New Executive Director of Alumni Relations
The new executive director of alumni relations began preparing
for his CSU tenure by attending a long-standing university
tradition.
Marc Shkolnick will begin his duties as executive director of
alumni relations on Nov. 8, but he visited Fort Collins for
Homecoming Weekend to become involved with the university
immediately, said Lindsay Bauer, director of alumni operations.
“It was wonderful for the staff to go early on Saturday morning
for the pancake breakfast and to see him and his wife standing on
the steps,” Bauer said.
The Alumni Center was pushed to make a hiring decision for the
position after its interim executive director, Colleen Meyers, took
maternity leave.
“We originally delayed the hiring process because last year
(CSU) President (Larry) Penley was just hired,” said Bill Woods,
president of CSU Board of Directors.
The search for a new director officially began June 1, 2003,
when the position description was placed with an executive search
firm.
Shkolnick was “an immediate standout,” Woods said, in a pool of
70-plus applicants. He was introduced at the 50 Year Club’s
luncheon Saturday.
Shkolnick served 10 years with the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln Alumni Association and was associate executive
director from 1999, until being hired by CSU. Prior to his
experience, he served as admissions representative and the director
of alumni relations.
“It was time to bring in a new director,” Woods said. “We’re
excited about his level of experience.”
Shkolnick was pleased with the thorough hiring process.
“The search firm gave the university the best chance to find who
they were looking for,” Shkolnick said.
He said he is excited about being in Colorado because he has
never lived outside Nebraska.
He got his first taste of CSU during Homecoming week.
“Homecoming was fantastic,” Shkolnick said. “And the lighting of
the “A” was very special.”
There was no Homecoming parade in Nebraska, he said.
Shkolnick especially enjoyed the alumni’s dedication during the
Homecoming parade. Their Model-T car broke down and several
members, including Woods, had to walk the rest of the parade
route.
Shkolnick hopes to build relationships with students during his
time at the Alumni Center. He also wants current students to
construct lifelong connections to CSU.
“We already have an organization, the Student Alumni Connection,
devoted to this, but it needs to expand,” Shkolnick said. “If you
wait until graduation, you’re too late.”
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