Goals: Bringing Terriers together for networking,
developing affinity groups, creating better connections between alums and
students
JULY 28, 2021
The volunteer leaders of the Boston University
Alumni Council (BUAC) guide the activities and engagement of the Boston University Alumni
Association (BUAA), now more than 350,000 strong. (If you graduated
with a BU degree, that includes you.) Beginning in the summer of 2021, the association president is Anthony Harrison (COM’81).
Like his immediate predecessor, JR Hipple (COM’88), Harrison
has parlayed his BU education into a highly successful career in public
relations. Now the senior director of corporate communications for Anaplan,
based in San Francisco, he’s also helped shape the image of a host of
influential institutions: Microsoft, Disney, Starbucks, Verizon, the New
York Times, and, most recently, Facebook.
Hipple says that “Anthony, a dear friend and remarkable BU
alumnus, is the perfect person at the right time for BU.”
Harrison studied at BU during what he calls “a volatile
time.” As a result, he says, “I, like many from that period, had drifted away
from BU.” But that changed.
“I came back maybe 10 years ago now, and I was blown away by
what a phenomenal institution BU has become under Bob Brown,” Harrison says.
“And I can’t be more thrilled and proud to step into this role as an out and
proud African American gay man.”
For Hipple, increasing the representation of BU’s diverse
alumni was a priority during his tenure. “We have done a lot to improve
diversity, equity, and inclusion [DEI] on the BUAC,” he says. “We’re not there
yet, but we have greater representation.”
Harrison plans to continue that work, and to keep developing
affinity groups to bring together Terriers with shared interests, all around
the world. “It can be hard, given hundreds of thousands of alumni, to see ‘How
do I fit into this?’” he says. “But you start to find your place—that’s part of
it. And, for the BUAA, it means not trying to be ‘one size fits all.’”
One key tool in that effort is BU Connects, the
digital platform that brings Terriers together for personal and professional
networking. Because it includes current students as well as graduates, Hipple
says, it has already been helpful in furthering another of his aims for the
BUAA: giving alumni more opportunities to support students, whether by formal
mentoring or by sharing job openings and other opportunities.
That kind of connection is one of three priorities that
emerged from alumni feedback on the BUAA’s strategic plan, Hipple says. That
feedback also highlighted developing meaningful networking opportunities and
support among alumni and sharing news about BU’s accomplishments that
strengthens older graduates’ perceptions of the University.
Just in the past year, Harrison agrees, there has been a lot
to celebrate. “The work that’s happening around DEI is inspiring—the University
has doubled down on doing what’s right. And their response to the pandemic: to
continue to function, and to provide that residential college experience,” he
says. “It’s things like that that more alumni need to know about.”
Harrison is also particularly interested, he says, “in
creating better connections between alumni and students, so they become excited
about becoming alumni. I’m very energized about that.”
Like Hipple, Harrison hopes to see more alumni taking part
in the activities of the BUAA—attending events, catching a webinar, or
connecting with students. As Hipple points out, “the school needs alumni to be
involved. When you’re involved, you get so much more than you could ever give.”
How to Get Involved
