Greetings from Patty Caballero
Dear Alumni,
As we approach this time of thanks and reflection, I am filled with gratitude to be part of our American University community. These past few weeks have held meaningful opportunities—some longstanding, others newly-launched—to gather with fellow AU alumni.
Taking center stage at the 2025 President’s Circle Celebration on October 23 was the connection between philanthropy and the arts at AU. The program featured actress Caroline S. Aaron, CAS/BA ’74, Hon. DFA ’24, and recognized triple Eagle and acclaimed artist Sharon A. Wolpoff, CAS/BA ’74, MFA ’81, WCL/JD ’85, with the Cyrus A. Ansary Medal. It was a remarkable evening for a tradition honoring AU’s most generous donors, complete with a look back on all that AU has accomplished in the 2025 fiscal year.
Celebrating Community | Mosaic Collective & Alumni Reunion
Join us in looking back on all we've accomplished in FY 2025.
The following morning marked the launch of AU’s Knowledge is Power Breakfast series—a new offering designed to engage our more than 60,000 AU alumni and hundreds of current AU parents and friends who live in the broader Washington, DC, region.
The kickoff featured an expert panel on today’s higher education landscape and the role of AU alumni in advocating for the institution with their elected officials. It was very successful, and we expect to offer more of these events in person and online to include our alumni worldwide.
The engaging conversations continued with the Volunteer Leadership Summit later that day. This important summit ensures that our alumni volunteers are up to date on key priorities and programs at AU.
Now in its second year, the summit welcomed members of AU’s advisory councils and alumni communities to hear from university leaders on the forthcoming strategic plan and brand refresh. We learned a great deal about faculty innovation at AU, which supports our status as an R1 research institution. We also heard about the current student experience directly from student leaders. You can view each of the panels through the links provided.
These events speak to our alumni’s appetite for topic-driven, network-focused programming.
Learning something new is guaranteed in every conversation with another Eagle, and I can’t think of a single AU event where I didn’t come away with new insights or network connections. It's why I’m so excited by our #ShowUpForAU initiative to rally record-level alumni engagement, so stay tuned for updates to come—including opportunities for virtual participation. Get started by sharing an AU story of your own with us.
I want to wish everyone a restful and restorative Thanksgiving next week. As we reflect on all that brings us together, I hope you will consider taking part in Giving Tuesday on December 2 to help AU reach its goal of 400 donors. AU’s educational mission is more vital than ever, and we alumni know firsthand the power of scholarships and campus resources. Let’s pay it forward by giving back!
With gratitude,
Patty Caballero, SOC/BA ’91, Kogod/MBA ’00