For the second year in a row, alumni chapter leaders from around the country and the presidents of the Student Alumni Associations (SAA) at each campus gathered for the Chapter Leadership Development Conference. This year’s conference focused on engaging our diverse group of alumni, lessons learned in the last year, and best practices for future programs and events.

The gathering was held in Charleston, S.C. in recognition of the Low Country Alumni Chapter, winner of the Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award. The award is given annually to the alumni chapter that demonstrates initiative, exhibits quality and contributes to the overall participation of alumni in beginning, renewing or expanding their connection to JWU. In addition to providing numerous activities for alumni, the Low Country chapter also led in giving by establishing the Low Country Scholarship Fund, in 2008. As a result, four students from the Low Country region were given scholarships and are now attending JWU. Victor Donnelly ’06, a graduate of the Charleston Campus and president of the Low Country Chapter, accepted the award on its behalf.

“We were very excited to bring our annual meeting to the city of Charleston, where the Alumni Council was able to present the Low Country Chapter with the annual chapter of the year award and give back to a city that has been so instrumental in the growth of the university,” said Clay Snyder ’93, Alumni Council president.

Eighteen chapter leaders from 21 chapters across North America, plus the SAA leaders, convened for the two-day work session focused on extending the power of the JWU student experience, graduate involvement and future initiatives to extend the reach of the Johnson & Wales experience. The conference also marked a significant transition for the university’s Alumni Council. The council recently voted to change its structure so that chapter presidents and SAA presidents will now make up the council. This shift was in recognition of the daily hands-on work of each of the chapter leadership teams in areas around the country with the highest concentrations of JWU alumni. Three atlarge positions will also be part of the council leadership to ensure diverse alumni representation from areas that may not have an alumni chapter.

Were it not for the work of both current and former council members, we would not have been in the position to make these important changes and move our growing alumni network forward.

For more information on how you can become involved in a chapter in your area, please visit alumni.jwu.edu.