Club Leaders Council

The NAA Club Leaders Council is a small, strategic advisory group comprised of four alumni club leaders representing each club type (i.e., affinity, international, large US regional, and small US regional). Led by the director of the NAA Communities team, the Council helps shape engagement strategy, provide actionable insights, and collaborate on initiatives to strengthen alumni connections across Northwestern' global network.

Council Members’ Roles:

• Act as a liaison between their club type and the NAA
• Lead strategy and planning for volunteer-led NU Club Leaders Forums
• Provide input on club policies, programming, and resources
• Participate in quarterly virtual meetings, with additional meetings as needed
• Collaborate on shared initiatives and pilot programs
• Identify emerging needs and trends within their club category
• Collaborate on shared initiatives and pilot programs
• Support the onboarding and mentorship of new club leaders
• Meet biannually with the NAA Board of Directors Clubs/Communities Ad Hoc Work Group and/or NAA Alumni Regents representatives

Meet the 2025–26 Council

We are proud to recognize the four alumni leaders serving on the Council this year (pictured left to right):

• David Waymer ’14 – NU Pride Alumni Club (NUPAC) (Affinity)
• Barbara Rübel ’93 MBA – NU Club of Switzerland (International)
• Chris Eckels ’09 – NU Club of Utah (Small US Regional)
• Idil Kara ’21 – NU Club of Greater New York (Large US Regional)

Together, these leaders bring invaluable experiences and perspectives to help strengthen our global alumni community.