A special group of Baker grads—the Alumni Admissions Ambassadors—are sharing their college experiences and welcoming the next generation of Wildcats to the Baker family. Through this new program, alumni share their stories with incoming students, giving them a firsthand glimpse of the strong sense of community that begins on campus and remains for years after graduation—the Baker Magic.
This partnership between the Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Admissions transports the magic from alumni to new students by matching alumni with students who share common interests or are from the same area so they can welcome them into the Baker community.
The first project for the Ambassadors was sending postcards to incoming freshmen this summer, welcoming them to campus. Some of the Ambassadors filmed short videos explaining why they chose Baker, how the university shaped them into the people they are today, and why being part of this community is special. These videos are shared with prospective students during campus visits.
Director of Alumni Relations Doug Barth, ’91, had no trouble finding alumni who were eager to help when he put out the call for volunteers. “I was pleasantly surprised by the many replies that came in, giving us another avenue for alumni to be engaged while helping us reach students,” he said.
On the admissions side of this partnership, Dr. Cassy Bailey, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, coordinated the communication with the prospective students. “We mailed out 250 postcards to incoming freshmen,” she said. “We put out the call for volunteers, and the alumni answered.”
The inaugural group of Alumni Admissions Ambassadors had a variety of reasons for volunteering.
Lisa (Reddy) Stockton, ’09, sent postcards this summer. “I really enjoyed being able to send an encouraging word to incoming Wildcats,” she said. “Not living in the Baldwin area anymore, this gave me an opportunity to be involved in Baker from home!”
When asked why he volunteered as an Alumni Admissions Ambassador, Evan Durnal, ’05, responded, “It was simple—attending Baker prepared me for and is a large reason I have had the opportunities in my life and career to this day. I truly love the university and want to help it thrive any way I can.”
The next mailing, which is scheduled for November, will wish admitted students a happy holiday, and Bailey and Barth have plans to expand the program to include events in which alumni can interact with prospective students and families.
“We often talk about the Baker Magic during our campus visits with prospective students,” Bailey said. “There is no better way to do this than to allow that Baker passion to flow from one generation to the next. For me, it is a natural selling point on how amazing Baker is as a community on campus and beyond.”
The program is looking for more volunteers. Learn more about Alumni Admissions Ambassadors and register online.
By Kinsley Alley, ’23
