The Influence of Alumni Leaders

Dear Friends,

Most people open an annual report expecting to find financial statements. Just for fun, we thought we’d share something unexpected: coincidental connections.

You’ve probably already heard of the “six degrees of separation” brainteaser that suggests we’re all connected by a half-dozen stages of circumstance or acquaintance. Usually, it incorporates Kevin Bacon as the center of the universe. We’ve found it works even better using UW-Madison.

In fact, making those kinds of connections is what the Wisconsin Alumni Association® is all about. But unlike the name game, we don’t sit around hand-picking alumni to fit the puzzle. Instead, we focus on the big picture, creating programs and services ranging from lifelong learning opportunities in the classroom to offering library reference materials online.

Quite naturally, that environment has stimulated an exponential number of organic relationships. We like to call it degrees of influence: the phenomenon of magnifying the UW’s impact in the world via people who share the experience of earning a UW degree.

So start clicking — no matter which story you start with, you’ll come full circle in this illustration of what makes us proud to be your alumni association. While you’re surfing these stories, don’t forget to explore the deeper connections captured in our Web links, online video and interactive message boards.

We bet you’ll make some unexpected connections. And we can’t wait to find out about them.

On Wisconsin!