Young Alumni Leaders visit OHIO, take part in special programs

Ohio University alumni from across the country visited Athens on Sept. 6 to network and take part in special programs focused on volunteer leadership.

The alumni are all part of the Young Alumni Leaders program, which is in its second year at Ohio University. The 2024-25 cohort has 36 alumni who are living and working across the country. The alumni will take part in special programs and activities throughout the 2024-25 academic year.

"The energy during our opening session was high, and it was clear that we have a group of dedicated and successful alums with a passion for OHIO,” said Dana Wright, senior associate director of Student and Recent Alumni Engagement for the Ohio University Alumni Association. “I am looking forward to supporting these alums and seeing the positive impact they make at our University through volunteerism."

The Young Alumni Leaders program is designed is to empower recent OHIO alumni to engage with the University and provide them with the skills and connections they need to be successful in becoming a future Bobcat volunteer leader. The alumni involved in the program develop their personal leadership styles while they connect with other alumni, enjoy cohort events and learn about exciting ways to give back to OHIO.

The program kicked off on Friday, Sept. 6, on OHIO’s Athens campus. The day was full of networking, learning more about the program, meetings with OHIO leaders and the introduction of a special project that the cohort members will be working on in small groups throughout the academic year.

In addition, Associate Professor Nicole Smith from the College of Business gave a presentation to the alumni focused on creative problem solving. In her presentation, Smith provided tools to address problems that will help the alumni in their personal and professional lives. 

The Young Alumni Leaders will meet seven times during the academic year through in-person and virtual meetings.  Each meeting will feature guest speakers who will present on a variety of topics.

For more information on the Young Alumni Leaders, including the listing of the full 2024-25 cohort, please see the Young Alumni Leaders program website.