Letter from the Alumni Association President

Dear fellow alumni:

What do you do when the games stop? When the practices no longer await and "life after sports" begins? This was the focus of a pilot program for junior and senior student-athletes introduced this past October at Niagara. This mandatory program was developed by Niagara's associate athletic director Theresa Berg and sponsored by the offices of alumni relations, counseling services and career development; Niagara's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; the NCAA; and Wells Fargo Financial, Inc.

The program's keynote speaker, John Sullivan, '93, a clinical sport psychologist, told the student-athletes about sports consulting services and teamed up with Niagara's Dr. Bernadette Peters, assistant director of counseling/licensed psychologist, for an interactive group session. I was part of an alumni panel for the question and answer period that followed. Other panelists included Ann (Quigley) Macaulay, '69; Andy Smith, '99; and Jessica Turner '06. Corporate recruiter and sponsor Paul Hicks, district manager at Wells Fargo, gave an empowering talk addressing how participating in athletics gives applicants an advantage in the interviewing process, and Mike Skowronski, employer relations coordinator in the career development office, ended the program by encouraging our graduates to use Niagara's networking and mentoring opportunities. For more information on this unique program, see the story on page ??.

Our Niagara University Alumni Association, through the Eagle's Nest, has launched a new Career Center titled "Alumni Jobs." This new program features a job search function that lists more than 800,000 jobs and offers tips on writing résumés, cover letters and other career guidance. The program also enables you to post jobs and network with other alumni, and participate in a mentoring program. As John Crosby once stated, "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen and a push in the right direction." If interested, you can register at the Career Center on the Eagle's Nest at www.niagaraalumni.com.

Also, when you visit campus, be sure to check out the "Wall of Fame" in the atrium of Bisgrove Hall, where all of the Niagara Legacy-Alumni of Distinction recipients' plaques are displayed. And keep in touch with NU through the Eagle's Nest for upcoming events all around the country.