New President, New Century New President, New ... - Biola University

Alumni Files OK, Let’s Talk About
the Harris Publishing Directory Issue
Wow, what a summer this was for the
alumni office as we sent out a new
class of Biola graduates, completed
the farewell tours with Clyde Cook, began the
long process of compiling data for the new
alumni directory, mailed back thousands
(literally) of Association Benefits Packages, and
welcomed President Barry H. Corey.
‘We hope you are feeling
heard, supported and ben-
efited by the work of your
Alumni Association. We’re
always looking for ways to
serve you. Let us know if
you have any suggestions.’
Overall, we feel pretty good about all that
was accomplished during the summer. But, in
the last few months, I’ve heard from many of
you about the gathering of data for the 100th
anniversary Harris Publishing alumni directory.
I’m truly sorry for anyone who had a lessthan-gracious
experience on the phone or
through the mail. We hope your experience
was a positive one, and, if not, I hope we have
heard from you about it.
The purpose of the directory is to encourage
alumni networking and career assistance, and it
is a great way to help you stay in touch with fellow
alumni. There is no other agenda on our part,
and systems are in place to make sure that
anyone using the directory for any other purpose
will be identified, contacted and flogged. Well,
maybe not flogged!
I wish, as some of you suggested, we could
complete this project in-house, but our fourperson
alumni department would be overwhelmed
to contact all 40,000 living alumni.
Your honest assessment of the service of
Harris Publishing is appreciated and will
make a difference in future decisions.
The good news is that over 3,330 alumni
have already reserved a directory, and, I believe,
will find it invaluable for keeping in touch with
classmates.
The response to the Association Benefits
Package has also been amazing with more than
3,500 alumni responding to receive their membership
card. These free cards and membership
provide access to campus resources, services and
discounts, and benefits are being added all the
time. For those of you who requested materials
and have not received them, we have over 100
requests we could not trace (because we didn’t
leave a space for people to include their names!).
If one of these is yours and you will give the alumni
office a call or drop us an e-mail, we will rush
the packets to you.
We so appreciate all of the volunteers who
work for you, including our chapter leaders and
Alumni Board. Over the summer, your Alumni
Board welcomed five new members: Jesse Thomas
(’05), Andrew Selby (’05), Malea Selby (’04), Ryan
Armstrong (’04) and Marta Choto (’93).
We’re pleased to welcome these young
alumni, as they bring excitement and enthusiasm
to their new positions and are looking forward to
serving you and all Biola alumni.
We hope you are feeling heard, supported and
benefited by the work of your Alumni Association.
We’re always looking for ways to serve you. Let us
know if you have any suggestions.
Also, I’ve noticed in recent months the
proliferation of Biola, Talbot and Rosemead
license plate frames, literally all over the world,
displayed by spirited graduates and former
students. I believe it’s time to recognize and
thank those of you who are showing your alumni
spirit. So, as we travel, if we see your car anywhere
(off campus) proudly celebrating your alma
mater with a license plate frame, you’ll be
rewarded with a gift certificate to a national coffee
shop. We hope to surprise you soon.
Rick Bee (’79, M.A. ’90, Ph.D. ’01)
Senior Director of Alumni and Friend Development
FALL ’07 31
Michael Musser