Dear fellow Arts alumni,
When I reach my one-year anniversary working in Arts alumni relations, I will have worked more days at home than on campus. Adapting to the new normal of physical distancing has not been easy, to say the least.
An upside, though, has been the discovery that it’s actually quite easy to reach out to people virtually. It has been particularly nice to have the time to catch up with fellow UWaterloo alumni, many of whom I had not spoken to in years, and to virtually meet new friends. I treasure each of these interactions
That’s why I’m excited to announce the return of Class Notes! Any time I pick up an alumni newsletter (whether it’s from my alma mater or not), I find myself perusing the Class Notes section – just to see if there’s a familiar name, or if there might be a tidbit about an alumnus I know or share a common connection with. I encourage you to send in your class notes via email to Arts Advancement – we would be pleased to share these personal or professional updates (in up to 75 words!) in our next issue of Arts & Letters.
I’ve also enjoyed my time connecting with students or new grads who reached out to me via our online UWaterloo Arts Café. As a Waterloo alum with an unconventional career path, I hadn’t considered myself to be an ideal mentor. What advice could I possibly offer? But I am humbled that my experiences with career shifts has served as an example of adaptability and transferable skills for these uncertain times. I invite you to join myself along with other fellow alumni as a mentor.
Like so many events this year, Alumni Black and Gold Day is going virtual. I hope you will be able to join us online September 25 and 26 – no matter where in the world you are! You may find a familiar face hosting the Arts Reunion Trivia!
Finally, I welcome the opportunity to speak with you any time, to learn about your experiences while studying at UWaterloo and your path since graduation. Let's discuss how you might engage with the Faculty today. Please contact me at phoebe.wong@uwaterloo.ca.
Phoebe Wong, (BA ’98)
Senior Alumni Engagement Officer
Ways to stay connected
- Email us your Class Notes for sharing in Arts & Letters
- Mentor students at UWaterloo Arts Café, supported by Ten Thousand Coffees
- Complete the Arts 2020-25 Strategic Plan survey
- Hire a Waterloo Arts Co-op student
- Support Arts - learn about our current areas of priority
- Visit the Faculty of Arts website for the latest news and events
