Top row from left to right: Ralph Amos, Mike Worley, Connie Romine; Bottom row from left to right: Marcelyn M. Kropp and Judith M. Johnson.

“We have a wonderful history since our founding in 1859,” Executive Director of Alumni Relations Ral ph Amos says of the association. “Over the past 140 years, our alumni have created many fine traditions that we want to continue. At the same time, we definitely have to change some of our ways of doing business to become the most effective alumni association that we can be.

“How we accomplish the change is our challenge,” Amos continues. “We want to fuse the best of traditional programs with the most relevant, innovative services to be an even more meaningful part of our alumni’s lives.”

Amo s’ leadership vision is based on his belief that the future success of the Ohio University Alumni Association largely rests on its ability to become mission-driven, results-oriented and outcomes-based.

“My goal is to advance the thinking and practices of our board and staff to new levels,” Amos says. “We must have a clear focus for developing our programs and services, managing relationships, providing support to Ohio University and its stakeholders, and marketing.”

Amos has assembled an inn ovative, balanced group of professionals to deliver the highest possible level of service to Ohio University alumni.

“Our Alumni Relations staff members are dedicated, talented folks committed to making a difference in the lives of our alumni,” he says.

One of those staff members is Mike Worley, BSSPS ’95, MSPE ’96, assistant director of chapters and the Student Alumni Board.

“We are working on being a leader in chapter programming in the new millennium,” Worley says. “Our goal is to re ceive recognition from our professional organizations, such as the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

“The Student Alumni Board has been one of the most visible groups on campus for more than 20 years,” he continues. “Looking toward that board’s silver anniversary, I hope to bring national attention to its programming on and off campus.”

Another professional on the team is Judith M. Johnson, assistant director for societies and campus relations. Johnson has a strong knowledge of Ohio University’s history and alumni activities because of her 15-year tenure as an alumni staff member.

“Through brainstorming with colleagues and networking with other alumni professionals, we will put together some dynamic programs on campus and in alumni communities,” she says. “We will continue to promote some of our long-established programs and reunions, while seeking innovative program ideas and ways to deliver valuable services to our alumni.”

Delivering these services and program s has become increasingly complex. Ohio University has more than 152,000 living alumni and about 60 chapters that collectively host some 110 events annually. Not only are Ohio University’s alumni geographically dispersed around the globe, they also display a wide spectrum of social concerns.

“Our alumni are tremendously diverse. They have different needs, varying jobs, dissimilar recreational pursuits and individual requirements of the Alumni Association. But they all share an abiding love for Ohi o University, cherish their memories of their college years and care about the future of their university,” says Marcelyn M. Kropp, director of marketing communication. “Our goal is to respect the individual and group differences, while capitalizing on the similarities. We can deliver more salient information by skillfully using some of the advances in communications technology.

“First, we have to ask our alumni what they want from their Alumni Association,” Kropp says. “Once we understand what we ca n realistically provide them, what will be of the most value given our time and resources, then together we can decide how best to deliver superb products and services. High-tech tools and methods are the ways we will optimize productivity in communicating with our alumni in meaningful ways.”

Providing strategic direction and critical resources for accomplishing these tasks is the job of Connie (Holzer) Romine, associate executive director. Romine, MFA ’70, recently returned to Athens to join the al umni staff following an impressive career in arts and entertainment as well as higher education administration.

“I’ve asked Connie and everyone on our team to think about several key questions,” Amos says. “Such as: What is our mission? What do our alumni need now? What do our alumni consider to be of value? What is our plan for the future?”

“As a graduate, I can relate to and personally help answer these focus quest ions to determine what we want our Alumni Association to mean to us,” Romine says. “I know that my career would not have advanced had I not made such valuable contacts with Ohio University graduates and former professors at certain stages of my life.”

Delivering that kind of value to all alumni is the job of the Alumni Relations team.

“The diversity of the work experiences, expertise and education of this dynamic staff is unique,” Romine says. “I believe that it is the spirit of this team and our combined talents and energies that will lead to our successes in the next century.”

Additional success, Amos says, will come from efforts to link the association’s mission to Ohio University’s priorities and mission.

“Ultimately, four to five years from now, it is my hope that we will have developed an alumni organization that is strong on values, clear on judgment and guided by forward-thinking policies,” Amos says.

How to contact us

Ralph Amos Executive director amosr@ohio.edu (740) 593-4303	Debbie Nogrady Coordinator, Alumni Career Network and Alumni Services nogradyd@ohio.e du (740) 593-4308	Connie Romine Associate executive director romine@ohio.edu (740) 593-4399
Terri Mosher Secretary to associate executive director mosher@ohio.edu (740) 593-4306	Marcelyn M. Kropp Dire ctor, marketing communication kropp@ohio.edu (740) 593-4301	Irene Weigly Secretary to director, marketing communication weigly@ohio.edu (740) 593-4309
Judith M. Johnson Assistant director, societies and campus relations jjohn son5@ohio.edu (740) 593-4304	Mike Worley Assistant director, chapters and Student Alumni Board worley@ohio.edu (740) 593-4305	Billi Jo Reeves Secretary to assistant director, chapters and Student Alumni Board reevesb1@ohio.edu (740) 593-4302

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