Alumni from the six most recent graduating classes (2019-2024) met in Chancellor Green Rotunda to learn more about how they can engage more deeply with Princeton through volunteering, fostering meaningful connections with fellow alumni through class, regional and Princeton-led events, and participating in Annual Giving. 

“We remember what it was like when we were in your shoes — as recent alumni trying to figure out how to plug into this vibrant community,” said Deb Yu’ 98, chair of the Annual Giving Committee and co-host of the summit, in her Friday night welcome remarks. “It’s important to know that your journey with Princeton doesn’t end after four years. In fact, your alumni experience is just beginning — and it’s a journey that lasts a lifetime.” 

“Our goal for PULSE is for you to leave here with fresh perspectives, valuable insights and, most importantly, a strong desire to engage with the Princeton community,” said Monica Moore Thompson ’89, president of the Princeton Alumni Association, chair of the Alumni Council and co-host of PULSE. “From personal experience, I can tell you that plugging into the alumni network has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I hope you find the same to be true. There’s so much value for you in staying connected to Princeton.” 

The two-day event included a career-focused networking session facilitated by Don Seitz ’79, associate director for alumni outreach in the Office of Innovation and a long-serving class agent for Annual Giving, a presentation on “Your Princeton Alumni Journey,” a demonstration of the TigerNet — Princeton’s secure online alumni community and suite of volunteer tools — a panel discussion with several alumni leaders about their volunteer experiences and an interview with Jen Rexford ’91, University provost and the Gordon Y.S. Wu Professor of Engineering. 

Thompson and Yu were joined by Ryan Ruskin ’90, vice president of the Alumni Association, and Chris Olofson ’92, former chair of Annual Giving, for the alumni journey presentation, which served as a guided tour of opportunities and traditions that bind the Princeton community together. From Reunions to Alumni Schools Committee (ASC) to Annual Giving to the Locomotive cheer, attendees were introduced to — or reminded of — the many unique hallmarks of the Princeton alumni experience. “The alumni journey is a personally fulfilling journey that is adaptable, multidimensional and dynamic,” Thompson said. “It can change as your life circumstances change.” 

That journey was given a deeper perspective by alumni panelists — Olofson, Cecilia De la Rosa ’90, Selah Hampton ’18, John Rustum ’87, Shoum Chakravarti ’05 and Vasanta Pundarika ’06 — who shared their personal experiences in a group discussion led by Sue Walsh, associate vice president for Annual Giving. 

“I’m the first person in my family to go to college … so I always felt the gratitude to Princetonians who went before me who I would never, could never meet,” said Rustum, who has volunteered for ASC and is a longtime class agent for Annual Giving. “My favorite part of volunteering for Princeton are all the friends that I have made over the course of my journey. I have made friends from the Class of ’63 to the Class of 2023 … and to me, it’s the most unbelievable thing.” 

For many alumni, interviewing prospective students through ASC is a popular first step and a gateway to deeper alumni involvement. “My journey really started with ASC interviewing,” said De le Rosa, who is now the chair of the Association of Latino Princeton Alumni. “It’s such a great way to meet other alums in your area, it’s fun and it just gets you plugged in right away.” 

“Alumni interviewing is a great way to remind yourself about that hope, that optimism you had as a senior in high school,” Chakravarti added, “As we get older and further away from our student experiences, talking to these students reconnects you with all those great reasons why you wanted to go to Princeton in the first place.” 

“I think the biggest takeaway for me is that your Princeton experience is never over. So many of my friends left saying, ‘Wow, that was really impactful.’” —  Shruti Venkat ’23

Pundarika urged alumni to take that first step, even if it’s just attending an event in their local community. “I was always really nervous to go to them on my own … but if you just show up, there are other Princeton alums that are also there by themselves,” said Pundarika, who credits the alumni community with her recent decision to make a career change. “I think that there’s a part of all of us here that we want to change the world. Getting re-engaged with the University reminds you of things like that, reminds you of who you are, and helps you take these steps toward things that are more exciting and really fulfilling in your life.” 

Hampton, chair of the Princeton Prize in Race Relations (PPRR), an alumni-led organization that honors high school students who work to advance racial equity in their communities, echoed those sentiments. “I really appreciated meeting the type of people that I want to change the world with,” she said. “Being a leader in [PPRR], which brings together over 400 alumni volunteers, has taught me so much that I can apply to my professional work, because I’m going through strategic planning processes and learning about board governance structures from a whole slew of folks who are really experienced in their careers.” 

Olofson, who serves in a number of volunteer roles, including the Venture Forward campaign steering committee and the advisory council of the Princeton University Art Museum, recalled how an alumnus from Chicago mentored him to get more involved. “My suggestion is to say yes,” Olofson said. “There are not a lot of great institutions in the world — this is one of them. There are 100,000 of us. Make this place yours, in your one-100,000th share, and find a way to develop it and move it forward. Princeton is imperfect, as are we all, and if that’s something that’s on your mind, don’t let that be a reason to pull back, but instead a reason to engage even more. And I think we should all collaborate and continue to make this the best place of all.” 

In Saturday’s final piece of programming, Rexford shared her perspective as provost, the chief academic and budgetary officer at the University. She explained the benefits of the University endowment and the importance of Annual Giving in supporting Princeton’s mission. “Supporting Annual Giving is partially about tradition, partially about paying it forward and partially about flexibility, particularly for financial aid,” said Rexford, who has given back every year since she graduated. 

Rexford also noted that the University community is an incredible resource for recent graduates. “Alumni love to be able to serve as mentors,” she said. “They’ll really appreciate the chance to know you and what you’re doing, and they’ll be able to help you along your way and share advice.” 

Chancellor Green was packed with alumni who came from as far away as London and Seattle. Following the program, many attendees took an organized tour of Firestone Library or attended the men’s basketball game — a victory against Penn. 

“I had such a wonderful time at the summit, not just connecting with friends and people that I hadn’t met before but also thinking about what I want my Princeton alumni experience to be: What’s important to me and where do I want to spend my time, energy, efforts, giving over the next couple years?” said Shruti Venkat ’23. 

“We heard from alumni from a variety of backgrounds who volunteer for Princeton and wear the orange and black with pride whenever possible,” said Ryan “CC” Champeau ’23. “Hearing from them reminded me that though we only have four years on campus, Princeton’s traditions never graduate and you truly are a Tiger for life.”