Meet the AUP Alumni Association

23,000 Strong

When a student comes to The American University of Paris, what stays with them, years after they leave? For many, the answer is the network, people and community. Today, after six decades of welcoming global citizens in the City of Light, AUP is delighted to launch the AUP Alumni Association.

The Association will unite more than 23,000 alumni worldwide, bringing local chapters, interest groups, and community leaders under one roof and empowering members through vibrant programming and key University support. Membership lasts a lifetime and begins the moment a student matriculates at AUP.

Recent graduates at the Alumni Soirée on the Seine, celebrating the launch of the Alumni Association during Alumni Weekend 2025

The news broke at the Alumni Weekend Soirée in April 2025, where over 100 alumni and guests had gathered on the River Seine to celebrate with a night of dancing, bonding, and river rides. Alumni, many of whom had traveled from around the world to attend the event, expressed enthusiasm for this new chapter of officialized and empowered alumni engagement across the University.

Since the University’s founding in 1962 as the American College in Paris, alumni have always found ways to connect with one another through reunions, local events and personal networks. The new Association formalizes these ties and creates new opportunities for engagement. “Creating an association brings alumni back to the heart of our institution, where their involvement and expertise make our community stronger.” explains Courtney Stombock, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations.

Since Stombock’s appointment in 2023, her team, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, has been working to strengthen ties between alumni and the University. The goal is to make sure the 23,000 graduates and former students around the world know how to connect and how to access the resources available to them.

Key components of the new Association’s role include life-long learning opportunities, like the recent sessions held by professionals on topics such as investing in Paris realestate or understanding tax implications for expats in France; opportunities for travel, such as joining cultural program study trips; the revitalization of local chapters and the formation of affinity groups based on identity, profession or interests, such as Black Alumni, LGBTQIA+ groups, food and wine professionals, entrepreneurs and creatives— as a way to further build community around shared interests.

Additional goals include increased alumni visibility in student life, through mentoring and career development, as well as opportunities for involvement in student recruitment. An alumni awards program, in addition to the annual Distinguished Alumni Award at graduation, is also under consideration, intended to celebrate outstanding contributions across professions, communities and the University itself.

Alumni and staff celebrate the Alumni Association launch at the Boat Party during Alumni Weekend 2025.

Built on the foundation of the President’s Alumni Advisory Council (PAAC), the new AUP Alumni Association reflects the efforts of a transitional board of 22 alumni. Working in partnership with the University, Development and Alumni Relations, and the Board of Trustees, this team spent a full year engaging with the AUP community, culminating with the creation of the Association’s charter and bylaws and a framework to guide the future. As volunteer John Myers ’86 explains, “Our team has had to work with a wide range of interests and inputs to get this across the finish line.”

With this foundational work in place, the Association will be led by an elected board of dedicated alumni following a public call for nominations.

Unlike the PAAC, which comprised a small group of alumni and primarily advised University leadership, the Alumni Association is designed to bridge the gap between the University and all alumni. “AUP provides a unique resource that is a global network,” says Myers, who is currently leading several projects in impact investment and international development alongside fellow alumni. He sees the Association as a way to make this network more accessible—and powerful—for graduates at every stage of their personal and professional lives.

With alumni empowerment and inclusivity at its core, the Association is an integral part of the institution, with no fiduciary responsibilities and no membership dues. Support will come from dedicated resources managed by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the University.

Efforts to establish a formal alumni group date back to the mid-1980s, when a group of North American graduates explored forming a registered organization in the United States.

Since then, the University has maintained a strong rhythm of global alumni programming, including chapter events in cities around the world. But this year’s launch marks AUP’s strongest commitment yet to building a lasting and vibrant alumni community.

The goal, explains Stombock, is to encourage alumni to engage with AUP and with one another. For many, the first step will be visiting AUP Global, the alumni platform where users can connect with one another, find volunteering opportunities, join chapters and affinity groups, register for events, and watch as their personal and professional networks flourish. Earlier this summer, the University launched a directory project which will allow alumni to update their information, purchase a hardcopy and digital directory, and connect directly with classmates.

To kick off the Association’s first year, a series of Rentrée Soirées will be held this fall to bring alumni together and mark this milestone moment. To join, visit AUP Global and save your place.