Get Involved

Volunteer with the NAA

The NAA welcomes the participation of volunteers in leadership and supporting roles in the running of alumni clubs; in the preparation of class reunions; on the NAA board and its committees; and as mentors to current students through our CareerNet and Externship programs.

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Alumni Clubs
Northwestern alumni live in every state in the nation and in many foreign countries. Many stay connected with one another and with the University through the NU Clubs program. Clubs bring together alumni of the undergraduate and graduate schools, parents of students, and friends of the University for cultural events, sports outings, social activities, community service projects, firesides with Northwestern professors, and much more.

Every club is overseen by a volunteer board including officers, chairs and committee members. Contact a local/regional or national club to indicate your interest in volunteering for the board.

Alumni Reunions
Volunteer participation is vital to success of Northwestern’s class reunions. Each reunion class forms its own reunion committee, and volunteers generally serve as:

Co-chairs (who recruit and lead the committee, make calls to classmates to encourage attendance and participation in fundraising, maintain strong relationships with Reunion staff, and is present to support all reunion activities. In addition, co-chairs host several committee meetings and/or conference calls along with Reunion staff)
Committee members (who report recruited alumni leaders to Reunion staff and co-chairs, make participation and fundraising calls to friends and classmates, share ideas and resources, help the University in finding lost alumni, and report appropriate contact information changes to staff.)

For information about becoming a Reunions volunteer, contact Jessica Ticus at j-ticus@northwestern.edu.

Board of Directors
The NAA Board of Directors, a nationwide organization, consists of alumni leaders who represent Northwestern alumni from every undergraduate, graduate, and professional school at the University. There are over 60 members of the NAA Board including 38 members who are elected by a Nominating Committee. The remaining board members are either alumni trustees or representatives of a particular NU school or NAA Club.

Elected positions include eight Officers, 15 Directors-at-Large, and 15 Regional Directors. All Officers and Directors-at-Large are elected for two-year terms. All Regional Directors are elected for three-year terms. Officers and Directors serve for no more than two successive terms in one position.

Directors-at-Large are responsible for serving as chair or vice chair for one of the NAA standing committees as assigned by the president. Regional Directors are the primary liaisons between the clubs located in their respective regions and the Board of Directors of the Association.

Nominations for the NAA Board of Directors are accepted year-round. If you have any questions, please contact Sia Apostolakis at a-apostolakis@northwestern.edu or (847) 467-6077.

“A Day with Northwestern in Evanston" Executive Board
A Day with Northwestern in Evanston is an annual day-long event composed of presentations by top Northwestern University faculty and distinguished alumni. The program offers an opportunity for alumni and friends of Northwestern University to connect with the University on the Evanston campus.

Alumni volunteers who serve on the Executive Board are instrumental to the planning and implementation of the annual program. Members of the Board bring diverse perspectives to the program development process and support the implementation of program and marketing ideas. Board members also guide the speaker selection process and serve as liaisons with speakers.

For more information contact Lacy Schneider at l-schneider@northwestern.edu.

Make a Difference Day
Make A Difference Day is an annual volunteer event that happens all over the country. Millions of people serve in their communities doing projects such as neighborhood clean ups, feeding the homeless, planting trees, and much more. Usually taking place on the 4th Saturday in October, Northwestern University has moved up our projects to coincide with the beginning of our Homecoming Celebration, encouraging community action in addition to Northwestern pride.

Past sites in the Chicagoland area have included the Chicago Botanical Gardens, Asian Youth Services, McGaw YMCA, Grant Park and other nonprofit organizations. Alumni Clubs around the country also plan days of service to coincide with the event on campus.

Make a Difference Day is a one-time, hands-on, community service day that introduces Northwestern students, staff, faculty, and alumni to service opportunities and gives them an opportunity to meet new friends in the Northwestern community. Check with your local club to see if they are planning a day of service in your city.

For more information contact Katie Wesner at katie-wesner@northwestern.edu or (847) 467-4309.

NAA Externship Program (NEXT)
NEXT is a one- to three-day job shadowing program pairing Northwestern students with alumni for an interactive career experience at the alum’s place of work.

Alumni volunteers agree to sponsor a student for a one- to three-day assignment. The purpose of the program is to give undergraduate students the opportunity to explore their career interests in a real-world setting and give sponsors a chance to share their wisdom and talents in order to benefit students and the Northwestern community overall.

For more information contact Sia Apostolakis at a-apostolakis@northwestern.edu or (847) 467-6077.

NAA Standing Committees
The NAA accomplishes some of its most important work through its nine standing committees, whose missions relate directly to that of the larger organization.

Participation in a standing committee is an excellent way to meet a broad spectrum of your fellow alumni. Meetings typically occur via conference call, and so travel is not a requirement of membership.

For a list of Standing Committees, click here.

Northwestern Alumni Admission Council (AAC)
The Alumni Admission Council (AAC) is a program of the Northwestern University Office of Undergraduate Admission founded in 1968. Since then, it has grown to more than 90 separate councils with over 4,000 members internationally. Each council has a director or co-directors. AAC members assist Undergraduate Admission in a number of ways, including:

conducting interviews with prospective admission candidates. These interview reports are added to the students’ admission files and are reviewed by the Committee on Admission as they make decisions for the freshman class.
providing Northwestern a visible, local presence at college nights held at local high schools
contacting newly admitted students to congratulate them and offer informational assistance. During the summer, the AACs and local Northwestern alumni clubs often sponsor parties to welcome new freshmen.

Northwestern alumni are a valuable resource for future students, providing both information and a human face. Working with fellow alumni and future alumni can be appealing and rewarding.

For more information or to join the AAC, click here.

Questions? Contact Allen Lentino, Senior Associate Director of Admission & Financial Aid and Director of the AAC at a-lentino@northwestern.edu or Andrew Linnehan, Assistant Director of Admission and Coordinator of the AAC at a-linnehan@northwestern.edu.

Northwestern CareerNet
Northwestern CareerNet allows you to search our online networking database to connect with alumni who want to share their career knowledge and experiences. These volunteers, alumni career contacts, agree to be contacted by a Northwestern student or alumnus/a via phone, e-mail, or in-person interview to share information about specific occupations; perspectives on the job market; how their NU degree relates to their career field; further networking opportunities and more.

Some alumni career contacts also volunteer for one or more of these activities:

speaking to students on campus
speaking to alumni in their community
hosting a career/network event
helping a regional club or constituent group organize a career/networking event.

For more information, contact Sia Apostolakis at a-apostolakis@northwestern.edu or (847) 467-6077 or click here.

Updated: August 18, 2009