With years of experience in the international alumni relations arena, Bev is currently team leader of Alumni Relations (AR) at Stellenbosch University, where she has developed an integrated, competitive alumni relations strategy, designed to elevate and increase alumni participation and annual giving. Before joining the Maties family, Bev headed up the AR team at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she managed the regional, national and international outreach and engagement strategies for over 25 000 alumni.
Heidi studied at Stellenbosch University, and has more than ten years’ experience in public and alumni relations at the University, with a keen interest in issues of diversity. As part of exchange agreements, she has visited several universities both local and abroad, where she gained insight into their various alumni programmes. Her professional interests range from facilitating dialogue among key stakeholders to student leadership development.
Marvin has honed his skills as an events coordinator and hotel manager in the United Kingdom, where he worked after he had completed his training at the acclaimed IHT Hotel School in Cape Town. He returned to South Africa, where he gained more experience in the hospitality field by working at various establishments in the Winelands area, including the then newly established Coopmanhuijs Boutique Hotel & Spa in Stellenbosch. In 2010, he joined the Maties family as Events Coordinator for Alumni Relations.
After having completed her Journalism qualification at the then Peninsula Technikon, Liezl explored other creative avenues. Her love of words soon called her back to work as a journalist at Volksblad, the biggest newspaper in the Free State. In 2007, she joined the Communication and Liaison Division at Stellenbosch University as a web journalist, editing the weekly e-newsletter, the Boschtelegram, and serving as moderator of the University’s news blogs. She joined the Alumni Relations team in her current position in 2011.
Louise, a Matie alumnus herself, set off for the shores of England shortly after having obtained her degree, where she, after a stint as a Music teacher, joined the Department of Development and Corporate Affairs at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2008. Louise’s mandate includes building an annual giving programme at Stellenbosch University, aimed at increasing alumni participation in the realisation of the University’s vision and mission.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” Nelson Mandela, awarded an honorary doctorate by Stellenbosch University, 1996
Graduating from university is a big step in anyone’s life’s journey. Once you have obtained your degree, you move into the realm of what is known as being an ‘alumnus’ of your university.
The Alumni Relations Office at Stellenbosch University strives to keep alumni of this great institution connected to their alma mater long after the euphoria of obtaining your qualification has died down.
It is a well-documented fact that the success of a university depends greatly on the participation of its alumni. It is therefore of great importance that alumni are given a chance to reconnect with the institution after having grown into young adulthood and developed the skills and knowledge needed to realise their dreams and achieve their goals.
The strategy of the Alumni Office at Stellenbosch University rests on five pillars, namely outreach and cultivation, early student engagement, volunteer management, the Annual Fund, and communication. Each of these pillars forms an integral part of the process of generating more opportunities for alumni to stay connected to the University, creating a stronger bond not only between University and alumnus, but among alumni as well.
Staying connected
Stellenbosch alumni have made their mark in South African history, but also on the international scene - be it in the field of science, politics, sports, economics or arts. Think Sheryll Calder, Riaan Cruywagen, Edwin Cameron, Ernst van Dyk, Thabo Mbeki (honorary doctorate - 2004), Ruda Landman, Breyten Breytenbach, Athol Fugard (honorary doctorate - 2006), Marlene Dumas, Helen Suzman (honorary doctorate - 2006) and Naledi Pandor.
Currently, the University has the details of approximately 60 000 active alumni spread across the globe, and stays in contact by means of the biannual alumni magazine, Matieland. In addition, we host regular events - local and abroad - where alumni are given the opportunity to catch up with the latest news and developments in their faculties, while reaffirming their ties with the institution. Events take the shape of networking opportunities, fundraisers, thought-provoking panel discussions - all showcasing the excellence with which the name Stellenbosch University has become synonymous.
The Alumni Relations Office also lends support to faculty and class reunions for old friends and classmates to reconnect. These reunions also include those hosted by residences and societies. Stay connected, no matter where you are in the world. Send us an e-mail to alumni@sun.ac.za - we love hearing from our alumni. Alternatively, find us in cyber space: Look out for our Facebook page or connect with us on our Twitter address @SU_Alumni.
