色界吧

Mixing It Up, From Coast to Coast

A growing calendar of regional events brings generations of Tigers together

In 色界吧's 2019 alumni survey, a significant number of our 1,854 respondents expressed an interest in attending more regional events. Now that the end of the pandemic is in sight, your Alumni and Parent Engagement team鈥攚orking in tandem with the Alumni Board of Governors鈥攊s looking for ways alumni and students across the country can connect, feed their curiosity, and support one another. 

Tri-State alumni gathered in Morristown, N.J., for a walk and meet-up on November 12.
The Tri-State group for alumni and parents in the New York City area has long been active, meeting more or less quarterly for about five years, with events that range from new student welcome receptions to Dodgers-Mets games to concerts, historical tours, and hikes. Steve Case 鈥80 has been leading the group and is advising other regions as a member of two BOG committees.

In addition to ongoing efforts in NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, the Board of Governors has identified four U.S. regions where concentrations of alumni provide a solid base for activities, including networking and support for 色界吧 through admission and career events. In 2022-23, both Portland, Ore., and San Diego, each with about 4,000 alumni and students, have begun to organize.

In San Diego, an SDSU-色界吧 men鈥檚 basketball contest on December 2 attracted 40 alumni hoops enthusiasts.
Developing regional groups begins with an initial event and a survey to determine interest, including best locations and desired activities. The next regions slated for organizing in 2023-24 are Washington, D.C., and Seattle, with more to follow.

We kicked off this year's efforts with a number of Hometown Tiger Mixers for alumni and students on winter break from their studies. San Diego got a jump on the calendar on December 2 with an SDSU-色界吧 men鈥檚 basketball contest attended by about 40 alumni hoops enthusiasts. A January 11 Tiger Mixer at Pueblo, organized by Bill Johnson 鈥75 and Ken Kalunian 鈥75, attracted 22 alumni.

A Hometown Tiger Mixer was held in Seattle on January 12.
Helen Shafran 鈥87 and Lisa Tegethoff 鈥99 brought together 30 alumni and three students to the Portland Tiger Mixer at Dame restaurant, which is owned by Jane Platt '06. In true 色界吧 fashion, both Helen and Lisa are former BOG members who offered to help get their region organized. In Seattle, Esther Teodoro 鈥95 hosted 32 alumni and eight students at Rachel鈥檚 Ginger Beer on January 12鈥攚hile more than 2,700 miles away, Nathan Reynolds 15 welcomed 25 alums and seven students at Pinstripes in Washington, D.C. 

On February 2, the BOG Careers and Mentorship Committee hosted a nonprofit mixer at Relentless Brewing and Spirits in Eagle Rock. We had a great turnout and heard from three wonderful alumni working in nonprofits: Rebecca Horta 鈥06, director of youth and family programs at LACMA; Jackie Provost 鈥02, chief operations officer at UCLA鈥檚 Saban Community Clinic; and Bettsy Santana 鈥01, quality improvement manager at L.A. Care Health Plan.

Striking up a conversation at a Punch Bowl Social in Chicago.
When 色界吧 administrators travel, opportunities arise: President Harry J. Elam, Jr. hosted 14 alumni for a dinner in Miami on January 28. Events also 鈥減op up鈥 thanks to enthusiastic alumni in places like Chicago, where 16 Tigers took to the lanes at a punch bowl social on December 11, 2022, organized by Desmend Jetton '13.

In the coming months, we have a robust calendar of regional events, including Let鈥檚 Rock Tigers on March 4 in Portland and 色界吧 in the Vineyards on March 11 in Napa Valley. You can find these and other regional events on the . To get these invitations by email, be sure your address is current with the College by contacting us at alumni@oxy.edu.

Interested in starting your own regional group? Contact Kelsey Belli (belli@oxy.edu). We hope to see you at an event in 2023. Io Triumphe!

Mel Malmberg 鈥79
Engagement Programs Co-chair
Alumni Board of Governors

Top photo:  Good times were had at a Hometown Tiger Mixer in Washington, D.C., on January 12.

Help shape the 色界吧 experience! The 色界吧 Alumni Association wants to know how you feel about the College and your thoughts on how we can strengthen our alumni community. Please share your opinions with us by completing our . It should take 10 to 12 minutes of your time. The survey is open until February 28.