Alumni
Make the most of the alumni association
Commencement marks an incredible milestone as the start of your lifelong alumni connection to Oglethorpe. The Oglethorpe Alumni Association is your chance to get involved, stay connected with the university and expand your alumni network.
Join us at our alumni events throughout the year, volunteer to make an impact on the lives of current students or serve as a leader on one of our boards or program planning committees.
Alumni participation is integral to the growth and advancement of our institution.
Upcoming Events
Be #PetrelProud! There are a number of perks available for Oglethorpe Alumni on campus and around town.
If you would like to offer a discount or benefit to Oglethorpe alumni, please contact the Alumni Office.
List of Benefits
Connect with your fellow Petrels through a global network of working professionals. The private group for Oglethorpe Alumni offers opportunities to network and form new connections. Join here.
Alumni can enjoy free admission and a 10% discount at the gift shop!
Visit the Career Development team in the Turner Lynch Campus Center or learn about their work online. Alumni can take advantage of special career development support.
Alumni can also lend their expertise to assist current students and post job and internship opportunities for current Petrels.
Make use of the Philip Weltner Library‘s resources to achieve your personal or educational goals!
The Campus Store offers a 10% discount and periodic special offers for alumni. Visit the store in the Turner Lynch Campus Center (TLCC) on your next trip to campus or visit the online store.
Alumni are welcomed back to campus for the university’s Theatre productions and many other special events, lectures and exhibitions. Visit our website for the latest calendar of events.pus Store offers a 10% discount and periodic special offers for alumni. Visit the store in the Turner Lynch Campus Center (TLCC) on your next trip to campus or visit the online store.
The AC Mariott in Buckhead offers special rates for Oglethorpe alumni. Follow this link to access your discount when visiting Atlanta.ns and many other special events, lectures and exhibitions. Visit our website for the latest calendar of events.pus Store offers a 10% discount and periodic special offers for alumni. Visit the store in the Turner Lynch Campus Center (TLCC) on your next trip to campus or visit the online store.
Alumni can attend Stormy Petrel sporting events at no cost. Cheer on your favorite team with your classmates!
Expand your network, explore possibilities
There are many ways to connect with the university and other Oglethorpe Alumni. Click to expand and explore the opportunities to engage with your alumni network. If you would like to volunteer to help with an upcoming event, click the button below to express interest.
The Alumni Board works closely with the alumni engagement office to achieve the goals of establishing and encouraging an active and involved alumni network. The purpose of this network is to build mutually beneficial relationships between alumni, students, and the university, demonstrating that the student experience is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Oglethorpe.
The Oglethorpe Alumni Association includes affinity groups that are linked by a common purpose, ideology, or interest. Through these groups, you’ll be linked with fellow Petrels and serve as an ambassador for various programs and activities to meet the needs of Oglethorpe alumni. Existing groups include the Oglethorpe Black Alumni Network (OBAN), OU Global Alumni, OUtlet Alumni, and the Stormy Petrel Bar Association.
Your student experience is just the beginning of a life-long connection with Oglethorpe.
The Student Alumni Association is supported by the Oglethorpe Alumni Association and works to fulfill the mission of building connections between current OU students and its alumni.
Through this club, students learn more about the Oglethorpe University community, network with alumni from across the country and gain practical and marketable skills. To foster these connections, many events are hosted throughout the year such as panels, career take-outs and philanthropy events.
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Alumni Board
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Student Alumni Association
Mission
As the primary representatives of Oglethorpe University’s alumni body, the Alumni Board works closely with the alumni office to achieve the association’s goal of establishing and encouraging an active and involved alumni network. The purpose of this network is to build mutually beneficial relationships between alumni, students, and the university, demonstrating that the student experience is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Oglethorpe.
Alumni Board 2024-25
Executive Board
President: Sarah Phaff ’10
Secretary: Charis Hanberry ’88
Vice President of Advancement: Mark DeLong ‘03
Vice President of Communications: Jennifer Beaver ’02
Vice President of Career Development: Curtis McLeod ’09
Vice President of Student Engagement: Shahzaib Jiwani ’12
Vice President of Alumni Weekend and Events: Heather Staniszewski ’02
Vice President of Awards and Recognition: Brooke Bourdelat-Parks Gorman ’95
Members-at-Large
Anne Atalay ’07, Robert Cairns ’11, Evan Drew ’17, E-chia Huang Chihade ’98, Deborah Cardone Chosewood ’87, Tony Golden ’13, Glenn Kaiser ’20, Russell Kramer ’09, Chris McFadden ‘80, Kiana Perkins ’21, Amy Russ ’10, Angela Satterfield ’97, LaDonna Stallworth ’11, Matthew Thompson ’93, Irasema Gonzalez Vargas ’08, Kimberly Watkins ’02
Board Committees
The Alumni Board has six committees which include current Alumni Board members and alumni representatives not on the board.
- Advancement Committee
The Advancement Committee shall assist the VPA and the OU Annual Fund Office in encouraging alumni support for the annual Oglethorpe Fund and other Committee activities; assist with the cultivation and orientation of new Board members. The Committee may assist with all duties of the VPA. - Alumni Weekend and Events Committee
The Alumni Weekend and Events Committee shall assist the VPAWE in organizing and implementing alumni events sponsored by the Association, including Alumni Weekend and its theme and programmatic elements. The Committee will encourage alumni attendance at events. The Committee may assist with all duties of the VPAWE. - Awards and Recognition Committee
The Awards and Recognition Committee shall assist the VPAR in selecting a slate of recipients of the annual Alumni Awards, which will be voted on by the Board. They will encourage alumni nominations and will complete a review of nominees before presenting the annual slate of recipients. The Committee may assist with all duties of the VPAR. - Career Services Committee
The Career Services Committee shall assist the VPCS in coordinating with the OU Career Services staff to align the professional expertise of alumni with students having similar career interests. Initiatives may include career panels, industry-focused dinners, resume review, mock interviews, and workshops or presentations. The Committee may assist with all duties of the VPCS. - Communications Committee
The Communications Committee shall contribute articles to alumni-related publications as appropriate and serve as the main communication channel for the Board and all of its committees. In addition, the Committee may meet with an advisory board comprised of alumni in the public relations field to seek counsel to strengthen alumni communication. The Committee may assist with all duties of the VPC. - Student Engagement Committee
The Student Engagement Committee shall encourage alumni involvement in new student recruitment, orientation, and campus life. Recruitment events may include college fairs, admitted student events such as Scholarship Weekend, and yield events. The Committee will support the annual student traditions sponsored by the Association and the OU Alumni Relations Office and serve as mentors for Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (STAT) and the Young Alumni Club (YAC). The Committee may assist with all duties of the VPSE.
Please email the Alumni Board with questions, suggestions or concerns.
Students today, alumni tomorrow.
Your student experience is just the beginning of a life-long connection with Oglethorpe.
The O Book
The O Book details many events, traditions, celebrations, and oddities that make OU such a unique and special place. Current students are an integral part of carrying Oglethorpe into the future.
All students are encouraged to complete the traditions in the O Book at any time during their journey at Oglethorpe and commemorate each with a photo or keepsake of the activity. Once you have participated in 10 of the traditions in the O Book, you’ll be given a special O Pin and the important designation of an Oglethorpe Tradition Guardian at a special event each spring.
Simply complete this form when you’ve participated in any 10 traditions in the O Book.
You can learn more about these traditions in this video from the Alumni Association. Download your own copy of the O Book to begin tracking your progress.
View a list of the O Book activities currently on the campus calendar.
Students in the Class of 2025: If you have questions related to the way COVID may have impacted your completion of these events, please contact [email protected].
Oglethorpe’s Student Alumni Association
The Oglethorpe University Student Alumni Association strives to continually connect students with alumni and uphold the traditions of Oglethorpe University that alumni cherish. We believe it is critical to the Oglethorpe community that students and alumni are connected. Students benefit from the experiences, advice, and networking that alumni provide, while alumni depend on current students to uphold the traditions and excellence of Oglethorpe University.
Be Part of the Student Alumni Association
Members of this club represent the best that Oglethorpe has to offer. We work not only to achieve our organizational goals but also to benefit the Oglethorpe community in any and every way possible.
The Oglethorpe Alumni Engagement Office is always looking for passionate Petrels to join the Student Alumni Association. This official student organization helps to plan events and programs to foster connections between alumni and students.
Benefits of joining include:
- Excellent experience to build personal and professional skills
- Opportunity to network with prominent OU alumni and friends
- In-depth knowledge of the university
- Great friendships
Follow us on Instagram to keep up with the latest news @OglethorpeSAA
Check out our upcoming events on OUConnect
Find the answers to all your alumni questions
If your question isn’t answered below, we have a team who can help! Simply email [email protected] to reach out to us.
As a graduate of Oglethorpe University, you are automatically a member of the Alumni Association! To become a more active member, please update your contact information to ensure you are receiving our communications and event invitations. You can get more involved as a volunteer, or by supporting the university through alumni giving.
Simply complete this online form to provide your updated mailing address, email address, name changes or other information updates.
Class Notes are shared each month in the Alumni eNewsletter and posted on the alumni website. Tell us about a new job, promotion, news coverage, award, wedding, birth or adoption, or other noteworthy milestone. We want to keep your classmates up to date on your latest news and celebrate your accomplishments!
Share your latest personal or professional achievements with your classmates through this form,
Alumni association members have access to all kinds of resources on campus. Alumni get free access to Oglethorpe University Theatre productions, library privileges, free career counseling from Career Development, and even more is listed on the Alumni Benefits page.
There are many ways to get involved by volunteering at events, helping out on a committee, or even serving on the Alumni Board. To learn about how you can get involved as a volunteer, please click here.
The easiest way to give is to donate online, but you could also donate goods or services, or plan for a future donation. You also have an opportunity to be imaginative – to personalize your gift, no matter the amount. Learn more about the ways to support Oglethorpe.
Please visit Oglethorpe’s Official Transcript Request page here. This page includes all the details you’ll need to request both official and unofficial copies of your transcript.
Please visit Oglethorpe’s Diploma Re-Order page here and fill out the form.
The Oglethorpe Campus Store offers a wide range of Oglethorpe apparel and swag such as mugs, glassware, magnets, patches, decals, and more. Visit the Oglethorpe campus store on the Lower Level of the Turner Lynch Campus Center next time you’re on campus (check the store hours here). Or, you can also order swag online by visit https://oglethorpeshop.merchorders.com/
Yes! Oglethorpe is the perfect place to host your next event, lecture or meeting. Visit Oglethorpe’s Facilities webpage and fill out the general event request form. Someone from Oglethorpe’s Office of Special Events will get in touch with you.
Your Oglethorpe email address is active for 1 year after you graduate. Please be sure to provide us with your personal updated email address so you do not miss out on alumni news.
Alumni Stories
- Academics, Alumni, Career Development
- Academics, Alumni, Arts & Culture, Giving
