Over spring break, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MoMA) hosted the second “Celebrate Vassar” event in support of the Fearlessly Consequential campaign. The event boasted over 260 Vassar alumni. “It is a means to bring alums from all generations together to enjoy each other’s company, recollect their fondness for Vassar, and hear about where the College is heading in the next 5-10 years,” Vice President for Advancement Tim Kane said, adding, “We do ask for their support as donors, volunteers, mentors and employers of Vassar grads.”
Two Vassar trustees, Francesca Amann ’91 and Tyrone Forman ’92, opened the night. Following, President Elizabeth Bradley spoke. “My remarks were about the campaign—why it is important to do, how philanthropy transforms students’ experience, and what the campaign allows us to invest in for the future,” Bradley said. She continued, “During the program, we featured a video showcasing campus, talked about the alums’ own experiences, reconnected alums to each other around their Vassar memories, and generated enthusiasm for our collective future,”
To bridge past generations of alumni with the current Vassar culture, other members of the community, like Professor Michelle Tugade ’95 and Chase Engel ’23, shared their academic and social experiences at Vassar. Additionally, Vassar Student Ambassador Marissa Desir ’25 curated Q&A videos with alumni for Vassar’s social media.
“It’s sharing and seeing how Vassar is different through the times and the things that are offered, but that is still the same at its base,” Desir explained. “Everybody was humble and talkative, in a good way. I would definitely love to continue to interact with alumni.”
Desir also shared her own unique experiences at Vassar with alumni who were eager to see how Vassar has changed. Wally Fisher ’12, Associate Director Of Annual Giving at Vassar College, wrote Desir a personal shoutout on his LinkedIn for her involvement at Vassar and the event.
“This is why I love my job. It’s also why I volunteer for and donate to Vassar. These students are incredible and they deserve all of our support. Sleepy and still jetlagged, but feeling very proud of my alma mater and the amazing students making it their home today,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
Building from the first off-site event in Miami, “Celebrate Vassar” chose SFMoMA for its nuclear role in the contemporary art scene–as Kane explained, “[the Museum] is an attractive setting, featuring a large dining area in a setting surrounded by wonderful art.” Curator for Contemporary Art for SFMoMA, alumna Eungie Joo ’91, presented a featured exhibit.
“Each event fosters greater momentum for the campaign as more and more alums reconnect to each other and their Vassar experience,” Kane said. Support for the campaign is critical in providing students with opportunities otherwise inconceivable. For Engel, who serves as the co-chair of the Vassar Student Philanthropy Council, Fearlessly Consequential is representative of Vassar enabling students to pursue anything to its fullest capacity; for instance, he traveled to Hawaii for 100 Projects for Peace, thanks to alumni donations. Engel hopes to continue working with Vassar philanthropy post-graduation.
As Bradley reiterated, “Getting alums together with an exciting [Celebrate Vassar] program gives them a chance to reconnect with Vassar and remember its tremendous value in their lives, which often engages them to support the College with their time, talents, and treasures.”
To date, $233 million have been raised towards a $500 million goal. Celebrate Vassar next travels to Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and New York City throughout Spring 2023.