Dear Alumni,

With July 4th in the rearview mirror, we’ve crossed an unofficial halfway point of summer—a time when days seem to slow down in preparation for the fall ahead. In true AU fashion, however, our alumni and university community remain as busy and driven as always.  

Inspired by the recent holiday, American magazine released a digital summer issue focused on AU’s legacy of civic leadership and the year-long 250+ at American programming. Among the issue’s highlights are profiles of alumni such as Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, CAS/BA ’74, MA ’76, and Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution Matthew Skic, CAS/BA ’14. 

Another spotlight features the AU on the Hill event which brought together Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), WCL/JD ’94, Representative James McGovern (D-MA), CAS/BA ’81, SPA/MPA ’84, and Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI), SPA/BA ’05, CAS/MA ’07, alongside dozens of the 300-plus AU alumni who work in Congress. The event was co-sponsored by University Advancement’s Office of Alumni Relations and reflects the new Power Up the DMV initiative for our Eagles who’ve landed close to campus. 

I’m excited to keep sharing more updates as DC-area programming grows. And for those of us across the country, our Regional Alumni Chapters are wonderful resources for community and networking. (This week is finding me wishing I could make a trip to the Windy City for the Chicago chapter’s alum-led architecture tour on Sunday, July 19!) 

Speaking of travels, it was thrilling to follow Interim President Dave Marchick’s Summit for Scholarships for AU Students. Pedaling along the Tour de France route in the Pyrenees mountains, Dave and his crew—which included the dean of Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business—raised over $160,000 (and counting!) that will go directly to AU students in the form of scholarships. Thank you to all who cheered him along and continue to make gifts to the effort before it ends on July 17! 

As with last month’s message, I am sharing a few reminders: 

• The final session in the Career Center’s Summer Alumni Series on July 23 is Career Center Tools to Ace the Interview, focused on helping you build confidence, strengthen your interview skills, and prepare to stand out in the hiring process. 

• AU’s Asian & Pacific Islander Alumni Network is hosting a virtual Eagles Connect event—also on July 23—for alumni and students, featuring panelist discussion about the public sector, navigating career pivots, and building fulfilling professional paths, along with dedicated breakout room networking. 

• The AU Alumni Board is meeting for our annual planning retreat on July 24. If you have any creative ideas for alumni programming that you’d like to see in the coming year, please feel free to email them to [email protected]. 

• Register for next month’s Golden Eagles Reunion Weekend on August 28 in which we’ll welcome the Class of 1976 and all alumni celebrating 50 years or more since graduation.  

Proud to be part of this alumni community, 

Patty Caballero, SOC/BA ’91, Kogod/MBA ’00