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Alumni

Greetings from Patty Caballero

Dear Alumni,

The semester is finished, the new American University grads have turned their tassels, and the AU Alumni Association just last week recognized the incredible honorees of the 2026 Alumni Awards. 

As I addressed the Class of 2026 at their Commencement ceremonies earlier this month, I offered them a simple message that sums up so much:  

The degree you receive today is proof of your individual work, but the network you join today is proof that you were never meant to walk this path alone. 

Looking back on the events and activities of the past spring, I feel a deep sense of pride in the ways that AU alumni have walked alongside one another.  

Dozens of alumni in eight U.S. metro areas came together for the annual Eagles in Action service tradition. From Atlanta to Seattle, alumni channeled the AU spirit of public service and supporting the greater good—ideals that we hold onto long after we graduate. 

I’m also thrilled to spotlight new developments in AU Alumni Board (AUAB) and alumni leadership in AU admissions and career events this spring:   

  • The university’s New Eagle Day events for admitted students featured 2025 Alumni Eagle Awardee Matthew Warshaw, SIS/BA ’94, and AUAB member Genever Oppong, Kogod/BS ’18, as distinguished alumni speakers. 

  • Beyond campus, AUAB member Toby McChesney, SPA/BA ’02, and other Regional Alumni Chapter leaders participated in New Eagle Welcome events throughout the country in Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, and San Jose. Complementing these events was Explore & Soar programming—a focused, half-day option for admitted students and families—which was supported by AUAB member Hina Gir, SPA/BA ’12, SPA/MA ’14, and Emily Tillett, SOC/BA ’12. 

  • The AUAB Career Committee has also been activating a partnership with the AU Career Center. The Advocacy, Policy, and Legislation Networking Reception, in collaboration with the School of Public Affairs, welcomed 88 students and 15 alumni volunteers—including former/current AUAB members Chad Appel, SPA/BA ’03, LaDedra Drummond, WCL/MLS ’22, and Masoud Andarabi, SIS/MIS ’18—to share career advice and help students practice their networking skills.   

  • Up in the Big Apple, the 2026 New York City Entertainment and Media Alumni Alliance Reception was co-hosted by the NYC AU Alumni Chapter and was the culmination of the School of Communication NYC Career Intensive which connects students with NYC alumni, especially those in the PR and media industries. In attendance were NYC Alumni Chapter leaders, who supported SOC students during site visits earlier in the week, as well as AUAB member Richard Green, SPA-SOC/BA ’99, SOE/MAT ’03.  

  • AU’s Spring Job and Internship Fair saw seven alumni employers in attendance, and University Advancement’s Office of Alumni Relations tabled at the event to engage students, alumni job seekers, and to thank alumni employers attending the fair as recruiters. 

  • A number of alumni attended AU’s First-Generation Gala, fostering vital connections with current AU students and soon-to-be grads with their presence and visibility. 

  • And for myself, I had the pleasure of visiting The Immigration Lab at AU to lead a Charla talk on tips and strategies for professional networking. The students and I spent two hours breaking down how to navigate the room with a relational mindset and confident conversation. We even paired our practice sessions with mocktails to simulate a real-world social setting! 
     

Each of these examples represents a direct touchpoint. A piece of advice shared, a new LinkedIn connection made, a word of encouragement offered when most needed. And because engagement goes both ways, there are so many rewards to interacting with students. 

It's fitting, then, that I’m thrilled to conclude this month’s letter with a call for submissions to Dear AU: A Love Letter from Alumni to Their Alma Mater. All AU alumni are invited to submit a brief video sharing authentic reflections, favorite memories, and the moments that stayed with you. Your story will be woven into a video for incoming students during Welcome Week and Convocation this August, so don’t miss this opportunity to reach the next generation of Eagles before they've even unpacked. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2026. 

Alongside you on the path,  

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