Alumni Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers like you are a crucial part of our success. Taft’s alumni volunteer program is designed to forge connections among and between the classes, the school, and across the alumni community. Whether you want to help with fundraising efforts, serve as a mentor, organize an event, and beyond, there are many ways to donate your time.

We thank you in advance and look forward to welcoming new volunteers!

Alumni Mentoring

Class Agent

As a Class Agent, you represent Taft in your efforts to promote alumni engagement and encourage Annual Fund financial support from members of your class. Alumni are more likely to support the Annual Fund when contacted by a classmate; therefore, a strong Annual Fund is possible only through the efforts of our Class Agent volunteers.

Class Agents call, email, text, or write letters to their classmates, encouraging their Annual Fund support. They work with our Alumni and Development staff to achieve Annual Fund goals each year. They also keep the Alumni Office informed of any life updates and/or changes in contact information.

Contact Melanie Panasci, Assistant Director of Annual Giving, at mpanasci@taftschoool.org or 860-945-7746 to learn more and get involved.

Class Secretary

A Class Secretary plays a vital role to help gather updates and photos from classmates four times a year for the Taft Bulletin alumni magazine’s Class Notes section. Class secretaries, generally one for each class, work directly with the Class Notes Editor by email for each deadline.

Occasionally there may be an opening to fill a position for a retiring Class Secretary for a given class. If interested in the process, please contact Class Notes Editor Lee Juvan in Communications: taftbulletin@taftschool.org.

Reunion Chair

A reunion marks a significant milestone for every class and a successful reunion requires volunteer support. Every five years, Taft classes form committees led by a reunion chair to help plan the reunion program and drive attendance. Volunteers play an important role in generating enthusiasm. Through phone calls, letters, emails and class Facebook groups, reunion volunteers engage and build excitement for returning to campus. Throughout the reunion cycle, Christine Afiouni, Director of Alumni Relations, is here to help you and will do most of the legwork for you.

Celebrating an upcoming reunion and want to get involved? Contact Christine at cafiouni@taftschool.org or 860-945-5909.

Rhino Crash 2.0

Engaging our constituents via virtual events has been an exciting new opportunity for our community. It has allowed alumni to connect with old classmates and faculty, and leave having learned something: from the benefits (and challenges) of working remotely, to sitting in on a discussion with former United States Ambassador to China and a chief diplomatic correspondent for the NY Times as they discuss American relations with China. Every event has been special: seeing classmates share stories at the start of the event, or attending to support a friend who is hosting, has been a great experience and certainly drives home that the Taft community is far-reaching beyond campus. You can view upcoming events and previous event recordings here. And, if you would like to host an event or discuss an idea, contact Amanda Pulawski, Director of Donor Engagement and Stewardship, at apulawski@taftschool.org or 860-945-7933.

Alumni Engagement Council

The Alumni Engagement Council is a newly formed assembly of alumni/ae who, in partnership with the Alumni and Development Office, will work as critical thinkers and advisors encouraging and fostering alumni/ae connections among one another and to the School through a variety of engagements and communications. The members that make up the AEC serve 3-year terms, as ambassadors to the School, leading affinity groups and regional gatherings. Contact Amanda Pulawski, Director of Donor Engagement and Stewardship, at apulawski@taftschool.org or 860-945-7933 to learn more.

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