Dear Alumni,

There is much for us to celebrate! First, it's National Volunteer Month, the time each year when we honor our alumni volunteers. And I love any opportunity to recognize the hundreds of dedicated AU alumni serving our alma mater, particularly our students.

I love to recognize, and I love when WE are recognized. I am thrilled to share with you that the work of the AU Alumni Association is being recognized this year with Insight Into Diversity’s Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award. I am extremely proud of this well-deserved honor, and I hope you’ll join in celebrating all we’ve done together to advance inclusive excellence at AU.

And, speaking of awards, I can’t wait to join you in celebrating six amazing AU alumni next week at our annual Alumni Awards Dinner and Ceremony. Registration closes soon (April 18!), and I urge you to RSVP now. I promise it will be a night to remember.

The other thing we’re celebrating is how VERY close we are to reaching the $500 million goal that we set for the historic Change Can’t Wait campaign. My friends in University Advancement tell me we’re less than $23 million away, and I encourage you to join in contributing. The time truly is now to make a difference and be a part of the transformative work that this campaign is enabling.

I’ll finish where I started—with volunteers. If you’re not yet a volunteer for our alma mater, there is no better time to jump on board. There are countless ways that you personally can advance the mission of this great institution. Let us know how you’d like to be involved.

Go Eagles!

LaTanya Sothern, SOC/BA ’92