Alumni Relations: Staying Connected

Frontier Nursing Service Quarterly Bulletin, Spring 2006 by Barrett, Denise

I recently joined the Development Team at the Frontier Nursing Service. During the first months I will focus on alumni relations, grants cultivation and management, and general fundraising for the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing (FSMFN). I recently moved to Lexington from Jackson, Mississippi, where I worked as a Program Officer with a regional foundation. I have a degree in Spanish from Millsaps College and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the Millsaps Else School of Management. I am married and have one dog and one cat.

I am planning to enhance the current alumni program by increasing the services, events and opportunities for alumni to remain connected to the FSMFN. Alumni are critical to the success of the school because they are recruiters, supporters and cheerleaders. Alumni represent FSMFN all over the world and demonstrate the excellence the FSMFN offers in education by excelling in their professions.

One of the first priorities in alumni relations is updating the database. In the coming months, the database will be centralized, entering current contact information, and developing systems for maintenance of the database. If you are an alumni and are not on the FSMFN current mailing list or email list, and you would like to be included in future communications, please send your current information to denise.barrctt@midwives.org, (859) 253.3637 ext. 5014, or mail to 200 West Vine Street, Lcxington, KY 40507.

With an updated database in place, more communications will be introduced including the continuance of the e-ncwslctter, a new wcbsite page designed especially for alumni and an annual alumni magazine. Several ways will be offered for alumni to stay in touch with FSMFN, share their stories and news and reconnect with fellow classmates and faculty. Submissions for any of the communications pieces should also be sent to me.

Finally, we plan to continue offering opportunities for our alumni to reconnect by sponsoring events throughout the country. We have four alumni receptions planned for 2006 at the ACNM annual meeting, the AANP conference, the AABC conference and the commencement ceremonies in Hyden. Alumni should take advantage of these gatherings to meet with classmates, preceptors, faculty and staff. We are brainstorming other opportunities for events as well including Frontier retreats in Hyden, regional gatherings and recognition events.

I am currently working with an alumni advisory committee and am reaching out to all alumni for suggestions, feedback and ideas. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to learn about more ways to work with alumni programs or to provide feedback. We want to design a program based on your needs and make it easier for you to stay in touch. We look forward to building lasting relationships with our alumni and we hope to hear from you all!

by Denise Barren, Development Officer