Reconnecting with Alumni

By Alex Weakley

One of Eastern New Mexico University’s most recent employees, Dawn Wolf-Taylor, is the new ENMU Alumni Affairs Coordinator. Dawn, who received her master and bachelor degrees from Texas Tech University in merchandising and museum science said, “I am so pleased to have the opportunity to work with ENMU alumni and students who will soon be our alumni.”

Dawn’s first day on the job was spent traveling to Albuquerque for the 2nd Annual ENMU Alumni Association Golf Tournament. She spent the rest of the weekend at an Alumni Association board meeting and two alumni receptions getting to know the area alumni and the 37-member ENMU Alumni Association board. Dawn was very glad she was given the opportunity to connect with the volunteer leadership she works with from day one. Although the beginning was hectic, Dawn talked about how she is more connected than simply an event planner. She said, “I get to friend raise, while this helps the Foundation to fundraise.”

“I’m working on researching and reviewing everything, and gathering information to make annual events better,” Dawn said. To offer more accessibility to ENMU, the Alumni Office is using Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social networking sites.

Plans in 2012 include alumni socials in Allen, Texas, in conjunction with the March 2012 Lone Star Conference basketball tournament, a trip to the DFW area for alumni to watch the Greyhounds play an exhibition game in the Dallas Cowboys stadium slated for September, and an expansion of the annual alumni social in Ruidoso each February to include ENMU/ Ruidoso and ENMU/Roswell alumni.

Dawn plans to focus future Homecomings around alumni affinity groups in hopes of attracting more alumni back to campus. Affinity groups have a common interest and Dawn will be targeting authors and writers for homecoming 2012, with groups ranging from Sports to Music at future homecomings. Another idea Dawn has is to start young alumni groups for students before they leave campus, “I’m hoping these will help current students to become lifelong alumni before they even leave.”

Dawn has a busy year ahead as she learns more about current alumni events, focuses on improvements, and introduces/develops new projects, such as an e-newsletter that will complement the ENMU Effect Newsletter. She is also hoping to reinstate a ring ceremony in

May 2013. Dawn is focused on increasing activities and events that build tradition and pride, both for current students and alumni of all ages. New projects such as the ring ceremony, online communities and homecoming affinity groups, combined with all the other wonderful events that already take place on campus are just a few of the goals that Dawn is working toward achieving this upcoming year.

Dawn ended with reminding everyone to “look for all of the events that have happened previously here on campus and in Portales as well as NEW events both on campus and in communities outside of our area.”