Enthusiastic Support

by President John E. Jones III '77, P'11

As I begin my fifth year at the helm of our remarkable college, I continue to be humbled by the commitment and generosity of our worldwide network of alumni. Within this issue, you’ll see the numbers bearing that out. While that data is of paramount importance, it tells only part of the story.

Alumni engagement is driven by passion. If an alum doesn’t feel enthusiastic about their alma mater, their interest will wane over time. When I commenced my service as president, I inherited a core group of alumni who year after year supported our college. But I also found that many of our graduates had drifted away over the previous decade. Thus, it is no coincidence that one of the core initiatives within Dickinson Forward, announced in the fall of my first year, was the Campaign for Scholarships. Simply put, I was making a bet that, through hard work, we could energize and engage our alumni base in a way that hadn’t happened in years.

You know the rest of the story. In May we had a celebration that hallmarked our campaign not only reaching the goal of $75 million but exceeding it. The night was memorable, moving and joyous. The final portion of the program featuring dozens of our students onstage holding signs representing their courses of study and impactful experiences and activities was unforgettable. The party at the beautiful Paz Center suggested an undeniable synergy. We were celebrating a successful scholarship campaign at a facility that had been created solely due to financial commitments by alumni. Taken together, there could hardly be better evidence of the renewed passion of our alumni network.

In June we welcomed an enormous crowd back to campus for Alumni Weekend. This annual event simply gets better with each passing year. To be sure, we had to work around the significant construction that is taking place at the HUB, but at the same time I believe seeing it in progress was exciting for those who returned. As always, I visited all the major reunion dinners and attended numerous other events throughout the weekend. The enthusiasm our alums demonstrated was both palpable and gratifying.

As president, I am always so grateful for the financial support provided by our alumni, as well as many parents and friends of the college. It is vital to our success, and the robust performance of our endowment allows us to provide access to Dickinson for so many students who could never afford our college without the scholarship funds we provide. But what truly uplifts me is your constant good wishes and support of my presidency. Time and again during events involving alums on campus, and almost daily in my email box, I receive endorsements and thanks for what we’re accomplishing. I’ve also joked about the many selfies I pose for with alums. When people stop asking, I’ll know it’s time for me to leave!

Thank you for your enthusiasm, commitment and—yes—your passion. I feel it every day, and it sustains me in all that I do.

TAKE THE NEXT STEPS

Published August 29, 2025

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