As the 2014-15 academic year has drawn to a close, I thought it appropriate to take stock of some of the ways the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College has worked to benefit the students, alumnae and supporters of Douglass Residential College.

           As always, the AADC has worked tirelessly to continue its nearly-century old tradition of enhancing the academic and co-curricular activities of Douglass students. Alumnae greeted first-year students on Move-In day, participated in the first-year mission course by presenting our Douglass Society Induction Ceremony as part of the curriculum, raised and provided more than $900,000 in scholarship support to students, brought alumnae and students together for two amazing lectures, secured sponsors and matched them with students for the award-winning Extern Program, and provided mentoring during exam study breaks and our annual "Cabin Fever" event.

            In fiscal year 2014, the AADC continued to serve as the funding source that provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to support recruitment and orientation programs and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, including 27 summer undergraduate research stipends and STEM student ambassador stipends.  We also continued to fund traditional events, such as Sacred Path, Yule Log and Convocation, which have made Douglass such a unique and special place for generations of students. 

             From contributing to global programs and the Peer Academic Leader (PAL) Program to funding leadership programs such as the Leadership Education at Douglass (LEAD) House trip to Washington, DC, the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) Trenton summer internships and the Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt '42 Career Conference for Douglass Women, we have worked to ensure that Douglass women continue to receive the support they need to explore career options after graduation.

           All of these AADC-funded programs have resulted in special experiences unique to Douglass women.  Students tell us that the support available to them as a result of the work of the AADC is a key reason they choose to co-enroll in Douglass. The AADC has invested significantly in both recruiting efforts by the College and scholarships for students.  As we have for decades, the AADC continues to walk alongside our students every step of the way - from their very first day on campus to long after they have graduated.  In many ways, the AADC is Douglass and Douglass is the AADC.

            We are so proud of the work we have done during the past year to promote the interests of Douglass, her students and alumnae. We hope to continue working just as hard to represent her interests for many years to come. Thank you for your continuing support of the AADC's mission to serve Douglass, her students and her alumnae.

Sincerely,

Jeanne M. Fox '75

President, AADC Board of Directors

www.douglassalumnae.org