Alumni and Family Board Update — Fall 2025
Dear Former Alumni Board Members,
I hope this message finds you well. As Chair of the Alumni and Family Board, I’m reaching out to past board members to share an update on our continued efforts to strengthen alumni and family engagement in alignment with the mission and strategic priorities of St. Olaf College. Going forward, I plan to provide periodic updates like this to help keep our extended board community connected to the college’s evolving work.
I’m proud to share with you that in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 66% of St. Olaf alumni engaged with the college. This is a number we’ve only recently started to measure and this strong result is a clear indication of the sense of connection Oles feel with their alma mater.
Thank you for the role you played in shaping the work we’re building on today. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read the update and feel free to reach out with any questions or reflections.
With heartfelt gratitude for your past service and a shared purpose moving forward…
Um! Yah! Yah!
Matt Johnson ’93
Chair, St. Olaf Alumni and Family Board
Advancing Solution Seekers
St. Olaf’s strategic plan, Solution Seekers, serves as the foundation for the college’s future and the Board’s work. The plan is anchored in three priorities: elevating vocation, expanding innovation, and sustaining community.
Earlier this year, Alumni and Family Board chair, Matt Johnson ’93, interviewed President Susan Rundell Singer as part of St. Olaf’s Next Chapter: An Alumni Conversation. We discussed how Solution Seekers calls alumni to play a vital role in student success and the college’s future.
🎥 Watch the interview: → View the Video
📖 Learn about the plan: → Read the Strategic Plan
Our Board continues aligning its priorities with Solution Seekers. We’ve deepened connections with alumni and families across generations, geographies, and shared affinities. In fall 2024, we welcomed 14 new members who reflect the energy, perspectives, and spirit of today’s Ole community. This fall, we are excited to welcome two new board members, Bryan Bass ’95 and Jack Kemme ’70.
Alumni Engagement Strategy
To support Solution Seekers, the college has partnered with Chris Marshall of CMAC to conduct an assessment of alumni engagement at St Olaf. Chris completed an initial report last spring, which affirmed our strengths and offered key recommendations, including the creation of a coordinated 3–5 year plan for alumni engagement. A committee of campus partners—including Board representation—is now drafting that plan. This work is especially timely as the college begins planning for its next comprehensive campaign.
Reunion Weekend 2025 Recap
This year’s Reunion brought 1,426 alumni to campus, with guests ranging in age from newborns to 97. A personal highlight was hosting lunch for the Classes of 1950 and 1955. These alumni came of age during a time of profound global change—from post–WWII reconstruction to the Brown v. Board of Education decision. And while the world looks different than it did in the 1950s, it was a reminder that what defines St. Olaf still holds true: forming leaders of character, calling people to service, and helping each generation ask not only what they’ll do—but who they’re called to be.
Homecoming and Family Weekend Recap
Homecoming and Family Weekend took place from October 10-12. Registered attendance increased by 700 this year to a total of 2,073 guests. Much of the increase was due to expanded partnerships with Music and Athletics, including three new events:
→ Homecoming Athletics Tailgate prior to the afternoon sporting events
→ St. Olaf Music Pre-Concert Tailgate prior to the evening St. Olaf Band Concert
→ Family Weekend Jazz Brunch on Sunday featuring the St. Olaf Jazz Collective
Signature events continue to be an important strategy for building meaningful connections between alumni, families of current students, and the college.
Task Forces on Alumni Affinity and Identity and Family Engagement
An Alumni Affinity and Identity Task Force was established to understand how alumni connect to the college through shared identities and interests—and to advise on ways to support meaningful engagement rooted in that understanding. This work reflects our broader commitment to strengthening connection in all its forms—through common interests, activities, life experiences, and held identities.
The Family Engagement Task Force—led by two parents of current students—was charged with examining how families of current students connect to the college. They identified four core areas for action: communication, volunteering, events, and advancement.
Strengthening the Bridge Between Volunteerism and Philanthropy
The Alumni and Family Board and St. Olaf Fund Board have been working together through joint meetings and aligned initiatives to strengthen the bridge between volunteerism and philanthropy. This collaboration supports integrated strategies and shared leadership across advancement.
2024 Alumni Award Honorees
Each year, the Board proudly reviews nominations for the Alumni Awards, which honor Oles whose lives reflect the mission of the college. This year, we recognized five outstanding Oles:
Distinguished Alumni Award:
• Sylvia Strobel ’88, President and CEO of Twin Cities PBS and a leader in public media with 30+ years of service.
Alumni Achievement Awards:
• Ward Sutton ’89, award-winning editorial cartoonist for The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, and The Onion.
• Lazarus Letcher ’14, scholar, musician, and activist exploring justice and identity through art and education.
Outstanding Service Awards:
• John Hegg ’63, a nationally recognized school counselor and loyal St. Olaf volunteer through class giving, board service, and reunion leadership.
• Cal Husmann ’90, higher ed advancement leader and first-generation college graduate who remains deeply involved through philanthropy and volunteerism.
This November, the Board will host an on-campus celebration to honor the 2025 St. Olaf Alumni Award recipients. Mark Johnson ’91, Sarah Branton ’00, Sarah Hutto ’01, Jon Nordby ’70, and Alison Feigh ’00. While on campus, honorees will visit classes and meet with small groups of students interested in their career fields. Complete information about our 2025 recipients will be featured in St. Olaf News as well as the online St. Olaf Magazine | Winter 2026.
🏆 Nominate someone for next year’s awards: → Nomination Form
Celebrating Leadership
At our April meeting, we celebrated Will Lutterman ’15, whose board term concludes at the end of October. Will has been a thoughtful and steady presence and played a key role in reimagining the Board’s structure and strategy. We’re deeply grateful for his service.
Whether as a future board member or as part of a committee, we’re always looking for volunteers who want to stay connected to the college in a meaningful way. Please share this message with anyone who might be interested — we’d love to connect.
Upcoming Events
🗓️ St. Olaf Virtual Book Club: November 15, 2025
🗓️ Christmas Festival: December 5–7, 2025
🗓️ Denver Christmas Festival Watch Party: December 7, 2025
🗓️ NYC Christmas Festival Watch Party: December 7, 2025
🗓️ Bay Area Christmas Festival Watch Party: December 7, 2025
🗓️ Chicago Alumni Social: December 17, 2025
Stay in Touch
If you’d like to reconnect — by nominating a board or committee member, offering feedback, or volunteering — please reach out to Matt Johnson.
📧 Send an email: johns189@stolaf.edu