Pomona College Alumni Association Board Meeting Minutes
Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pacific Virtual Meeting via Zoom
Committee Chair & Officers: Andrea Venezia ’91, Robi Ganguly ’00 -president elect, Anne Elsberry ’91 P’14, Stuart Friedel ’08, Emily Zheng ’19, Jim Sutton ’84 P’22, Jackie Huffman ’83, Eliza Bennitt ’98
Board Members: Robert Chew ’14, Lauren Clarke ’83 P’18, Miguel Delgado ’20 (absent), Renee Dupont ’80 P’09, Fred Feller ’71, Rebecca Golden ’10, Tony King ’97 (Absent), Toran Langford ’21, Te’auna Patterson ’18, Jesse Stoneman ’12 (absent), Jacob Wilson ’15, James Zhang ’95, Grace Zheng ’26
Alumni and Family Engagement Staff: Janncarlo Flores, Pritina Irvin, Mariam Khwajazada, Jenny Kong, Lariza Rigor (absent), Sarah Sturm
Special Guests: Kara Godwin, Prof. Fernando Lozano, Avis Hinkson, Brandon Jackson, Andy Shaindlin (Huron|GG+A), Lisa Brown (Huron|GG+A)
Quorum: The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be a majority of the voting members. Therefore, this meeting had the necessary number of voting members (16) in attendance for a quorum.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 10:06 am by President-elect Robi Ganguly ’00. Robert Chew ’14 motioned to approve the minutes from the October 12, 2025 and January 24, 2026 board meetings. Lauren Clarke ’83 P'18 and Anne Elsberry ’91 P’14 seconded the motion. Minutes approved without dissent; motion passed.
Welcome:
President-elect Robi Ganguly ’00 opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and introducing the AFE interim director, Sarah Strum. Sarah shared her professional background in higher education and expressed her commitment to supporting the staff and board during the transition period. She shared her plans of scheduling 1:1 meetings with board members, as well as regional chapter leaders.
PCAAB Mission and Purpose
Leadership presented a draft document clarifying the board’s role as an advisory body. The discussion focused on the historical shift in 2001 from an independent association to an advisory model integrated with the college. Board members shared various perspectives on the implications of this structure for their authority and their ability to represent the alumni community effectively.
Action Items:
- Gather additional information on Board history: Huron to conduct research on the Association dissolving their 501(c)(3) in2001 toclarify "Association" vs. "Advisory" board status.
- Follow-up on Board Purpose and Mission: AAB leadership to share Huron’s Guiding Framework document, including more detail on theBoard’s advisory role
- Confirm Board Name: Discussion and decision regarding the use of ‘Association’ in the board’s name and logo
Time-Sensitive Campus Update
Vice President Avis Hinkson and Dean Brandon Jackson provided an update on campus climate initiatives and the College’s response. The administration emphasized their commitment to community unity and addressed specific concerns regarding classroom conduct. The board discussed the importance of proactive communication and being utilized as a trusted resource during campus challenges.
Action Items/Next Steps:
- Develop Engagement Plan: Dean of Students, Dean of College, and Maria’s office to propose deeper board engagement strategies.
- Sharing Experiences: Individual board members to reach out to Brandon Jackson to provide insights on bias-related experiences.
Alumni Weekend
Mariam Khwajazada, Associate Director for Alumni & Family Engagement, presented the logistical framework for the upcoming Alumni Weekend, including signature events like the all-class dinner and the presidential keynote. The use of digital tools for registration and volunteer coordination was highlighted to ensure accurate attendance tracking.
Action Items:
- Complete Registration: Pritina to follow up with board members who have not yet registered for AW.
- Extend Meeting Schedule: Plan for the Sunday board meeting to run past 12:00 PM; Andrea, Sarah, and Huron to connect to outline the May meeting agenda and timing
- Connect with Alumni Weekend planning team on the following ideas:
- Investigate reusing name badges to supportsustainability efforts.
- Establish "Alumni Office Hours" for student-board interaction at Alumni Village.
- Clarify the communications plan for messaging campus disruptions to students during AW.
- Janncarlo andAndrea tolocate/research 2018and otherclass banners.
- Space for theCookbook committee to display the oldcookbook and track visitor follow-ups.
- Discuss incentives for Sagehen Connect sign-ups.
Center For Global Engagement
Kara Godwin, Assistant Vice President and Chief Global Officer, and Fernando Lozano, Professor of Economics, co-presented the vision for the newly established Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Kara outlined the strategic transition from the traditional Oldenborg Center model to a more integrated global framework that centralizes study abroad, international student services, and global research under one umbrella. Professor Lozano provided a faculty perspective, highlighting the impact of immersive, faculty-led global programs. He shared specific outcomes from a recent intensive course in Mexico, illustrating how these programs provide students with high-impact, culturally immersive academic experiences. The discussion emphasized the "Celebrating Oldenborg" initiative, which seeks to preserve the history and language-learning legacy of Oldenborg while evolving its mission to meet the needs of a modern, globally-connected student body.
Next Steps:
- Kara Godwin: Distribute the "Global Pomona" strategic framework and CGE mission documents to the board.
- Regional Chapters Committee: Explore the creation of a "Global Alumni Network" to provide mentorship and professional landing spots for students participating in CGE programs abroad.
Alumni BoardCommittee and ProjectUpdates
Committee Framework Relaunch: President Andrea Venezia presented the relaunched committee framework, designed to transition the board into a more active, mission-driven phase. This structure is intended to ensure all board activities align with the College’s strategic priorities and the board's advisory role.
Special Project: The Cookbook: Jim Sutton ’84 P’22 and Eliza Bennitt ’98 provided an update on the progress of the project. While the content development is moving forward, the project is currently awaiting final budgetary confirmation from the Advancement leadership.
Action Items:
- Budget Approval: Andrea Venezia ’91 to follow up with College leadership regarding the Cookbook project budget.
Regional Chapters Committee: The committee provided a brief update on refocusing local engagement and aligning regional events with the broader strategic goals of the board.
Development Committee: The committee discussed current engagement targets and fundraising progress, particularly in the context of the recent Giving Day results.
Leadership Development Committee: Andrea Venezia ’91 emphasized the role of the LDC in identifying future board leadership and committee chairs. The committee’s focus is on ensuring a sustainable pipeline of volunteer leaders who can effectively support the board’s evolving mission.
New Business & Action Items
President Andrea Venezia opened the floor for any final business or items not previously covered in the agenda. The discussion focused on finalizing the timeline for the spring term and ensuring all board members were prepared for the upcoming transition in leadership. No additional new business was introduced, and the session concluded with a review of the high-priority tasks required before the next gathering.
Action Items:
- All Board Members: Confirm attendance and travel arrangements for the upcoming in-person meeting on Sunday, May 3, 2026, on campus.
- Staff (Alumni & Family Engagement): Send out the comprehensive list of volunteer assignments and the digital "Alumni Weekend Briefing Book" to all members by mid-April.
Meeting Adjourned
Robi Ganguly ’00 thanked all participants for their collaboration and adjourned themeeting at 1:05 PM.
Next Meeting: Sunday, May 3, 2026 – Virtual Board Meeting
Key Dates: 2025 – 26
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10/11/25 Oct. AlumniBoard Retreat:New FacultyDinner (Faculty Award) 10/12/25 Alumni Board Meeting #2: Sunday* (on campus)
01/24/26 Alumni Board Meeting #3
03/21/26 Alumni Board Meeting #4
05/03/25 Alumni Board Meeting #5: Sunday* (on campus) 06/20/26 Alumni Board Meeting #6