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Each year, at the invitation of the Alumnae Office, members
of the Wellesley College faculty and administration speak to
50 to 60 alumnae clubs and informal groups around the country,
and occasionally, overseas. The speakers program is intended
to provide intellectual stimulation, reflect the ongoing excellence
of the Wellesley faculty, describe new programs at the College,
and offer a means for alumnae to connect with each other and
the College. Some club events include high school students
and/or guidance counselors, thereby serving as a student recruitment
tool.
Who Are the Speakers?
Members of the Wellesley College faculty and administration
may be invited to speak to Wellesley clubs. If a member of
the College Board of Trustees or the Alumnae Association Board
of Directors lives in your area, this person can also be invited
to speak to the local club.
For Wellesley Faculty: If you are interested in participating
in the Faculty Speaker Program, please complete the online
Faculty Speaker
Participation Form.
What Are the Topics?
Click here for
the list of Faculty Speaker Topics
Wellesley
faculty are most effective when they speak about their own
research or on a topic of
current interest in their
field. Clubs may request an individual professor, a member
of a particular academic department, or a speaker on
a specific topic. Faculty members are also willing
to answer questions
about teaching, the curriculum, and current life at Wellesley.
Members of the College administration can offer a broad
update on the College today ("News from Lake Waban") or
a closer look at a specific program or area, such as the Davis
Museum and Cultural Center, or College finances. You are free
to "negotiate" a topic that is mutually acceptable
to both speaker and club.
Expenses
The Alumnae Association budget covers travel expenses and
meals for speakers to clubs that are arranged through the Alumnae
Office. Clubs who arrange speaker engagements without the involvement
of the Alumnae Office are responsible for covering all expenses.
Clubs are encouraged to arrange overnight accommodations at
the home of an alumna, thereby providing hospitality at minimal
cost. However, if the speaker prefers to stay at a hotel, please
make a reservation at a modestly priced hotel in a convenient
location. The hotel expense will be covered by the Alumnae
Association.
To Request a Speaker
Complete the Speaker
Request Form using the list of
speakers who have offered to visit Wellesley clubs or by requesting
speakers who do not appear on this list. Be sure to indicate
a first, second, and third choice. If we are unable to meet
your preferences, we will discuss with you other possible speakers.
Return the Speaker Request Form before August
30th.
Remember that requests are filled on a first-come, first-served
basis within specific budget constraints. Every effort is made
to coordinate a speaker's travel schedule to allow the possibility
of visiting more than one club in an area.
The Director of Clubs will write to the club and to the speaker
well in advance of the program to confirm the date and time.
It is then up to the president or program chair of the club
to call the speaker to arrange details of the engagement.
Speakers often schedule other professional or personal travel
around the club date. It is extremely important therefore that
an engagement not be canceled or changed once it has been arranged.
Publicity
At least six weeks prior to the speaker's engagement, the
Alumnae Office will send biographical information to the club
president or program chair for use in publicizing the event
to alumnae, parents of current students, and prospective students.
Clubs are encouraged to submit a brief announcement of the
program in the local newspaper and to consider opening the
program to the general public and/or other college alumnae
groups. Many clubs have also cosponsored speaker events with
clubs nearby as a way to boost attendance.
Please feel free to contact Susan Lohin, Director of Clubs,
Alumnae Office, 781-283-2330, or slohin@wellesley.edu with
any questions.
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