Alumni
Our alumni embody The Washington Center’s core pillars of leadership, civic engagement and professional achievement. They are leaders in many fields, including law, politics, medicine, business, nonprofits, education and others. They hold advanced degrees from highly ranked universities around the world. They devote countless hours in civic work.
As an alum, you are part of a community of more than 50,000 leaders that touches every sector in all corners of the world. We invite you to share your experience and expertise [2] to help continue shaping future generations of The Washington Center’s students.
Top Ten Reasons to Reconnect
- Find a friend if you are new to an area.
- Find old friendships you forged while at TWC.
- Find out about TWC’s events near you.
- Use TWC’s social networks to post or find a job.
- Develop your “expert” credentials by speaking to current students on your area of interest.
- Network with fellow alumni in your profession.
- Take advantage of program/event discounts.
- Promote TWC’s mission by sharing your story.
- Find out how to support current and future TWC students. [3]
- Volunteer to continue building the alumni community.
- Approximately 15% of our alumni community is international.
- Almost 55% of TWC graduates are women.
- 98% of current interns say the program significantly strengthens their career prospects.
- 93.3% of alumni surveyed would recommend The Washington Center to others.
- Four alumni currently serve on The Washington Center’s Board of Directors.
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[18]Alumni Programs
The Washington Center’s Alumni Relations Office is developing multiple avenues to engage with our alumni and involve them in shaping future generations of students. In conjunction with the work of Alumni Advisory Board and various Alumni Regional Committees, our focus centers on two program areas.
Alumni NOW - Engaging Students as Alumni From Day OneOur goal is to connect with students at the very beginning of their experience with TWC. Through creative programming and our wide network of experienced alums, we are providing career development services, connections with mentors, and more resources to help students jumpstart their careers.
Alumni Shifting Gears - A Fresh Look at Professional and Personal LivesWe are working with a diverse group of stakeholders to build a program that engages experienced alumni and promotes our three core pillars through lifelong learning opportunities. Resources are being developed that include a speakers bureau and exclusive event engagements. We invite alumni to play an active role in these initiatives.
Help Build TWC’s Alumni Community
We invite you to join us in building a vibrant alumni community. Here are some tools you can use:
- Register for the online community portal [20] or update your information.
- Follow our Facebook p [21]age [21] or Twitter feed [22], or join our LinkedIn group [23].
- Participate in our Alumni survey. [24]
- Share your story [2] and tell us what you’ve done since your time with TWC.
- Schedule an event in your area and post it on our alumni calendar [25].
- Contact your area Alumni Regional Committee [26] or consider starting one.
If you would like to be involved with our Alumni Now or Shifting Gears program,
please contact alumni@twc.edu [27]
Regional Committees
Our alumni community reaches across the United States and around the world. To better engage and connect everyone to this strong network of experienced and skilled individuals, TWC encourages the development of volunteer-led alumni regional committees. These groups take the lead in:
- Connecting alumni in a particular region for networking, professional development and social activities.
- Organizing local alumni events and service/civic engagement projects.
- Cultivating regional sponsorships and partnerships to support ARC events in the area.
- Promoting engagement of area alumni with The Washington Center.
There are currently active Alumni Regional Committees in Boston [29], Chicago [30], DC [31], Philidelphia [32], Puerto Rico [33], New York [34] and Quebec [35]. If you would like to help establish an ARC in your region, please contact alumni@twc.edu [27]
Please consider volunteering to serve on one of these regional committees; to sign up, contact our main number (202) 238-7900 or (800) 486-8921 and ask for the Alumni Relations Office or e-mail alumni@twc.edu [27].
How to Get Connected and Stay Involved
There are many ways to support The Washington Center as an alum. Every financial gift matters, but so, too, does your intangible support through the continued mentorship of interns, promotion of our programs and staying connected with events in your region [26].
Support TWC’s Programs
- Keep in touch. Update your mailing address, email address, job information, family updates, etc, by emailing alumni@twc.edu [27].
- If you work in the Washington, D.C., area, apply to host The Washington Center’s interns.
- Hire The Washington Center’s alumni by posting a job on our alumni community.
- Mentor current students.
- Host or attend an alumni event [37] in your area.
- Be sure your alma mater is well informed about The Washington Center. Offer to meet with liaisons and prospective students to tell them more about TWC [38].
- Help identify potential donors for scholarships, endowments, and naming opportunities. Share our annual report with them.
- Write a letter of recommendation for a student applying to The Washington Center.
- Read Promise, our alumni newsletter, and share it with a friend when finished. If you are not already on our mailing list and would like to please provide us with your mailing address and contact information at alumni@twc.edu [27].
Supporting TWC Financially
Every gift to The Washington Center made by its alumni and friends has a lasting impact on students. This effect is seen every day when students begin to transform theory into practice, ambition into purpose, and potential into achievement over the course of a semester in Washington, D.C.
Alumni are encouraged to make gifts to TWC in the following areas:
- Unrestricted support that goes where it’s most needed.
- Scholarships and programs [39] to bring more students to Washington.
- Endowment [40] and naming opportunities to support TWC well into the future.
- Capital gifts [41] to build and maintain TWC’s campus.
- Attend the Annual Gala [42] to celebrate TWC’s partners and work.
Alumni Relations
The Washington Center’s Alumni Relations Office focuses on building alumni engagement, financial support and growth, and expanding our network of more than 50,000 alumni from around the world.
Staff Kinnari Sejpal '08
As a 2008 alumna of The Washington Center, Kinnari recently returned to us from West Lafayette, IN where she was working at Purdue University. As The Washington Center’s Alumni Relations contact, Kinnari is focusing on working with more than 50,000 alumni.
If you have any questions, please contact Kinnari at alumni@twc.edu [44].
Alumni Advisory Board The Alumni Advisory Board consists of a diverse group of alums dedicated to helping TWC continue building its programs, develop financial support and connect others to The Washington Center.
Contact Alumni Relations
By Phone: (202) 238.7900
By Email: alumni@twc.edu [27]
By Mail: The Washington Center
Alumni Relations Office
1333 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036-2205
Alumni Advisory Board Members
Alumni Advisory Board The Alumni Advisory Board consists of a diverse group of alumni dedicated to helping TWC continue building its programs, develop financial support and connect others to The Washington Center. Robert Consalvo ’90Undergraduate: Xavier University Dr. Kimberly Adams ’95Undergraduate: University of Southern Mississippi Ms. Patricia ‘Pat’ Pefley ‘81Undergraduate: San Diego State University Ms. Christine Schaaf ‘85Undergraduate: Villanova University
Internship Placement: Senator Ted Kennedy
Stefan Kalina ’92Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne
Internship Placement: Senator Richard G. Lugar
Barbara Merola ’03Undergraduate: University of Central Florida
Internship Placement: National Republican Congressional Committee
Donni Turner ’89Undergraduate: Spelman College
Seminar Participant: Women as Leaders
Seminar Participant: Women as Leaders
Cmdr. Benes Aldana ’89Undergraduate: Seattle University
Internship Placement: Rep. Cardiss Collins (D-IL)
Vicki Allums, Esq. ’78Undergraduate: Berea College
Seminar Participant: Foreign Policy
Ms. Brianna Elsass ‘03Undergraduate: University of Iowa
Internship Placement: American Association of University Women
Mr. Gerardo Funes ’97Undergraduate: Universidad de Las Americas - Puebla University
Internship Placement: U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Gordon Hallas ’90Undergraduate: Western Connecticut State University
Internship Placement: District of Columbia Civilian Complaint Review Board
Mr. Patrick Ignozzi ‘90Undergraduate: Seton Hall University
Seminar Participant: Inside Washington
Mr. Chris Kershner ‘00Undergraduate: Wright State University
Internship Placement: Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Mr. Alan Martin ‘81Undergraduate: University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
Internship Placement: The U.S. State Department, Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Internship Placement: Center for Strategic International Studies
Internship Placement: The Pavilion at the Old Post Office
Mr. Brian Tynan ’91Undergraduate: Seton Hall University
Internship Placement: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Request For Information: Alumni
Promise Magazine
Spring 2012
Learn about how TWC alumna Gwyneth Dunsford is empowering the people of Ghana by sharing their human rights stories with the world, our Alumni Regional Communities, Alumni Gala ticket discounts, and more.
Fall 2011
Learn about how our programs open doors for students with disabilities like Leah Katz-Hernandez, TWC's partnership with C-SPAN, our programs on Capitol Hill, and more.
Spring 2011
This issue outlines the three stages of our ambitious 2011–2016 strategic plan: solidifying our foundation, leveraging our strengths, and imagining what’s possible.
Fall 2010
This issue includes information about our 2010 Gala, TWC's Alumni Advisory Board, TWC and Alumni Regional Committee highlights, and more.
