A MESSAGE FROM the Foundation Board Chair
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Dear CSU Alumni Family,
Happy New Year and cheers to 2022! As the recently appointed Chair of the Chicago State Foundation Board of Directors, I am honored to lead this organization toward growth and opportunity for CSU students and alumni. As the pandemic continues, the Chicago State community remains committed to our goals in the face of adversity. The common thread linking us and the Foundation's strategy has been resilience, perseverance, and partnership. My career has been built on creating and developing meaningful relationships that drive toward mutual success. I’ve been fortunate to see the power of strong collaborations the Foundation has fostered to bring investment, resources, and lasting impact to the University community. Now as board chair, I’m excited to expand our work even further and be a positive presence in the community where we live, work and grow.
The Foundation has secured partnerships at all levels to ensure the University community has all the support it needs, from students to alumni and everyone in between. The University’s established relationship with City Colleges of Chicago allows for transfer credits toward a four-year degree. Additionally, through the strong ties with Chicago Public Schools, the pipeline for student scholars continues to grow by working closely to prepare high school seniors for their transition into college with bridge programs, such as the Rise Academy and the Champion Mentoring program. With support from Foundation allies, programs like these have strengthened the University’s impact with CPS and City Colleges, while attracting new funding partners to further program growth. The Foundation has most recently begun working with other offices on campus to strategically align our collective goals to maximize alumni and community engagement opportunities. In addition, we are attracting more comprehensive corporate partnerships that will benefit the entire University and most importantly, our students.
As we navigate 2022 together, let us not forget the communities we serve, and the partners we have among us to support, lift, and co-create our success.
As always, we are stronger, together. Saludos!
Christina Steed, M.A.
Chair of the Board of Directors
Chicago State Foundation
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#VaxAMillion Initiative Championed By CSU Alumna
Peggy Montes is an active CSU alumna that is a former CSU Trustee and current Chicago State Foundation Board member. She was a critical contributor to a life-saving partnership with the Bronzeville Children's Museum, where she serves as its Founder and President. Together with the Chicago Urban League and the Chicago State Foundation, she helped to broker the VaxAMillion initiative helping to distribute vaccines into arms, and include young people in our community to dismantle myths and misinformation about getting vaccinated.
VaxAMillion held a video contest before the holidays and its purpose: to help share the benefits of vaccinations and keep our community safe from COVID-19.
We received brilliant submissions from middle schoolers, high schoolers and college students from all across Chicago. Visit the VaxAMillion website to view all the winners and for tools and resources to start the conversation about the COVID-19 vaccination with your family, friends and neighbors.
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CSU Welcomes 125 New Alumni
On Thursday, December 16th, CSU celebrated its 368th Commencement Ceremony at the Emil & Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center, conferring degrees upon over 100 new graduates. The keynote speaker was CSU alumnae, Dr. Janice Jackson, CEO of Hope Chicago and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools.
This was the first in-person commencement ceremony since December 2019 and celebrated the return to campus for many of CSU's students and faculty.
Join us in welcoming and congratulating all of our new Cougar alumni!
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A Conversation With Yvette Warren, CTC/CSU Alumni Association President
How long have you been active in the Alumni Association and why are you so active?
I have always been a proud and active CSU alumnus. However, while working for the university from 2010 - 2015 I was able to partner closely with the Office of Alumni Affairs and many other alumni that I truly admired for their commitment and dedication to CSU. During that time I was privileged to look at my alma mater from the inside out. As I studied the strengths and areas of opportunity of our great institution I became very focused on the need for maintaining strong alumni engagement. In 2017, I was invited to join the Alumni Association Board of Directors. I was elected into the role of President in 2020.
What would you like to see evolve with the alumni in how they engage with the university?
CSU alumni are proud of our university. We understand that "we are" because CSU is/ was/ and forever will be. However, sometimes it is easier to think that someone else will do the work to keep it going. We must remember that it is our collective responsibility to ensure that CSU will be grooming student scholars and producing the leaders of tomorrow for years to come. Our alumni must be "consistently intentional" about supporting our great university.
Why is it important that alumni continue to engage with their alma mater?
Our university has gone through a lot of highs and obstacles over its 155-year history. As alumni we are the beneficiaries of this great legacy. We are standing strong because of those that poured into our personal and professional growth. The fight for equity and funding for higher education continues to be real. We do not have the luxury of sitting on the sidelines while others tell us their version of our history or dictate the future of our community. We must not only write the narrative but also determine the trajectory. Engaged alumni are the backbone of strong universities, and strong universities create stronger communities.
What gives you hope for the alumni engagement going forward?
The alumni association understands our assignment. We have accepted the responsibility to be the lead cheerleaders for our great CSU. We are bringing positive energy as we revitalize our alumni body. Most importantly we are walking the talk. We are vested in the future of Chicago State as we celebrate our legacy.
The alumni association is partnering with the Chicago State Foundation to build alumni engagement intentionally and methodically so that it is sustainable as it grows. Together we are partnering with university leadership, colleges, and departments to craft messaging, programming, and other opportunities for alumni outreach and engagement. We are actively inviting our fellow alumni to join us in giving their time, talent, and treasurers to support our alma mater. We are using every platform available to let alumni know that we are here to support each other and our great CSU. We look forward to building relationships with the student scholars of today so that they are eager to be engaged alumni when they graduate.
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Cougar Congratulations!
Christopher Cook, '17 - Appointed the inaugural Director of First-Year Experience at City Colleges of Chicago - Olive Harvey College.
Dr. Tiffany Davis, PhD, '99 - Named Interim Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at CSU.
Dorothy Capers, Chicago State Foundation Board of Directors - Appointed Senior Vice President and General Council for Xylem, Inc.
Cynthia Cook-Conley, '08 - Received a 2022 Diversity Leadership Award from the University of Chicago for her dedication and leadership to the Chicago community.
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Remembered with Love
It is with our heartfelt sympathy that we extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all Cougars that have passed in recent months. Some of those include Dr. Herbert Jackson, from the Chicago Teachers' College Class of 1957, who transitioned on December 28, 2021. Dr. Jackson was a veteran of the Korean War, and a long time podiatrist in the Rockford area.
Dr. John Walter Smith passed away on January 8, 2022. Dr. Smith was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and lifelong teacher and coach after attending Chicago Teachers' College in the 1950's.
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SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE
We want to hear from you!
Share your significant accomplishments (i.e., promotions, new jobs, retirements, special recognitions or honors) with your fellow alumni!
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UPDATE MY ALUMNI PROFILE
Update your Alumni Profile to receive exciting campus news and invitations to alumni events. Your information will never be shared publicly but it will be shared with the CTC/CSU Alumni Association.
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Presented in partnership between the CSU Alumni Council Advisory Board and the CTC/CSU Alumni Association, join this panel of experts as they gather virtually to discuss what the continuing pandemic means to our self care, specifically from a mental health perspective, and how we can maximize new and existing information and tools to live our best lives, even during these unprecedented times. |
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Learning with Leaders: A Virtual Career Mentoring Event with Workday’s Marketing Team
CoLabL is partnering with Workday’s marketing team to host a virtual career mentoring experience on Friday, January 28 from 1 – 2 pm CST . The project will include both large group skill-building activities and one round of facilitated small group career mentoring discussions. Our focus will be on expanding networks, skills, and access to career growth opportunities.
Friday, January 28, 2022 | 1-2pm CST
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Chicago State Foundation | 9501 S. King Dr., ADM 126, Chicago, IL 60628 | csu.edu |
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