Introductions


alumni Moving Forward


Meet Ann Thompson, EMU’s new executive director for Alumni Relations


For the fi rst time in 17 years, Eastern has a new executive director for Alumni Relations. Ann T ompson has more than 20 years of experience in alumni relations and volunteer management in both public and private institutions. Most recently, she was alumni relations director at Anna Maria College—a private liberal arts college in Paxton, Mass. What can EMU’s 150,000 alumni


expect f om their new high-energy executive director? Shortly aſt er arriving on campus in January, T ompson took a few minutes f om her busy schedule to talk about her passion for building relationships and some new approaches to engaging alumni.


Eastern: What do you enjoy most about working in alumni relations?


Thompson: It’s very stimulating work because no day is ever the same—you’re always working on something diff erent. You create and maintain relationships, not just with alumni, but also the extended university community. When I was a student at Boston College, I intended


to study psychology. But I quickly changed my major to organizational behavior and human resources management. During my junior year, when we studied tactics related to union negotiations and dealing with diffi cult employees, I realized I wanted to focus more on helping people through career development and mentorship. I’m at racted to building relationships, so alumni relations is a good niche for me. I also enjoy the diversity of working with recent and past graduates.


38 Eastern | SPRING 2013 by Jeff Samoray


Eastern: What at racted you to the alumni relations executive director position at Eastern?


Thompson: Aſt er spending more than 20 years working out east, I really wanted to get back to my Midwestern roots and be close to family. I grew up in Bowling Green, Ohio. My mother still lives in northwest Ohio and my brother lives in the Detroit area. In my search process, I looked for a public institution that was bigger than Anna Maria. I had no desire


Photograph by Michael Andaloro


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