College of Charleston Invests in Alumni Beyond the Lowcountry

The connection College of Charleston alumni have to their alma mater runs deep, and the College is committed to helping them maintain their bond with their university and fellow graduates. With more than 30 CofC Clubs around the world, the College has established a strong program to ensure alumni engagement.

Now the College is taking its commitment a step further by investing in its regional presence in strategic locations. Based on where the alumni footprint is now most concentrated outside the Lowcountry, the College’s initial areas of growth will be the Southeast (the South Carolina Upstate, Georgia and North Carolina), the mid-Atlantic (Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.) and the Northeast (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York). The Division of Institutional Advancement is hiring advancement officers who live in those regions to manage outreach initiatives that cater to the unique needs and interests of alumni, families and donors in their respective areas.

“Our ability to come together is important today and will be more so in the years to come,” says Dan Frezza, chief advancement officer at the College. “We are celebrating our alumni by investing where they live through programs and people.”

Increasing investment in alumni programming will enable the College to reestablish regional events, such as holiday cheers, and create new programs and opportunities that will strengthen regional ties to CofC.

The College is also investing in key alumni events on campus, including the newly created Homecoming event that will take place this fall, November 14–17. This focus on engagement acknowledges the importance of maintaining strong, lifelong ties with alumni wherever they live, some of whom may not often return to campus, but still hold a love for their alma mater.

“Our alumni keep the College of Charleston close to their hearts, no matter where they are in the world,” says Laurie Minges ’83, president of the Alumni Association. “By extending our reach beyond the Lowcountry, we ensure every Cougar feels proud and connected and we create incredible opportunities for our students.”

By giving current and future students the opportunity to interact with alumni, donors, friends and families, they will be able to witness firsthand the power of a CofC education and inspire pride in the College.

“The College of Charleston produces globally fluent citizens who are making an impact worldwide,” says President Andrew T. Hsu. “By enhancing our alumni programming, our university will create opportunities for alumni to network and for future students to see the power and reach of a College of Charleston degree. Celebrating our alumni will lead to more future leaders becoming members of our community.”

Now is a great time to be a Cougar. Alumni are encouraged to take full advantage of all the opportunities the regional programs offer by attending events/activities in their area and supporting the regional officers. Of course, Cougars should always remember to show their pride by wearing CofC gear, placing a CofC decal on their car and flying banners at their homes and businesses.

Go Cougars!