As Cheryl Bascomb prepares to retire from her position as Dartmouth College's vice president for alumni relations, her seven-year tenure stands as a model of innovative leadership in higher education administration.

Redefining Alumni Engagement

When Bascomb assumed her role in 2016, she faced an alumni relations landscape undergoing significant transformation. Traditional methods of engagement were becoming less effective as generational shifts and technological changes altered how graduates connected with their alma mater.

Her response was both strategic and visionary. Bascomb implemented data-driven approaches to understand alumni preferences while developing new programs that increased participation across all age groups. Under her leadership, Dartmouth saw measurable improvements in alumni satisfaction surveys and engagement metrics.

Crisis Management During Pandemic

The true test of Bascomb's leadership came with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Facing unprecedented challenges to traditional alumni programming, her team rapidly pivoted to digital platforms, creating virtual events that maintained and even strengthened connections during isolation periods.

This digital transformation included innovative online mentoring programs, virtual campus tours for alumni families, and interactive webinars featuring faculty research. The success of these initiatives has led to their continuation as permanent offerings, expanding Dartmouth's reach to global alumni populations.

Building an Inclusive Community

Perhaps Bascomb's most enduring legacy will be her commitment to diversity and inclusion within alumni networks. She spearheaded initiatives to engage historically underrepresented groups, ensuring all graduates felt valued and connected regardless of background or graduation year.

Her efforts included establishing affinity groups, creating accessible programming for alumni with disabilities, and developing mentorship opportunities specifically designed to support first-generation graduates. These programs have become models for peer institutions seeking to build more inclusive alumni communities.

A Foundation for the Future

As Bascomb prepares to conclude her service in December, Dartmouth administrators note that her strategic initiatives have positioned the college well for future challenges in alumni relations. The systems and cultural changes she implemented will continue to influence how the institution engages its global network of graduates.

Higher education experts suggest that Bascomb's approach to alumni relations—combining data analytics with human-centered design—offers valuable lessons for institutions navigating the evolving landscape of graduate engagement in the digital age.