March Alumni Perspectives: Shay Totten '91

I hope this note finds you safe. 

I recently updated folks on the many ways alumni can reconnect to the College—especially with today’s incredible students—as well as on projects I’m working on, like our current pilot course Life after Bennington.

As I noted in last month’s note to my fellow alumni, we are working to launch a new alumni association this year. I’m happy to announce that new bylaws have been adopted and the first volunteer officers are in place! I couldn’t be more excited to get to work with this talented group of peers and all of you to build a new alumni association.

Here are the current executive officers and executive committee members. There are still a few slots available to help support some of the initial committees, so let me know if you’re interested.

The Executive Officers & Executive Committee of the Bennington College Alumni Association are:

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

• President: Amanda Eppers '92
• Vice President: Wyatt Kirby '10
• Secretary: Jeannie Cross '72
• Treasurer: Vivian Robbins '14
• President-elect: Rachel Schatz '89

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Trustees (up to 3)

• Trustee Sekka Scher '90
• Trustee Ellen Safir '66
• Trustee Ciaran Cooper '87

At-large (up to 5)

• Sarah Jane Rodman '74
• Mimi Kantor '92
• Sawyer London '24

Staff Representative: Shay Totten '91 (non-voting)

Student Representative: TBD

If you’re interested in learning more about what it means to be an at-large member or volunteer on the initial committees, email me and I can fill you in on the roles and responsibilities. I’m also looking for volunteer leaders to help form chapters in New York City, Los Angeles; the Bay Area; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Portland, OR; and Seattle; to name a few. 

This group listed above have been instrumental in helping us get to this point—creating bylaws, an organizational chart, and a draft chapter handbook! We have a lot of work ahead of us, and if this organizational building and systems work is exciting for you....come see me after class. 

I also want to give a special thanks to Trustee Sekka Scher '90, who has been a fierce advocate for alumni re-engagement and a major ally to get this work done in a relatively short timeframe.

Now, onto the fun stuff.

If you’re an alumni living in the Bay Area we are gathering Sunday, April 19, at the home of John McManus '89 and Ariele Taylor '91. Invites were sent this week, but if you didn’t get one–or you’re visiting the area and would like to attend–you can register online.

Are you interested in hosting an alumni gathering in your community? Please email me, and we can start planning. While I work on bylaws and a chapter handbook with a small group of our alumni peers, there’s no reason to put get-togethers on hold. 

As I mentioned last month, one of my many projects here is working to bring alumni into the classroom so they can meet and share knowledge with current students. We’re into week four of a pilot course, Life After Bennington. This term-long course is featuring a different alum each week and, so far, has been a hit with both students and the alumni who’ve participated. It’s helpful to get real-world advice from alumni about how to leverage your Bennington experience in the “real world.” They even resonated with an old-timer like me—go figure!

I’m planning the next course, so If you’d like to take part in a future class, email me. 

Finally, if you’re ever in the neighborhood,  let me know and I’d be happy to treat you to lunch in the Dining Hall and spend time with you on our beloved campus.

And....as of today....almost all of the snow has melted! Come on Spring, you can do it!

Onward,

Shay Totten ’91
Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement