Virtual Reunion Highlights
—
Even though the pandemic kept everyone at home for the beloved Stern Reunion tradition, that didn’t stop Stern from offering a dynamic week of virtual programs and fun ways for alumni to connect with each other–Perfect Manhattan cocktail anyone?
Reunion 2021 took place the last week of April and offered daily programs that featured popular Stern faculty, events from the “Bringing Back NYC: What to Expect Next from Restaurants to Real Estate” series; a “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” discussion hosted by the Black & Latinx alumni group; speed networking sessions; and one-on-one intro career coaching sessions. Stern also encouraged alumni to organize Zoom parties and provided nostalgic playlists, celebratory Zoom backgrounds, and recipes for Stern-themed beverages.
Reunion has become a popular Stern tradition and is usually held on campus in the spring, with Friday night class cocktail receptions and a Saturday day program with faculty and networking events followed by a big celebration at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. But this year, Reunion was shifted to virtual programs to allow alumni all over the world to participate, with some events open to alumni in non-reunion years.
“We hope to return to our in-person traditions, but we also had very strong attendance for the virtual programs and plan to offer a virtual element moving forward,” said Erin Malone, senior director of alumni relations at Stern.
Reunion is also a time when alumni have a chance to remember back to their time at Stern and to pay it forward for the next generation of Stern students. “This year alumni have been especially generous with their time, as well as gifts that go toward supporting scholarships at Stern,” said Tyson Ford, senior director of annual giving and donor relations at Stern. “Alumni get what the students have been going through this past year and have been more than willing to step up and help out in any way.”
Reunion 2021 took place the last week of April and offered daily programs that featured popular Stern faculty, events from the “Bringing Back NYC: What to Expect Next from Restaurants to Real Estate” series; a “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” discussion hosted by the Black & Latinx alumni group; speed networking sessions; and one-on-one intro career coaching sessions. Stern also encouraged alumni to organize Zoom parties and provided nostalgic playlists, celebratory Zoom backgrounds, and recipes for Stern-themed beverages.
Reunion has become a popular Stern tradition and is usually held on campus in the spring, with Friday night class cocktail receptions and a Saturday day program with faculty and networking events followed by a big celebration at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. But this year, Reunion was shifted to virtual programs to allow alumni all over the world to participate, with some events open to alumni in non-reunion years.
“We hope to return to our in-person traditions, but we also had very strong attendance for the virtual programs and plan to offer a virtual element moving forward,” said Erin Malone, senior director of alumni relations at Stern.
Reunion is also a time when alumni have a chance to remember back to their time at Stern and to pay it forward for the next generation of Stern students. “This year alumni have been especially generous with their time, as well as gifts that go toward supporting scholarships at Stern,” said Tyson Ford, senior director of annual giving and donor relations at Stern. “Alumni get what the students have been going through this past year and have been more than willing to step up and help out in any way.”