June 1, 2022–May 31, 2023
Boston College Alumni Association Annual Report
Greetings from the Heights
Dear Boston College alumni,
What unique BC traditions do you remember from your inaugural fall semester at the Heights? From the “first flight” procession, to the bustling student involvement fair, to football in Alumni Stadium, there is so much excitement at the Heights in those initial weeks.
It’s these shared experiences—and countless others—that connect us. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle!
We are thrilled to share the Boston College Alumni Association (BCAA) Annual Report, which highlights engagement activities from June 2022 to May 2023. From new initiatives to time-honored traditions, we hope these events strengthened your lifelong relationship with BC and friendships with one another.
Additionally, in May, the Class of 2023 joined the Boston College Alumni Association. We know that these new alums will help us advance BC in refreshing and innovative ways. We were also thrilled to welcome Wynndell Bishop ’00, MBA’07, as the new BCAA board of directors president in June.
Whether you volunteer with the BCAA, attend regional programming, log in virtually, or return to campus for football or Reunion weekend, your continued support and involvement is what makes us our best.
Thank you for being active members of our incredible BC alumni community, and we hope that the series of highlights contained within this report instills pride and a desire to remain committed to our University!
Ever to Excel,
Leah M. Spencer
Boston College
Eric J. Silva
Past President, Boston College Alumni Association Board of Directors
Leah M. Spencer
Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations & University Commencement Director
Boston College
Eric Silva
Past President, Boston College Alumni Association Board of Directors
WE CONNECTED
Online and in person
From as far as Singapore and as close as Chestnut Hill, alumni participated in programs and activities that deepened engagement, supported fundraising goals, and furthered commitment and service to others.
Events by the Numbers
Total living alumni
Total events
Virtual events
In-person events
Total alumni event attendees
First-time event attendees
Total living alumni
Total events
Virtual events
In-person events
Total alumni event attendees
First-time event attendees
social media by the numbers
Website Visits
Facebook followers
Twitter followers
Instagram followers
LinkedIn members
YouTube views
Website Visits
Facebook followers
Twitter followers
Instagram followers
LinkedIn members
YouTube views
WE CONNECTED
Through Shared Interests and Identities
October 20, 2022
Insights on Business Leadership and Trends in Real Estate Finance and Development
The BCAA hosted Insights on Business Leadership and Trends in Real Estate Finance and Development, a collaborative event between two of our oldest alumni councils, the Wall Street Business Leadership Council and the Real Estate Council. With nearly 150 people in attendance, this was a tremendous success for both councils as it was the first time the Wall Street Business Leadership Council hosted an event in Boston, and it was the first in-person event for The Real Estate Council since 2019. The featured speaker, John Fish, CEO of Suffolk Construction Company and chairman of the Board of Trustees at Boston College, captivated the crowd and truly provided thought-provoking insight into a variety of topics such as business leadership, mental health, the economy, real estate, and health care.
Alumni Memorial Mass
November 10, 2022
CWBC 20th Anniversary Dinner
Members of the Council for Women of Boston College came together at the iconic Boston Public Library for its 20th Anniversary Dinner. This gathering served as a chance to celebrate the council’s amazing accomplishments in engaging alumnae of BC, strengthening their support for the University, female students, and one another. In addition, it was an opportunity to recognize and thank CWBC chair and University Trustee Kathleen McGillycuddy NC’71 for her two decades of steadfast leadership and for her enduring commitment to empowering and advancing the women of Boston College.
November 11, 2022
Annual Veteran’s Mass and Ceremony
The Boston College Veterans Alumni Network hosted the 22nd Annual Veterans Mass and Remembrance Ceremony. The Mass was celebrated by Cy Opeil, S.J. Both Mass and the Remembrance Ceremony include significant collaboration and partnership from the ROTC and NROTC cadets/midshipmen. Their participation included the reading of the 212 names of those Boston College alumni who are memorialized on the stone wall on the Burns Library Lawn. We had the honor of adding a name to the wall for the second consecutive year, SFC Gerald F. Scott, who was killed during the Korean War. For the first time, BCVAN featured a female keynote speaker, Colonel (Retired) April D. Skou ’96, who addressed the attendees and spoke about her extraordinary career and experience in the armed forces.
February 7, 2023
BCTEC Future of Work in Technology
Over 50 alumni gathered at Avison Young’s Office in Boston to hear from panelists Ryan Burke ’96, Caroline Chevalier ’03, and Mark Faggiano ’96 on trends of remote workplaces and whether or not companies will be able to continue to attract, retain, and grow a productive, diverse, innovative, and fulfilled workforce. Following the panel discussion, alumni enjoyed an evening of networking and conversation.
February 28, 2023
Boston College Business Leadership Forum
The Wall Street Business Leadership Council and the AHANA Alumni Advisory Council partnered for the first time to present the Boston College Business Leadership Forum in New York City. The purpose of the program was to bring together Boston College alumni, parents, and friends to take part in a discussion around leadership and ethics in today’s professional working world. The program also shared how a Jesuit education helps serve as a guidepost when dealing with these issues. The event featured Erick Berrelleza, S.J., founding dean of Messina College. The keynote speaker was Trevor Rozier-Byrd ’05, founder and CEO of Stackwell Capital, an app that makes investing more accessible and affordable across the income spectrum.
March 19, 2023
Laetare Sunday Mass and Brunch
The Boston College Alumni Association hosted the 72nd Annual Laetare Sunday, one of Boston College’s longest standing traditions. The event featured Mass presided by University President William P. Leahy, S.J., and a keynote address by Michael McCarthy, S.J., dean of the School of Theology. Over 300 alumni, parents, and friends joined us to celebrate the fourth Sunday of Lent.
LGBTQ+ Alumni Council and NYC Chapter Service Event at SAGE Dinner
As part of the BCAA’s Annual Global Days of Service, the NYC contingent of its LGBTQ+ Alumni Council partnered with the BC Club of NYC, serving meals at SAGE’s NYC headquarters, the first partnership of its kind.
April 20, 2023
The Wall Street Business Leadership Council Tribute Dinner
Over 500 alumni, parents, and friends gathered at Cipriani in New York City for the 33rd Wall Street Business Leadership Council Tribute Dinner. During the gala, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., presented the President’s Medal for Excellence to Coach Tom Coughlin, P’04, in recognition of Coughlin’s illustrious football coaching career and his work with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation. The event, which supports the Presidential Scholarships for the students in the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program, celebrated the 15 Presidential Scholars who graduated in 2023 and raised $2 million from a record-breaking 215 donors for the Wall Street Council Scholarship Fund.
Advent and Lenten Reflections Series
In honor of the 2022 Advent and 2023 Lenten Seasons, the BC Alumni Association partnered with The Church of the 21st Century Center and Campus Ministry to offer weekly reflections through email and across our social media channels. Advent reflections were presented by five BC community members: Samuel Schelble ’21, MA’24; Alejandra Aquino ’17; Tabitha Joseph ’17; Dennis Wieboldt ’22, MA’23; and Sarah Hansman ’18, MDiv’25. Lenten reflections were presented by Casey Beaumier, S.J., director of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies, and current Boston College students, Veronica A. Gasowski ’25, Frank Wilhelm ’24, and Mary Clare Scalise ’23, MEd’25.
With Classmates
November 1, 2022
Boston GOLD Social at Flight Club
The Graduates of the Last Decade [GOLD] Alumni of the Boston Chapter headed to Flight Club Darts in the Seaport area of Boston. Over 120 Eagles attended the three-hour event, which was full of dart mini games, food, and socializing with members of the BC community. Clement and Elizabeth Izzi Family Head Men’s Basketball Coach Earl Grant even stopped by the event to play a few rounds of darts and take photos with alumni.
November 4–5, 2022
BC Law School Reunion & Meet the Dean Reception
The Boston College Alumni Association welcomed over 250 alumni back to campus for our annual BC Law School Reunion. The weekend of events took place on both the Boston College Newton Campus and at the Four Seasons in Boston and was filled with many events and activities, including a reception to welcome Odette Lienau, the inaugural Marianne D. Short, Esq., Dean of the Boston College Law School.
December 1, 2022
CSON 75th Anniversary Celebration
The Boston College alumni community gathered to celebrate 75 years of nursing at Boston College, in a first-time partnership between the Alumni Association and the Connell School of Nursing. Attendees enjoyed a reception followed by a keynote presentation from Katherine Gregory, PhD’05, dean of the William F. Connell School of Nursing, who was introduced by BCAA Board of Directors Past President and current member Ann Finck ’66, H’14. After the keynote, a panel discussion took place about how the nursing field has evolved over the past 75 years, featuring Brianna Cheatham ’22; Karen Jennings Mathis MS’11, PhD’16; Marsha Maurer, MS’90; and Rollie Perea ’85. Immediately following, guests were able to view 75 years of nursing publications, pins, uniforms, and much more memorabilia!
February 16, 2023
Understanding Eating Disorders Through the Lens of Mental Illness
The Boston College Alumni Association hosted an in-depth conversation featuring Yvonne Castañeda, a part-time faculty member in the Boston College School of Social Work and director of community initiatives along with BCAA Board of Directors member Kate Balch O’Neill ’08. Yvonne and Kate shared their own experiences while discussing how eating disorders morph with mental illness and the prevalence of eating disorders in BIPOC communities. Over 140 BC community members joined this virtual event to listen in on this insightful and important conversation.
May 19, 2023
Senior Class Toast
The Boston College Alumni Association celebrated the Class of 2023 with a champagne toast on the Lower Campus Lawn. Casey Beaumier, S.J., welcomed the graduates with an opening prayer and personal remarks about their resilience and fortitude as a class, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The keynote address and class toast was given by BC Alumni Association Board of Directors member Arivee Vargas Rozier-Bryd ’05, JD’08, H’22, and the Senior Legacy Committee Co-chairs Walker Davey ’23 and Angelique Jean-Noel ’23 addressed and congratulated their classmates. Over 1,700 undergraduates attended and marked the occasion with a custom 2023 champagne glass.
June 2–4, 2023
Reunion
The BC community welcomed nearly 2,400 Eagles back to campus to celebrate their 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, and post-50th class anniversaries as well as the Newton College 50th and post-50th class anniversaries. The weekend was filled with a variety of events and activities such as class parties, barbecues, LGBTQ+ and AHANA Alumni receptions, yoga, Mass, and brunches!
WE REACHED
Alumni Near and Far
BCAA’s Regional Alumni Networks, led by local Eagles, brought the Heights to you.
Total Chapters
U.S. Chapters
International Chapters
Eagles are Everywhere
August 19, 2022
Cape Cod Cruise
The Cape Cod Chapter took off on their annual cruise, and nearly 50 BC alumni, parents, and friends were aboard. The evening of fun included a social hour on the upper deck of the boat to start the night, followed by dinner on the main deck. The event closed with trivia and prizes before the boat came back ashore.
October 8, 2022
Homecoming Alumni Tailgate
Nearly 500 alumni, parents, and friends attended the BC Alumni Association’s Homecoming pregame tailgate on O’Neill Plaza. Gasson Hall served as a picturesque background as attendees enjoyed food, drinks, and music from the live band Beach Nights. Each guest was given a Welles Crowther red bandana to wear with pride as they cheered on the BC Eagles in their game against the Clemson Tigers that night.
November 19, 2022
BC vs. ND Football Game Tailgate
Nearly 450 alumni, parents, and friends attended the Boston College Alumni Association tailgate prior to the Boston College vs. Notre Dame football game in South Bend. In spite of below freezing temperatures, attendees enjoyed food, drinks, a heated tent, and a live DJ. Additionally, remarks were given by both the BCAA Board President, Eric Silva ’00, and William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Blake James.
December 8, 2022
Philadelphia Christmas Luncheon
Nearly 60 Eagles from the Philadelphia Chapter had an opportunity to gather and celebrate the holiday season at the Merion Cricket Club. This afternoon event featured remarks from the Boston College Associate Vice President of Career Services, Joseph Du Pont. He shared how the Career Center prepares students for success after graduation and offered opportunities for alumni to get more involved and support the efforts of the Career Center.
December 9, 2022
Boston Chapter Christmas Party
Over 150 Boston Chapter alumni ranging from the class of 1963 to 2022 gathered at the Boston Park Plaza to celebrate the Christmas season. Chapter leaders Julia Arnese ’20 and Annabel Hodson-Walker ’21 emceed the festivities, including a raffle with tickets to BC men’s hockey at Frozen Fenway.
December 10, 2022
Winter Wonderland
The Boston College Alumni Association welcomed over 1,100 BC community members to the Cadigan Alumni Center to spread holiday cheer during one of our most beloved traditions. The day was filled with family-friendly holiday activities such as photos with Santa, holiday crafts, specialty performances, cookie decorating, and more.
December 12, 2022
Remembrance and Reflections of Fr. Himes
The BCAA hosted a virtual event to celebrate the life of Fr. Michael Himes and the impact he had on so many members of the BC community. This webinar provided a space of reflection and remembrance and featured several alumni leaders who shared how they see Fr. Himes’s three questions come to fruition in their lives. Casey Beaumier, S.J., served as the webinar moderator and Frantz Berthaud ’08, Ned Roseberry ’93, John Walsh ’17, and Grace Zuncic ’05 served as event participants. Over 120 guests gathered virtually to join in remembrance of one of BC’s most beloved community members.
February 19, 2023
Pepperdine Baseball Outing
March 6, 2023
NYC Student & Alumni Mentoring Event
Hosted by members of the BC Alumni Board of Directors in partnership with the Career Center, nearly 50 current students and alumni gathered for a night filled with networking and connection. Alumni from the communications, arts, and media industries provided career advice and insights to help the students further explore different career paths and practice their networking skills.
March 12, 2023
Naples Mass and Brunch
For the first time since 2020, the Boston College Alumni Association welcomed 200 alumni, parents, and friends to the annual Naples Mass and brunch at the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort. The event featured remarks from Andrew Davidson, University Advancement’s new senior vice president. Additionally, University President William P. Leahy, S.J. presided over the Mass, and Casey Beaumier, S.J. gave the Homily and the Invocation at the brunch. Mass included alumni volunteer participation from Diane Van Parys ’80, Thomas “Tom” Flynn ’76, Lesley Visser ’75, and Virginia “Ginger” McCourt as well as Adam Crescenzi ’64, P’88, ’93, and Rob Amen ’71, P’06, who served as Eucharistic Ministers.
April 1, 2023
Easter Celebration
In collaboration with the McMullen Museum, the Boston College Alumni Association welcomed over 400 alumni, parents, and friends to the Brighton Campus at Boston College for a special Easter celebration. The morning was filled with basket decorating, Easter-themed crafts, a photo booth, glitter tattoos, and appearances from both the Easter Bunny and Baldwin!
April 2, 2023
Cincinnati Mass
Members of the Boston College Cincinnati and Kentucky Alumni Chapters gathered at Saint Xavier High School to attend a Mass for Easter Sunday. There were over 20 alumni in attendance, and both chapters came together to offer refreshments and an opportunity for alumni to connect following the Mass.
Fall 2022
Always an Eagle: Austin, Buffalo, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, Miami, Puerto Rico, San Diego, and Vermont.
The Boston College Alumni Association strives to meet our Eagles wherever they land after graduation. With this in mind, every fall, there are Always an Eagle receptions hosted by BC alumni and parents across the country. The goal is to welcome new Eagles, who have either graduated or just moved, to their new community and to provide a space for Eagles of all ages to meet and network. This past year, there were eleven Always an Eagle events that were held in various cities including: Austin, Buffalo, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, Miami, Puerto Rico, San Diego, Vermont.
April–May 2023
Global Days of Service
Each year, Eagles exemplify what it means to be men and women for others through participating in our popular Global Days of Service. BC alumni chapter leaders and volunteers were able to engage their fellow Eagles in serving their local communities, and fellow alumni across the country spent over 60 hours volunteering throughout the months of April and May. Over 200 alumni, parents, and friends participated in Global Days of Service this year!
New and Enhanced Alumni Programming
October 26, 2022
J.P. Morgan Breakfast
Over 20 BC alumni and parents employed at J.P. Morgan in New York City gathered for a breakfast hosted by University Trustee Kevin Smart ’99 and Andrea Lisher ’96. The event featured William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Blake James as the guest speaker. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with other members of the BC community and learn more about the University as well as Blake’s vision for the future of BC Athletics.
May 3, 2023
Wellington Breakfast
Boston College Board of Regents member Ann Gallo ’87 hosted a breakfast at Wellington Management in downtown Boston. Over 40 BC alumni and parents gathered and had the opportunity to hear remarks from the John and Linda Powers Family Dean of the Carroll School of Management Andy Boynton ’78, P’13, and participated in a Q&A session.
Student Alumni Association
The Boston College Student Alumni Association (SAA) officially launched in October 2022 as one of the BCAA’s newest initiatives. This group of student leaders helps to strengthen student and alumni connections while fostering the importance of engagement and philanthropy as an alumnus. The SAA develops programs and events that educate the student body on the importance of alumni engagement and philanthropy. The SAA reinforces existing BC traditions that foster a sense of loyalty and pride and motivates current students to become future alumni leaders and ambassadors. The group currently consists of 18 undergraduate students, and it will continue to grow.
MentorMatch Program
This year, the Boston College Alumni Association and the Career Center launched an online mentorship program called MentorMatch Program! Within the founding cohort, we matched 284 juniors, seniors, and grad students with 245 alumni mentors. Through facilitated mentorship, the MentorMatch Program aimed to support BC students in their career preparation by matching them with an alumni professional in a field of interest throughout the 2022–2023 academic year.
WE MENTORED
And opened our networks to Eagles
Alumni connected with one another virtually and in person to uncover job opportunities, receive career support, and gain access to countless professional resources.
Career Webinar: Great Resignation and Reinventing Oneself
Endeavor
Endeavor, one of BC’s signature student and alumni events, is a three-day career exploration program for sophomores and juniors. This year was a great success and featured a keynote conversation with alumnae Annelise Hagar Preciado ’14, MA’15, as the guest speaker and BC Alumni Association Board member Arivee Vargas Rozier-Bryd ’05, JD’08, H’22 as the moderator. Over 60 alumni came back to campus to connect with over 240 students who participated in the program. The days were filled with industry-specific panels, lunch with students, onsite office visits, a student-alumni networking session, and more!
CWBC Connections
Launched in 1999 by the Task Force on Women at Boston College, the BC Connections Mentoring Program continuously underscores BC’s commitment to the complete education of women, inside and outside of the classroom. BC Connections offers each student mentee a one-on-one relationship with an alumna mentor who will provide both encouragement and support for a student’s professional and personal goals. The intent of the program is that the mentor and mentee develop a close-knit, long-term relationship that covers all aspects of career and personal development. Our alumnae mentors serve as a source of invaluable advice for our student mentees. This year featured 210 participants, making 105 mentorship matches. For the second year, BC Connections was facilitated through Eagle Exchange, allowing the mentors and mentees to message each other, video call, and achieve preset goals all within the online platform.
1L Mentoring Program
he 1L Mentoring Program matches first-year law students with alumni mentors in the cities where they want to be and in their desired practice areas. The goal of the program is to help students establish relationships with alumni who can provide meaningful advice and connections in a certain city during the summer between their first and second year of law school. This year’s program had nearly 80 alumni participants and for the first time, matches were made through the Eagle Exchange online platform!
Eagle Exchange, an initiative led by the BC Alumni Association in partnership with the BC Career Center, is an exclusive online networking platform connecting the global BC alumni and student community through lifelong, professional conversations.
EAGLE EXCHANGE SNAPSHOT:
Total number of student and alumni users
Number of alumni users
Number of student users
Average rating of alumni-student connections
Number of messages sent
Total number of student and alumni users
Number of alumni users
Number of student users
Average rating of alumni-student connections
Number of messages sent
My favorite part about being a BC alum is having the opportunity to pay forward the mentorship, support, and career advice I’ve received from other Eagles since graduating in 2009.
As more of life has moved online or has become hybrid over the past few years, many of the in-person opportunities for professional exploration and relationship building have changed dramatically or disappeared altogether. Those most affected by these changes are Eagles just getting started in their job searches or careers.
Joining Eagle Exchange helped me make a difference by supporting current BC students and recent grads. Through a variety of career conversations, I’ve been connected to Eagles at all stages of career exploration, from the sophomore just starting to think about their first internship to the alum ready to make a career pivot.
While my priority is making others’ professional journeys a bit easier (or at least a little less lonely), I must admit that I get as much out of these connections as I put in. Receiving a networking call from an Eagle is a chance for another to reflect, to appreciate, and to serve.”
—Alex Prounis ’09
Involved and supported our University
Thousands of dedicated alumni volunteered their time to help create countless memorable experiences for more than 200,000 alumni around the world.
By the Numbers
Alumni volunteers
Affinity group members
Chapter Leaders
Alumni board members
Reunion committee members
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Your financial support, whether it’s $10 or $10,000+, made a difference across our community. Learn more about the impact of your gift at bc.edu/impact.
$6.8M
Was raised from gifts of $1,000 or less
22,332
Total undergraduate alumni donors
46,250
Total donors
Greetings from BCAA President Wynndell Bishop ’00, MBA’07
I’m thrilled to begin my tenure as the Boston College Alumni Association president. It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of my classmate and friend, Eric Silva ’00, and to support and serve fellow Eagles in this way.
Over the years, I’ve been involved as an alum simply because I wanted to help and give back to a community that has done so much for me. In 2007, I helped plan the first RECONNECT, a celebration of the AHANA alumni community and then became a founding member of the AHANA Alumni Advisory Council (AAAC). I have also served on my Reunion engagement and gift committees over the years and have supported regional events from the moment I graduated. I was awarded the John J. Griffin, Sr., ’35, H’72, Alumni Association Award at the 2018 Distinguished Volunteer Awards Dinner. Through these experiences, I witnessed similar traits in each of the volunteer leaders I worked alongside: the desire to have a lifelong relationship with the Heights, a dedication to advancing the mission of BC, and a tireless drive to be Eagles for others.
Most recently, having served as the alumni board of directors vice president, and in my role as committee chair, I worked directly with the alumni affinity group leaders including the AAAC, Council for Women at Boston College, LGBTQ+ Alumni Council, Real Estate Council, as well as the Wall Street Business Leadership Council. Our conversations built alignment, increased collaboration, and encouraged partnerships in new and exciting ways.
Now, as the alumni board of directors president, I look forward to meeting alumni around the world through the various alumni events we offer annually. I encourage you to get more involved in the areas we have listed below. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for BC.
—Wynndell Bishop ’00, MBA ’07
Get Involved
There are many ways to stay connected with BC, engage with fellow alumni, and make our University stronger.
