The first University of St. Thomas graduate business alumni walked across the commencement stage in the spring of 1976. The value of these graduates to the university was immediately evident, as they provided an elite network of alumni for current students to tap as a resource.
The number of our alumni has increased from 25 in that first class to more than 17,500 alumni today. And although the University of St. Thomas’ academic landscape has evolved greatly during the last 34 years, the tradition and influence of these graduate business alumni have remained the same.
An Opus College of Business alumnus has the reputation of being a lifelong learner and, by nature, an individual committed to serving his or her community and alma mater through the gift of time and talents.
Now, more than ever before, a time and a place exist for you to reconnect with your graduate business alumni community, meet new professionals in your field, connect with former classmates, discuss new business concepts with colleagues and mentor a current student. The graduate business alumni community is a vibrant one, with activities and events that are both new and standing alumni traditions.
A snapshot of the next six months reveals an assortment of events and volunteer opportunities for alumni to reconnect with the Opus College of Business faculty and staff, students and fellow alumni.
On June 7, the Graduate Business Alumni Association will offer the inaugural graduate business alumni golf scramble. Be sure to reach out to your fellow OCB colleagues and put a foursome together for this event.
The next signature event will carry on an alumni tradition by bringing graduate business alumni to gather Aug. 12 for the GBA Summer Social boat cruise. This year, the Summer Social will set sail on the Queen of Excelsior cruise line for an evening filled with wonderful food, business conversations and enjoyable Lake Minnetonka views. Mark your calendars now for this event.
As an additional resource to alumni, the graduate business alumni board was established for the sole purpose of supporting the graduate business alumni community. The board is dedicated to fostering a strong network for graduate business alumni, allowing them to connect with fellow Opus College of Business colleagues and the greater UST community. The graduate business alumni board serves as an advisory board that creates, manages and evaluates GBA programs, events, policies and services. The board is committed to advancing the personal and professional growth of graduate business alumni.
The tradition of the Opus College of Business alumni community remains strong. Be sure to stay connected to this elite, ever-expanding network.
The GBAA also will introduce a new annual event in September. We will partner in a philanthropic project hosted by the Hearts & Hammers organization. Alumni will stay true to their tradition of advancing the common good in a daylong volunteer event that is focused on improving housing for senior and physically disabled homeowners.
In addition to the three annual events designed for alumni, two ongoing events are open to alumni and current graduate business students: Master’s Connection – a series of career-development seminars – and Master’s Pub – business conversation with a keynote speaker who shares his or her career progression.
Events make up a small portion of the opportunities for alumni to get involved. Many alumni are needed to support the graduate business career services office by offering internships, volunteering for mock interviews, participating in a panel presentation, being a mentor or offering tours of their places of employment for current students. Other needs within the Opus College of Business include helping a professor in a classroom or speaking to prospective students on behalf of the admissions office. The Opus College of Business values alumni involvement in all of these capacities, and we look forward to increasing the alumni presence on campus for years to come.
The graduate business alumni staff is committed to supporting the needs of the graduate business alumni. Many resources exist to help facilitate your interaction with your fellow alumni. The newest resource is MyBiz, the GBA online community. MyBiz will serve as your hub for graduate business alumni news and events to help you stay connected to the Opus College of Business. With MyBiz, you also can connect with professionals in your field, search for jobs, browse mentor or internship opportunities and post your résumé. Log in today and build your profile to access numerous benefits and services.
To create your profile, visit www.MyBiz.sthomas.edu. Follow the link, “First Time Login,” located in the upper left-hand corner of the MyBiz homepage. Jeff Kaczrowski is the assistant director of Graduate Business Alumni.
Upcoming Events
GBA Golf Scramble1:30 p.m. Monday, June 7, 2010Shotgun start, Edinburgh Golf CourseBrooklyn Park, Minn.
GBA Summer Social6 p.m. Thursday, August 12, 2010Queen of Excelsior, Excelsior, Minn.
Hearts & Hammers Build TeamSaturday, Sept. 18, 2010Location TBD
