When Rosetta L. Clay – the new associate vice chancellor for Alumni Relations and executive director for the Alumni Association – joined the staff at North Carolina A&T State University this June, she had a tall order to fill.

Her charge from Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. was to integrate the Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Affairs functions into a comprehensive program that would produce common success and support the university’s mission.

Clay was ready and able for the challenge.

"This is a new beginning and a perfect time to introduce engagement opportunities and effective programs that connect alumni, students, and supporters to this great university,” said Clay. “It is critical with this integrated alumni relations model to ensure there is a unified message and that alumni programming is aligned with our institutional goals,” she added.

According to Clay, the new model is about working together and developing sustainable alumni programs that transform passion into greater affinity and increased involvement.

“I have already started working with alumni and can see the benefits of a collaborative relationship between the University and the Association. These two entities are greater together and will have more impact in partnership,” said Clay.

In her first weeks, Clay has implemented a name change to the office – transitioning from Alumni Affairs to the new Office of Alumni Relations.

“The name change defines the essence of working with alumni - creating, building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships. For the University, the name change is a representation of the new direction of next level alumni engagement. For alumni, it is about taking advantage of existing opportunities and creating new ones for alumni to connect to students, one another and the University in a meaningful way,” explained Clay.

Clay said the three areas which she hopes to make an immediate impact on is student engagement - creating awareness for students of the power of the alumni community; young alumni programming - developing programs, events and activities to attract alumni 25 to 30 years out of college; and university collaboration - developing partnerships with administrative units, schools/colleges and other affiliated entities to offer more diverse and comprehensive programs.

“Alumni should be excited about the new changes because it will provide them with varying opportunities to have a greater impact with the university. One of the biggest areas they can participate in is helping us find ways in which alumni can volunteer their time and talent to our current students,” Clay said.

As she moves forward with her plans, Clay is extremely excited to see the level of interest that Aggies have for the university.

“A&T alumni have a passion for their alma mater that is unmatched,” she said. “Having been in this industry for many years, I can honestly say I have never seen such affinity from alumni. The true test of that passion is how to turn the Aggie Pride into Aggie participation,” she said.

Clay previously worked as the director of alumni programs at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business where she developed and led strategic alumni relations initiatives for 50,000 alumni. While there, she successfully implemented programs designed for undergraduate alumni, engaging alumni volunteers in key markets and established regional alumni clubs. She earned a master’s degree in marketing management from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Southern Illinois University.

For more information, contact The Office of Alumni Relations at (336) 433-5570 or email: avcexecalumni@ncat.edu.