Messages from the URAA Board of Directors

By: Braxton Bragg, ’06

In just a few weeks, UR will welcome more than 1,000 alumni back for Reunion Weekend! I’ve been fortunate to attend two of my own Reunions and a handful of others (there are events open to all alumni, regardless of your class year).

It’s one of the best times of year to soak in the beauty of campus (no doubt Facilities gives it some extra love before we arrive!), revisit inside jokes with classmates, network with professionals in your field, or just enjoy a weekend of fun and nostalgia. You can even stay in the residence halls, most of which have received a huge facelift since many of us were students!

If it’s your Reunion year, I highly recommend you register and come back for a few days. If not (and especially if you’re local), come out for an event or two and see who you run into–I can guarantee you’ll have an amazing time!

• Integrity and core values are modeled and nurtured at UR.
• Relationships between professors and students often develop into friendships that promote mentoring and encouragement into the future.
• Spiders are extremely proud of the university’s growing academic reputation, enhanced campus facilities, athletic successes, and growing national presence and stature!
• UR has always been an incredibly beautiful campus and feels like home over a lifetime!

By: Suezy Keller, ’06

August brings the excitement of a new academic year on campus! While it’s back to school for students, faculty, and staff, alums far and wide can also celebrate the feeling of coming back together. Because even after graduation, do we ever truly leave?

There are so many ways to stay connected to the Spider Community. From virtual programming to alumni events in your new (or longtime) city, it’s easy to feel as though you never left campus. 

And especially this time of year, as we host our Welcome to the City series for young grads in our five largest cities and offer so many opportunities for alumni to connect. Check out the alumni calendar of events or reach out to find out more about local volunteer opportunities. On behalf of the URAA, we can’t wait to see you!

This month, we’d like to highlight some of our amazing URAA Board members:

Marilyn Branch-Mitchell graduated in 1978 and lives in Chesterfield, VA. Professionally, she is a human resources director. She was married in the chapel on campus! As a former Girl Scout, she has also led a Troop and raised her daughter as a Scout. About the URAA Board, she says: “If you’re asked to join the URAA Board, jump at the opportunity. Reach out and stay in touch with UR friends and attend UR events and make new UR friends. Don’t be afraid to get involved.”

Alex Holva graduated in 2015 and currently lives in Philadelphia, PA. He is an Executive Compensation Associate at Capital One. One of his favorite aspects of the URAA Board is its role as a conduit for conversation between Alumni and the university, particularly during tough conversations that our community has navigated in recent years. His favorite UR moment was experiencing the energy at the Robins Center during a comeback win in overtime over VCU.

By: Suezy Keller, ’06

The month of May always reminds me of Graduation, filled with pride of accomplishment and anxious excitement for life after UR. As I look back now, several years later, the phrase "life after UR" is a funny one…although my time as a student ended in May of 2006, UR has continued to influence me long after I graduated.

Spiders welcomed me to my first job and were my professional role models. My continued relationship with the Jepson School of Leadership Studies has provided community and support in this increasingly complicated group project called “life.” And, this time each year, I plan to celebrate Reunion Weekend at the place that I left, but that never really left me.

Join me in celebrating at Reunion Weekend 2024. Be sure to register in advance and follow along on social media for more fun updates. See you there!

The URAA Board would like to recognize two wonderful administrators as they retire from the University this year.

Dr. Steve Bisese, Vice President, Student Development

A guiding force for 29 years at the University of Richmond, Steve enriched countless lives. His leadership fostered student well-being, reshaped residential experiences, and promoted belonging. He championed holistic student development, leaving a profound legacy of compassion and unwavering support for Richmond students. 

Denise Dwight Smith, Assistant Vice President, Alumni & Career Services 

Under Denise’s guidance, Career Services gained national recognition and became a beacon of excellence. She greatly expanded career programming across all disciplines, engaging alumni strategically, and ensured comprehensive support for students while creating career connections.

Interested in learning more about their areas of work? Check out these pages: Student Development, Career Services, and Alumni Engagement.

This month, we’d like to highlight some of our amazing URAA Board of Director members:

Elsa Falls graduated from Westhampton College in 1964. She was the first person in her family to graduate from college and ultimately flourished in her career as a professor of Biology at Randolph-Macon College. Her favorite UR memory is the “Lantern Parade.” 

Kate Connelly graduated in 2010 and currently lives in Delmar, NY, where she works in clinical research administration. She was excited to join the URAA Board of Directors for the opportunity to learn more about how to become a better steward of the University.

By: Zuri Walker, ’97 

Ed Pruden is the new president of the University of Richmond Alumni Association. He was born and raised in Washington, D.C., graduated from UR in 1972, and received a graduate degree in 1974. He later received his EDD from the College of William and Mary in 1983. Prior to his retirement, his career in education included being a teacher, principal, and superintendent. Ed is also a Spider parent with a son who graduated in 2000 and a daughter who received a graduate degree in 2023.  

He served as an officer and director since joining the URAA Board of Directors in 2018. Additionally, Ed has served as a URAA Board representative on committees of the University Board of Trustees. He represents alumni at events such as graduation, welcoming the freshman class and welcoming parents and freshman at the Generational Lunch. Ed attends many Richmond-area alumni events and can be found on campus volunteering in any way he is needed.

Ed is an avid Richmond Spiders’ sports fan with highlights being the 2008 National Football Championship and all Spider basketball NCAA victories. As a fun fact, Ed has shaken hands with four US Presidents, and he loves to read the daily morning Richmond Times-Dispatch.  

Ed would like all Spider alums to spread the word about the University’s generous use of scholarships, grants, loans and work-study to make UR affordable for any student who is admitted. It is estimated that 69% of UR students receive all types of aid. We look forward to Ed’s continued leadership as we aim to make a positive impact on Spiders everywhere!

By: Sally Wood, W’69, G’71, L’80

During the pandemic, a group from my Westhampton Class of 1969 began getting together via Zoom. The virtual gatherings reached women from all over, including Florida, New England, and even Scotland. The time difference is a challenge, but that hasn’t kept us from getting together.

What started as a smaller group has grown to include more folks from the class, and we have found the time to be a special way to catch up with one another. We’ve discussed topics ranging from retirement and retirement living to vacations and family. Other favorite topics have included memorable professors, quirky North Court, friendships, and Westhampton pride.

It’s clear UR connections run deep, so I encourage you to reach out to classmates and get together, either virtually or in person (hint: Reunion Weekend 2024 is May 31-June 2). You can always utilize UR Online to find contact information and keep your Spider connections strong!

By: Suni Vaidya, ’95

During my sophomore year at UR, Holly Payne, ’94, a future author, referred me to a job at the UR Communications office. That internship led to an-off campus one, which resulted in a full-time job after graduation in 1995, which eventually relocated me to Washington, DC in 1997.

Knowing I was looking for a new challenge, my friend C.A.M. Wagner, ’94 connected me to "a new tech start-up called Blackboard.” C.A.M., and my friend Jason Crum, ’92, who later helped me pivot to consulting, are why I have a fulfilling career in tech. Over the last 20 years, I’ve hired, referred and networked with countless Spiders.   

The web matters. Just ask recent graduate, Penny Hu, ’23. We met at a URAA Board meeting and I was delighted to support her job search. Through her hard work and a Spider Alumni connection, she’ll join a prestigious consulting firm. Penny will shine as an alumna, just as she did as a student. 

The alumni web matters and can make a lifelong difference.
Attend. Volunteer. Give. Recommend. Hire. Share.

By: Braxton Bragg, ’06

Hundreds of UR alumni in the New York City metropolitan area and three local members of the URAA Board recently gathered at the New York Athletic Club near Central Park for a regional alumni event welcoming President Kevin Hallock and his wife, Tina. Richmond’s Vice President of Advancement, Martha Callaghan, interviewed President Hallock about the newly released strategic plan, which was approved at the April Board of Trustees Meeting. Attendees were thrilled to learn about plans for a new state-of-the-art learning center that will consolidate and enhance existing resources for students as well as reinforcing the University’s focus on scholarships (especially for middle-income families), top-tier internship and career opportunities for graduating students, premier athletics, and more. All in all, it was a great evening and the URAA is excited for the years ahead!

By: Lisa Gray, ’93 

The mission and vision of the URAA is to enhance engagement of alumni with the University, its students, and our fellow alumni by encouraging them to be active members of an inclusive and interconnected community of lifelong Spiders who share their time, talent, and resources with other Spiders. The role of the URAA Board of Directors is to educate, to connect, to advocate for this mission and vision. To that end, we attend different UR campus events and amplify the many ways for alumni - future and present - to get involved with the Alumni Association. It was so wonderful for me and fellow Board member, Marilyn Branch-Mitchell, W‘78, to do that by attending the Black Excellence Gala on February 25th.  

Sponsored by the Student Center for Equity and Inclusion (SCEI) led by Dr. Morgan Russell-Stokes and founded by Dr. Tinina Cade, this year’s annual Black Excellence Gala, included an award ceremony, a heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert reception, and DJ dance party featuring music from the 1970s to the present. It showcased the brilliance and beauty of the UR Black student community. During the event, I had the pleasure of connecting and reconnecting with several students, staff, faculty, and fellow alumni. It was a special joy to celebrate all the awardees and share our URAA and Spider pins with graduating seniors and new alumni!

If you are one of ~ 55,000 alumni, you are part of the URAA. The URAA works to promote and foster a dynamic, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship between the University and its alumni with opportunities for alumni to connect with each other through meaningful programs and activities. We seek to inspire a spirit of excitement in our alma mater and encourage support for the continuation of the University for generations to come. Members of the URAA enjoy a variety of benefits, including access to our online alumni directory career development, continuing education discounts, and a subscription to the Richmond Alumni magazine. There are many events sponsored or co-sponsored by URAA.