and organizing operations; developing effective collaborations with wide-ranging constituents; fostering a culture of philanthropy; and planning and executing fundraising and communications initiatives.

“President Cornish’s vision of a united IC community—including an engaged cohort of alumni—resonated with me, so it felt like the perfect time to return to South Hill. I’m eager to put my 20 years of experience in the collaborative realm of community arts administration to work for my alma mater.”

Brett Bossard, executive director of alumni and family engagement

“President Cornish’s vision of a united IC community—including an engaged cohort of alumni—resonated with me, so it felt like the perfect time to return to South Hill,” says Bossard. “I’m eager to put my 20 years of experience in the collaborative realm of community arts administration to work for my alma mater.”

Bossard’s passion for community engagement extends to volunteerism as well. Since returning to Ithaca in 2003, he has held leadership positions with several service and economic development organizations. He currently serves as the chair of the Strategic Tourism Planning Board of Tompkins County; as a past president of the Ithaca Rotary Club; and as a member of the Transitional Working Group of the Art House Convergence, an association dedicated to advancing excellence and sustainability in community-based, mission-driven media exhibition. Before returning to campus, he also served as the board secretary for the Downtown Ithaca Alliance.

A graduate of IC’s Roy H. Park School of Communications, Brett holds a bachelor’s degree in television and radio with a concentration in scriptwriting, as well as a master’s degree in popular culture studies from Bowling Green State University, where his thesis research focused on historic preservation of roadside attractions.