SKIP ROWLAND Skip Rowland '83
Alma Mater of a Nation
At the Newseum, Friday evening, June 3, 2016, the William & Mary Alumni Association held a reception in advance of a conversation between FBI Director Jim Comey '82 and Charlie Rose. This signature event is part of the W&M in DC being held from June 2-5. (Skip Rowland '83)
When the William & Mary’s Alumni Association was founded in 1842, John Tyler—Class of 1807—was president of the United States. Today, the Alumni Association estimates approximately 100,000 alumni.
William & Mary offers its alumni a number of ways to stay engage with their alma mater no matter where they live. From its blog, The Gale, to its much-loved alumni magazine, they can stay connected. There’s an online gift shop where alumni can purchase fight song ringtones, license plates and green and gold gear.
Tyler Hosford (’09), lives in Northern Virginia where he is an active member of the Washington, D.C. chapter. He has only missed Homecoming & Reunion Weekend a few times, most of those while pursuing his master’s degree at Texas A&M University.
“I’ve gone back for most weekends I’ve been in the D.C. area. My wife went to Virginia Tech where homecoming wasn’t a big deal. Homecoming seems to mean something more to William & Mary. It’s a weekend where it’s a great party and you’ll see people you haven’t seen in a while and you’ll have noproblem finding people to hang out with,” he says.
Comprised of a network of 32 chapters, plus alumni volunteer leaders worldwide, alumni have faithfully turned out for events across the globe, including coming back to campus for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, a big draw for the Alumni Association. Hosford said he even wore green and gold on Charter Day when he livedin China.
More than 2,000 alumni live internationally, but 43 percent still reside in Virginia, the most of any state.