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When it comes to her new post as director ofalumni affairs at Alabama A&M University,Sandra Silmon Stubbs readily admits that fillingthe huge footprints of directors who preceded hermakes her a bit anxious.“I want to live up to the expectations,” says Stubbs, a 1987 AAMUaccounting graduate from LaFayette, Ala. (pop. 3,000).“I want to work as hard as I can to please as many people as possible,and I believe in treating people with respect, courtesy and decency. Itwill come back to you.”Growing up in the tiny east central Alabama town, Stubbs in manyways began retracing the steps of her older sister, Sue Silmon Massey,also an AAMU alum.“As I look back,” recalls Stubbs, “A&M afforded me the opportunityto meet lifelong friends.” It also was at A&M, she says, that she met herhusband Herman and was mentored by dynamic accounting professorEric Ohene-Nyako.While settling into her office at the Alumni House on Chase Road,Stubbs says she is trying to get a handle on “the feel” of the campusenvironment following a long stint in the corporate sector. That processis made easier as she considers what makes A&M a special place, shesays.Stubbs maintains that AAMU is still a place that cares for its students,carries out the historically black college tradition, offers severalmentoring opportunities and encourages its students to get involvedat all levels.“I would like to see more student pride, though,” says Stubbs, whoaims to significantly boost alumni volunteerism and financialcontributions in the years ahead. Short term, however, she wants everycampus academic department or unit to play some role in galvanizingits alumni.Stubbs also plans to work with the campus information technologyunit to assist departments in the cultivation of their alumni byestablishing links affiliated with the Alumni Affairs office.Prior to rejoining the AAMU family, Stubbs enjoyed a distinguishedcareer in finance as vice president and district manager with BBVACompass Bank, where she was a fully licensed investmentrepresentative. In that capacity, she was responsible for the operationsand daily management of 19 BBVA Compass Bank branches in NorthAlabama.“I’m honored to have an opportunity to serve,” she concludes.17Normal IndexOnline