Kettering University is working with alumni to recruit students in a new University Advancement initiative, the Alumni Admissions Ambassador program.

Partnering with the Alumni Association, Kettering is focused on more effectively engaging alumni across the country through the new program.

“A strong alumni network directly correlates with professional and personal success,” said Emily Dunbar, the program coordinator.

The Alumni Admissions Ambassador program is recruiting one to three alumni in geographical regions around the United States who will meet with potential students at college fairs, high schools, trade shows, and events to talk about the value and benefits of a Kettering education. Another goal is to create new alumni networks in addition to the strong groups already in place.

Dunbar serves as a bridge between Admission and Alumni Engagement to engage Kettering graduates in those recruiting efforts and growing alumni networks. Kettering has strong alumni network in Southeast Michigan and the Bay Area in California, but alumni are everywhere. Kettering hopes to grow the alumni networks in Chicago, northeast Ohio, Houston, and Southwest Michigan, among others.

Another benefit of the program is involving younger alumni who want to give back to their alma mater.

“There are alumni who want to give back in different ways,” Dunbar said. “We can use their help. This also gives alumni a way to give them purpose and connection to Kettering.”

The Alumni Admissions role is key in the Kettering University Admissions’ recruitment strategy for 2019-2020, said Teressa Hupfer, Associate Vice President of Admissions & Enrollment Operations.

“We are confident that engaging alumni in our recruiting efforts around the country and abroad will assist in conveying our value to prospective students and their families,” she said.

The idea for the program came from the Kettering/GMI Alumni Board of Directors Alumni Involvement subcommittee, said Amy MacDonald ’15, the Alumni Board Vice President of Alumni Involvement.

“Our alumni are outstanding examples of what a person with a world-class education can achieve,” she said. “Alumni have the ability to personally show the benefits of a Kettering University degree. I recently participated in a college night at a local high school in Rochester, Michigan, and the students I spoke to loved hearing about my first hand experiences, which is something only an alumni could provide.”

Dunbar recently took a trip to South Carolina with Co-op and Admissions to meet with alumni and visit schools and businesses such as Techtronic Industries Power Equipment, BMW, and Magna Seating. There she met Julia Moylan ’14, who believes the Alumni Admissions Ambassador program will help Kettering gain more recognition outside of the Midwest.

“A lot of big-name schools in South Carolina have engineering programs, but the programs are nothing like what Kettering offers. I certainly like talking to people about Kettering,” said the Assistant Engineering Manager at Techtronic Industries Power Equipment. “Everything Kettering does to get students as much experience as possible both in the classroom and in the co-op is unparalleled.”

Anyone who is interested in becoming an Alumni Admissions Ambassador can contact Emily Dunbar at edunbar@kettering.edu.