Early Student Involvement
Leads to Strong Alumni Ties

Connie Rey Rodriguez, ’04, MAHS ’06, still remembers attending freshman orientation in 2000 with her parents and listening to the alumni panelists talk about how their St. Edward’s University education has influenced their lives. Six years and two degrees later, Connie Rey now helps incoming freshmen and their parents adjust to life on the hilltop as the assistant dean of students. She is well-suited for the role, especially given her steadily increasing involvement in student and alumni activities over the years.

She also works to ensure the success of large-scale annual alumni events — in particular Homecoming, the Welcome Back Bar-b-que and Hillfest.

“Homecoming is my favorite event,” she says. “There are so many great alumni to hang out with. It’s especially fun to see the students and parents that I meet during fall orientation.”

Connie Rey originally landed an administrative coordinator position with the Dean of Students Office after serving as an undergraduate student orientation leader. As an orientation leader, she facilitated conversations among small groups of new freshmen, encouraging them to talk about their concerns or fears about starting college. Impressed with her abilities, the office offered her a job in 2004 — just two weeks after she earned a degree in Management.

Soon after, Connie Rey again became a student, enrolling part time in the university’s Master of Arts in Human Services program.

Maintaining Alumni Connections
Rodriguez keeps in touch with fellow graduates, colleagues and current MAHS students through monthly mixers and other networking events sponsored by the MAHS Alumni Chapter, which she helped start in 2005.

“Because of the tight-knit community at St. Edward’s, becoming involved as a student just seemed natural,” notes Connie Rey. “Thanks to the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs, it’s been easy to maintain that level of involvement as an alumna.” She credits chapter programs and tools, such as the Alumni Directory, with helping her stay connected.

Giving Back to Benefit Other Students
She also supports the university as a GOLD Associate — a young alumni giving society for The St. Edward’s Fund — because she believes strongly in the value of her St. Edward’s University education. “As a student, I experienced firsthand the impact of a quality education. Now it’s my responsibility to help future students have similar experiences at St. Edward’s.”

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Help Students
Want to give back to the university and help new students, too? Make an impact by giving to The St. Edward’s Fund, a critical source of money for student scholarships and resources that ensure the St. Edward’s experience.

© Copyright 2007, St. Edward’s University