Written by Doug Goodnough
Moving through another graduation season can be a very reflective time. At least it is for me.
As I passed the two-year mark of employment at the College earlier this spring, I took a moment or two to ponder my time in the Alumni Office. When I started this position in February of 2022, I was making a transition from another institution to another role, similar but in many ways very different.
For starters, my former institution had a very different mission, and that mission at its core is a very good one. But several outside factors, not the least being the COVID-19 pandemic and the “social justice” climate of the day, led to sort of a mission “drift” that is affecting many institutions of higher education today. And, in my opinion, not in a positive way.
Bringing that perspective to my alma mater, I was curious to see what was happening at Hillsdale. For more than 30 years, I was on the outside looking in at Hillsdale. With all of its outreach, the College uses many different channels to get its message out to a multitude of audiences. Our office does our best to help educate and inform alumni about what is happening at the College and why. After all, I was once on the receiving end of those messages, and as someone who has learned in the marketing world that “perception is reality,” I understand that information can sometimes be interpreted in many different ways.
That’s why our office has increased its alumni outreach over the past few years. We annually host more than 20 events around the country as part of our “Alumni National Tour.” Our on-campus events like Homecoming, White and Blue Weekend, and the 50/60-Year Reunion are “invitations” for alumni to come back and experience today’s Hillsdale. Currently with six regional alumni chapters, four occupational affinity groups, and the reboot of the Class Ambassador Program, we are doing what we can to bring Hillsdale to you. My personal mission is to tell as many alumni stories as possible. So far, so good. And I’m just getting started.
One of my earliest alumni blog posts had me saying this on my return to Hillsdale: “Thirty-plus years is a long time, but I’m happy to report the Hillsdale College that I remember is still there. In fact, in my mind, it has been upgraded beyond whatever I thought was possible during my days as a student.”
I still believe that. But you don’t have to take my word for it.
I encourage you to use the critical thinking skills you were taught here to make an informed opinion. Start by getting back to campus and experience today’s Hillsdale for yourself. And if you can’t, we’re here to help. We’re just an email or phone call away.
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in June 2024
