The TFAS Alumni Engagement team is traveling throughout the country and the globe to connect alumni and welcome recent graduates to the TFAS Alumni Network.
Making Local Connections
TFAS alumni near and far have connected with one another at exclusive networking events in Santiago, Chicago, Boston, Indianapolis, Dallas, Raleigh, New York and Washington, D.C.
This spring, TFAS kicked off the year in Chile for TFAS Santiago in January. During the program, both students and alumni gathered for a reception at Universidad de los Andes (UANDES) to celebrate 30 years of TFAS International programs. As with all TFAS student and alumni events, students were eager to speak with alumni to learn more about what life has been like for them after completing a TFAS program.
TFAS alumni events are not only a time to network and meet new people, but also to see old friends and remember the great experiences that brought us together in the first place.” – Francesca Contreras Stange ’18, ’18
Two-time TFAS alumna Francesca Contreras Stange ’18, ’18 is among the many alumni who have developed lifelong friendships through their TFAS experiences. She remarked on the joy of witnessing her friends’ achievements since their student days and how touching it was to reunite with them at the Santiago reception.
“TFAS alumni events are not only a time to network and meet new people, but also to see old friends and remember the great experiences that brought us together in the first place,” Stange said. “It allows us an instance to discuss ideas and talk freely about our ideals and even our concerns.”
Stange said these events allow for a “time to look back with pride” at how far she and her fellow classmates have traveled and all that they have accomplished over the years.
“They are truly something to look forward to every year and for them I am grateful,” she said. “In Santiago, I was able to meet with friends and acquaintances from all over the world whom I had not seen since before the pandemic. Seeing them and being able to hug them after everything that has happened was very emotional.”
Dana Faught, director of student recruitment + alumni engagement, is traveling around the U.S. to meet with TFAS alumni. Dana shared TFAS’s excitement to be back on the road connecting with alumni all over the country and said she looks forward to expanding TFAS’s reach and visiting more cities this fall.
“It’s been wonderful to catch up with alumni we haven’t seen in years and hear them reminisce about their time in the programs,” she said. “One of the most exciting things is seeing alumni networking with each other and bonding over their shared TFAS experience.”
Building Industry Networks
View photos from recent alumni events here.
In addition to its geographic networking events, TFAS introduced “Alumni Industry Insiders,” a networking series aimed at bringing together individuals from the same field or industry to connect.
For the first event in the series, TFAS Alumni Engagement Committee members Sean Heravi ’10, PPF ’15, and Bryce Mitchell ’14, who both have military and security careers, organized an event featuring a panel of experts in national security and foreign policy followed by a networking reception.
Mitchell, an Air Force Captain and staff officer at the Department of Defense, emphasized the importance of having connections among various sub-industries.
Register for future alumni events here
“It is vital that Washington continues to establish durable ties between Silicon Valley’s technology and venture capital ecosystems and the federal government,” Mitchell said. “The ‘Alumni Industry Insiders’ event showcased four selfless leaders who all serve at the forefront of this effort. When working at the intersection of technology, national security, and private capital, you need leaders like those in attendance tonight.”
TFAS continued the series for alumni working in journalism, communications and public relations careers. These alumni had the opportunity to network with one another at an exclusive event at the National Press Club. Later this fall, TFAS will also host an industry-specific event for all alumni who work on Capitol Hill and in government affairs.
Supporting and Connecting
As a core tenant of the strategic plan, TFAS strives to support and connect its alumni and members of the TFAS community. The continued programming, events and communication help build networks, provide alumni with continued learning opportunities and deepen a commitment to strengthen communities around the world.
TFAS Chairman Randal Teague proudly shares how TFAS is creating opportunities for alumni from a wide variety of locations to come together for a common objective.
“TFAS is proud to facilitate these new networking opportunities for its alumni,” Teague said. “Some have a geographic dimension, such as luncheons or receptions in various cities. More recently, it has been by industry segments, a strategy that assures those meeting will have a career-focused common denominator. We hope our alumni never miss these opportunities.”
TFAS looks forward to connecting with even more alumni at upcoming events in Washington, D.C., New York and Prague this spring and summer, as well as more cities this fall.
Alumni who wish to learn more and register for these events can visit alumni.TFAS.org.