The University of Waterloo thrives on change. Our long-term vision, Waterloo at 100, aligns our work with global futures that may be very different from our reality today.
Our community of ambitious alumni, donors, volunteers, and partners are key players in our pursuit to achieve this bold vision. In July, after meeting with members of this community, as well as other leaders in post-secondary education in New York City, I am inspired by the positive changes we can make together.
At the CASE Summit for Leaders in Advancement, our peers from global post-secondary institutions explored a variety of hot topics, and I left with renewed excitement for a meaningful and successful future in Advancement at the University of Waterloo.
I had the pleasure of meeting the New York Alumni Chapter leaders, volunteers who generously give their time to build the University of Waterloo’s global community. You might be surprised to hear that they support a growing community of engaged alumni as well as hundreds of co-op students in New York each term! Through social events and informal mentoring, alumni and students have built genuine connections and fostered a sense of belonging miles away from the campus that links them together. This is just one example of how Waterloo volunteers are creating a positive experience and fostering a community of philanthropy among current and future alumni.
While in New York, I also hosted a special event with alumni working in the finance industry, featuring a roundtable discussion between Dr. Jagdeep Singh Bachher (BASc ’93, MASc ’94, PhD ’00), chief investment officer and vice-president of investments at the University of California and vice-chair of Waterloo’s Board of Governors, and Jonathan Gray, president and chief operating officer at Blackstone. It was a fascinating discussion about the world’s current and changing state, through the expert lens of finance and markets. Like the alumni chapter volunteers, this group also showed great interest in philanthropy, discussing opportunities for financial professionals to give back. It was a small and intimate setting that allowed alumni and guests to reconnect with their Waterloo community and reminisce about their bold aspirations that were initiated on our campus.
This trip offered a valuable glimpse into the remarkable global progress that is possible with our community's help. All members of this community are part of Waterloo’s vision for a thriving future.
Nenone Donaldson
Vice-President, Advancement
