As of last May, the Class of 2023 joined a growing network of over 50,000 Stevens alumni nationwide. With significant geological and characteristic diversity amongst alumni, it’s crucial that Stevens graduates have opportunities to connect with each other and grow their respective professional networks. In an effort to help facilitate these connections, the Division of Development and Alumni Engagement has begun to develop an LGBTQ+ Alumni Network, which aims to help support former Stevens students who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
While still in its infancy, the LGBTQ+ Alumni Network has recently begun to take shape on campus. Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement, Annie McGuinness, has been a driving force in the implementation of this program. She described the initiative as an “identity-based affinity space within [the] Stevens alumni community.” The purpose of this space is to focus on providing resources so “alumni can find a connection between who they are and their alma mater.” With the Stevens alumni community growing in size year after year, smaller groups like this one will facilitate personal interactions and ensure every member of the Stevens community feels welcome.
As a key individual in the creation of this program, McGuinness has been responsible for structuring the initiative in a sustainable way. She has worked closely with Liliana Delman, the Director of Student Culture and Belonging, to support LGBTQ+ students not only on campus, but also throughout their journey “as they grow in their personal and professional lives.” This program is meant to be a lifelong resource for Stevens graduates, having been described as both a “safe space” and an opportunity to “connect in ways that [are] important to the LBGTQ+ community.”
Even though the network is still in its initial stages, a number of alumni have already pledged their support for the idea, with a focus group having been created in July of 2023 to gather opinions and ideas from former Stevens students. The Division of Development and Alumni Engagement is actively working with this focus group to develop a mission statement and goals for the next year, both of which will likely be formative decisions in shaping the future of this initiative. McGuinness has shared that creating a calendar of events and establishing a network membership expansion program are two of the key objectives to be discussed in upcoming meetings, both of which will increase knowledge of the program amongst Stevens graduates.
While the creation of a network like this one will likely take time, support for the idea has already been overwhelming. McGuinness shared that “alumni are eager and dedicated to creating a network where [LGBTQ+ students] feel supported and heard” while simultaneously aiming to create “fun experiences [that] foster a feeling of belonging at Stevens.” With the support of both students and administration, the Stevens LGBTQ+ Alumni Network will hopefully grow into a positive environment where students, both former and current, can connect based on shared experiences and come together to develop a stronger sense of community.
