Over 125 alumni consisting mostly of the latest classes of graduates and others who recently moved to New York City attended a welcome event hosted by the Yale Alumni Association of New York that included representatives from various alumni shared interest and identity groups.
Held at the Yale Club of New York City, the event also featured a special appearance by Handsome Dan, accompanied by his handler Kassandra “Kassie” Haro ’18, that delighted both organizers and participants alike.
Stefanie Stevens, associate director for regional clubs at the Yale Alumni Association, said the intent behind the gathering was to help foster fellowship, professional networking, and engagement among the NYC alumni community, the largest cohort of alumni in the world.
“We hope that attendees left with a sense of belonging and direction on how to navigate life in New York City as a Yalie,” she said. “And perhaps a new friend or renewed connection!”
Over complimentary food and drinks, attendees also had the opportunity to connect with alumni who were active volunteers and leaders with different alumni shared interest and identity groups.
Among them included Trevor Thompson ’17 MEM/MBA, one of three alumni at the event who represented Yale Blue Green, Yale’s environmental alumni group. A program officer at a private foundation that invests in solutions intersecting environmental and human health, Thompson expressed his hope that alumni, particularly younger alumni, understand the vital role they can play in addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
“I hope people took away the fact that there is a group focused on climate, environment, and sustainability that wants to help them learn and achieve their goals,” he said.
According to Kelly Rudder ’22, a software engineer at a major management consulting firm who represented the Yale International Alliance, getting involved as a volunteer right after graduating from Yale was one of the best decisions she made as an alumna.
“I never realized how beneficial getting involved with the alumni community early on was,” she said. “It truly has been the key to helping me feel more confident as an alumna, and I did not fully realize that until talking with other folks.”
Rudder urged other recent alumni like her to explore different pathways to serve.
“I hope new alumni see how many opportunities are available to them, and that they feel encouraged to try new things,” she said. “I think the alumni community has incredible things to offer, and especially in a place like New York City, the opportunities are there if you just put yourself out there!”
Jay Wong ’17, a writer, magician, and admissions coach who represented Yale GALA, Yale’s LGBTQ alumni group, said the event reminded him of the significance and specialness of being part of the alumni community.
“In my conversations with alumni, I was struck by the verve of their generosity, the candor of their curiosity, and the humility of their openness to new friendships, knowledge, and experiences,” he said. “It was incredible to witness the energy of a room brimming with such promise and the rapturous entropy of a community I call ‘home.’”
According to Sheryl Carter Negash ’82, interim national president and chair of the Yale Black Alumni Association, and a recipient of the Yale Medal, the welcome event evoked a sense of nostalgia and reaffirmed the importance of alumni supporting other alumni.
“I recall being a young alumna and being somewhat apprehensive about what the future may hold. Some at the event were still looking for jobs and hoping for the best,” she said. “All of the young alumni seemed to be looking for connections and appreciated being in a room with so many other Yalies who have been where they are who have survived. There was a comfort in that for them and I understood it completely.”
Negash added that inclusive gatherings like the welcome event were especially meaningful for alumni of color.
“I was happy to meet alumni of color across the generations who were interested in joining groups and causes that are beneficial to all of us. I was also happy to meet alumni who are interested in being allies to the shared identity groups,” she said. “It reminded me of the richness and power of diversity and of the advantages of being affiliated with an organization like Yale, where diversity is valued, and where I am able to tap into the richness and power that comes from it.”
For Grace Kim ’22, a teacher, freelance graphic designer, and writer who coaches cheerleading for ages 11-18, and represented Yale Alumni Educators (YAEd), her campus experiences fostered an enduring commitment to education, lifelong learning, and service that strongly influenced her career path.
“Many alumni have varying interests, such as education, finance, climate action, music, and business,” she said. “But we all are striving to make our own communities and our world a better place in our own ways.”
Kim was likewise moved by the responses from attendees.
“At our table we asked people to write a few words about how an educator had impacted them. We were touched by the stories of friendship, love, challenges, and motivation that people offered.”
Alison Gardy ’88, a founding board member of YAEd and the director of external and partner relations at an emergency and medical service nonprofit, noted how exhilarating it was to connect with other alumni who were engaged in activities that inspired her.
“It was gratifying to meet and talk with alumni committed to public schools and school systems. They spoke of incredibly important and illuminating work,” she said. “I felt proud of them and of Yale. I left with a heart full of hope.”
