Annual Call for Alumni Board Nominees
It is the time of year when the Alumni Board Nominating Committee turns to you for
suggested candidates for Alumni Board positions. We are counting on you to identify
potential candidates whom you feel
would make a meaningful addition to the Alumni Association Board of Directors. The
open positions are listed below.
As you consider potential candidates, please keep in mind that Alumni Board members are required to attend three board meetings per year on the Skidmore College campus: in October, February, and May. The board meetings occur on Saturday, and some board positions require attendance at other meetings as well. Unless otherwise noted, all positions serve a three-year term.
To submit your nomination(s), click on the link above.
If you have questions, you can email Michael Sposili, or call Alumni Relations & College Events at (518) 580-5610.
Deadline for Submissions is November 4, 2022.
Thank you!
The positions listed below are to be filled by the Nominating Committee for terms beginning July 1, 2023:
Chair of Awards
The Chair of the Alumni Association Awards Committee, in conjunction with the Office
of Alumni Relations, leads the Committee in the annual process of selecting the recipients
of the Alumni Association Awards. The Chair assists in coordinating any “Call for
Nominations” communications which are shared with the alumni community; solicits nominations
for various alumni awards; aids in the recruitment of Committee members and manages
communications to the Committee throughout the process; chairs the annual Awards Committee
meeting; communicates the Committee’s selections to the full Board during its February
board meeting; and presents the awards to recipients during Reunion Weekend. The Chair
must possess an understanding of the Awards Committee process, demonstrate leadership
capabilities, including the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of
people and to manage conflict resolution, and should demonstrate a commitment to the
College and the Alumni Association. The term of this position is three years.
Chair, Friends of Skidmore Athletics
Act as liaison between The Office of Alumni Relations & College Events, the Friends
of Skidmore Athletics Leadership Council and former student athletes to foster relationships
that will (a) lead to greater alumni engagement with Skidmore and (b) identify and
recruit team specific chairs (c) recruit former athletes into the FOSA Leadership
Council and provide guidance and leadership during meetings. The individual will serve
as point-person for all athletic related matters involving former student athletes,
work with the FOSA Committee to promote annual events designed to engage former student
athletes. The Chair must possess the motivation and the willingness to offer time
to promote Skidmore, demonstrate leadership capabilities, including the ability to
work collaboratively with a diverse group of people, and a demonstrated commitment
to the College and the Alumni Association. The term of this position is three years
and attendance at all Alumni Board meetings is required.
Chair of Nominating
The Chair coordinates the annual process of selecting individuals for positions on
the College’s Alumni Board in conjunction with the Office of Alumni Relations & College
Events as well as the Nominating Committee. The Chair will work with the Office of
Alumni Relations & College Events to fill any open seats on the Nominating Committee. Nominating
Committee members are appointed for a rotating three-year term. The Chair will coordinate
the “Call for Nominations” mailing that is sent to Skidmore volunteers which solicits
nominations for positions on the Alumni Board. The Chair will assist the Office of
Alumni Relations & College Events in preparations for the Nominating Committee Meeting
including communication to Nominating Committee Members. The Chair will conduct research
on nominees and prepare research summaries, like Nominating Committee members. The
Chair will facilitate meetings of the Nominating Committee to develop a slate of candidates
for each of the positions, present the slate to the Alumni Board of Directors, notify
the approved slate and obtain the individuals commitment to serve, correspond with
constituencies about the outcome of the process and select in conjunction with the
Office of Alumni Relations & College Events. The Chair must possess an understanding
of the Nominating Committee process and the duties and responsibilities of positions
to be filled, demonstrate leadership capabilities, including the ability to work collaboratively
with a diverse group of people, and demonstrate a commitment to the College and the
Alumni Association. The term of this position is three years.
Vice President for Programming
Serves as the liaison between the Alumni Association Board, the Office of Alumni Relations
& College Events staff and the greater alumni community. The Vice President coordinates
with staff partners to recommend programs that engage both active alumni volunteers
as well as members of the alumni body who have not yet become actively involved as
members of the Alumni Association. This includes, but is not limited to in-person
and virtual programming at the national and regional levels (both those on- and off-campus),
recruitment/admissions programs, and other events and programs that are of interest
to the greater alumni community.
The Vice President will also serve as the Chair of the Alumni Board Involvement team and work to support and carry out the various initiatives undertaken by each Chair as well as those generally assigned to the team. The Vice President is a member of the Board’s Executive Committee and serves as a voting member of the Alumni Association Nominating Committee.
Previous board or committee experience is preferred, either on the Alumni Board or other organizational boards, including experience in marketing, development, organizational behavior and/or long-range planning. The Vice President must possess demonstrated leadership capabilities, including an ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of people, demonstrate a commitment to the College and the Alumni Association including the ability to give at the Presidents Society level, and have the ability to make a substantial time commitment. The term of this position is three years.
Alumna/us Trustee
Acts as the liaison between the Alumni Board and the Board of Trustees and relates
concerns and accomplishments of one board to the other. The Alumna/us Trustee will
support alumni programs, serve on committees of both Boards as requested, and take
an active role in College fundraising. The individual must possess an ability to work
collaboratively with a diverse group of people and demonstrate a commitment to the
College and the Alumni Association, have an ability to contribute specific skills,
expertise and talents to the efforts of both Boards, as well contribute annual and
capital gifts to the College at a significant level. Recognizing that the Alumna/us
Trustee has a responsibility to the College in their role as a member of the Board
of Trustees, it is first and foremost important that they make every attempt to attend
meetings of the College’s Board of Trustees (3 per year). And while the Alumna/us Trustee
is urged to attend the Alumni Board meetings which immediately follow the Board of
Trustees meetings, it is understandable that they may not be able to attend Alumni
Board meetings with regularity. With this in mind, we ask that the four Alumni/ae Trustees
work in collaboration with the President of the Alumni Association and the Assistant
Vice President for Alumni Relations & College Events to establish a system of rotation
(on an annual basis) whereby at least one of the Alumni/ae Trustees would attend one
of three Alumni Board meetings held throughout the year. By establishing this rotation,
it will ensure that information will proactively flow between both boards and it would
also afford the Alumni/ae Trustees greater flexibility with regard to their attendance
at Alumni Board meetings. The term of office for this position is four years.
President
This leadership position is the volunteer executive of the Skidmore College Alumni Association and its governing body, the Alumni Association Board of Directors. The President provides strategic and executive guidance to strengthen bonds among alumni and between alumni and the College. Leading the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the president and the board work to enhance alumni awareness of College goals, support alumni giving and broaden the base of alumni volunteer support for alumni activities and relevant college activities.
The President of the Alumni Association serves as an ex officio member of the College Board of Trustees. Frequent attendance (including some travel to alumni activities/club programs) at College-sponsored events such as Reunion and Commencement is required. The President serves as a member of the Alumni Association Awards and Nominating Committees. The President serves as liaison between the College and the Alumni Association, provides reports at the Alumni Board meetings and at meetings of the full Board of Trustees and its Advancement Committee, delivers welcoming remarks at Association programs, the Reunion Awards Ceremony and volunteer appreciation receptions. Provides direction to the Alumni Board and Committees where issues arise that may impact the College. Partners with the Advancement Office, especially in the Office of Alumni Relations and College Events, in program planning and other long-range strategy development to increase alumni participation in Association activities.
The President must possess demonstrated leadership capabilities and experience as an executive in business and/or as a volunteer leader for a major organization. Previous service on the Alumni Board is highly preferred, but candidates should have at least some prior experience on a board, including experience in governance, long-range planning, marketing, development, or organizational behavior. Strong communication skills and public speaking experience are required. The President must have the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of people and a demonstrated commitment to the College and the Alumni Association, including the ability to give at the Presidents Society level and the ability to make a substantial time commitment. The term of this position is three years.