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The Vision

Emory & Henry's 20th President, Dr. Rosalind Reichard, assumed the leadership role of this historic institution in August 2006 and instantly began responding to the many opportunities and challenges she recognized here. Among the opportunities has been the enviable passion that E&H alumni have for their alma mater. Among the most significant challenges has been overcoming a steady decline in alumni giving over the last five years.

Reichard began her days at the College listening - to alumni, students, professors, members of the surrounding community and staff members. From these conversations emerged a common theme: Emory & Henry is a welcoming, passionate community of diverse citizens dedicated to one another and to changing lives and improving the world.

Now, Reichard is moving the College forward in pursuit of a bold vision to shape Emory & Henry into one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the country, one dedicated to changing lives and creating a new reality. And she is calling upon you, the valued alumni of this College, to make what is perhaps the most important contribution to the realization of this dream.

The Challenge

While Emory & Henry's future appears bright, the College faces a new challenge as it seeks to maintain a reputation worthy of its alumni. That challenge has been a steady decline in alumni participation in recent years.

Once one of the most impressive giving rates in the nation, Emory & Henry's alumni participation rate declined below 50 percent in recent years. Lower giving rates affect the College's standing in U.S. News & World Report, a highly respected source of college rankings, as well as the College's ability to attract the best and brightest students.

For many of you, the reputation of your alma mater is important merely as a matter of pride. However, for many recent and future graduates, the reputation of an institution is vital to landing the best jobs or gaining entrance to the best graduate schools.

The reputation of an institution is also important to its ability to affect change beyond its campus. In the past, Emory & Henry has worked with communities to improve opportunities for young people, to assist poor and the elderly, and to influence positively the realities of thousands of lives. This work has been accomplished in part through the respect that the College has enjoyed among numerous organizations and financial benefactors who have supported these efforts.

"In your lives," President Reichard says to alumni, "you will have many opportunities to make a difference in this world. But there are few opportunities that allow you to be a part of something that has as much potential as the mission and work of Emory & Henry."

The Solution

Emory & Henry alumni are proud of their alma mater and demonstrate that pride through their support of the institution. As more alumni give back to their College, the reputation of the College improves and opportunities for students increase.

We invite you to be a part of the positive transformation now happening at Emory & Henry. Make your gift to the College and see the effect your participation - at any level - can make in the lives of our students and our entire E&H community.

You are Emory & Henry. You and your support have made this a unique place and the envy of alumni at other private, liberal arts institutions. Yes, we have an important challenge before us, but from the classroom to the athletic field, we are no strangers to challenge and no strangers to success.

Emory & Henry has its best days ahead of it. Those days begin now, and they begin with you.