A Seat at the Table

On Saturday, August 29, members of the Alumnae Leadership Board (ALB) gathered on campus and on Zoom for their annual retreat. It was a day spent being in community with one another, brainstorming the year ahead, hearing from Head of School Jennifer Ciccarelli, and reaching out to fellow alumnae to thank them for their support. It was the perfect way to welcome ALB to a new school year and a new version of the board, one that is designed to ensure that more alumnae than ever before have a place in the life of the School.

Until now, ALB membership required that an alumna have graduated at least 20 years prior. More recent graduates were instead able to join the Young Alumnae Council (YAC). This year, that changed. ALB opened its membership to alumnae of all class years and absorbed YAC into a newly formed Young Alumnae Committee under ALB’s purview. The result is a board that today spans six decades, with active leaders from the Class of 1965 to the Class of 2024.

The changes didn’t stop at membership eligibility. ALB also opened its committees to non-board members: volunteers who want to contribute to focused initiatives without committing to the full board meeting and fundraising schedule. It’s a recognition that meaningful involvement looks different for different people, and that the alumnae community is stronger when more voices are part of the conversation.

“Our goal with these structural changes is to ensure every alum, regardless of where they live or what stage of life they are in, has a meaningful seat at the table,” shares Associate Director of Alumnae Engagement Natalie Makous Cuadra ’09. “We wanted to create pathways for involvement that match the varied schedules, talents, and passions of our community.”

ALB President Alexandria Sanders Yates ’03 echoes the sentiment: “Alumnae engagement plays a vital role in Marlborough’s identity, ensuring that we celebrate the women who have already walked these halls while uplifting the students who walk them today. Our alumnae community is far reaching and extends beyond Los Angeles, so finding a way to more intentionally involve those who don’t live locally welcomes more contributions that might have otherwise been overlooked, and ultimately that benefits the Marlborough of today and tomorrow.”

To help achieve these goals, ALB introduced three new committees to deepen and broaden its work:

• The Current Student & Alumnae Engagement Committee bridges campus life and the alumnae network through year-round on-campus initiatives. Working directly with school leaders, this committee will connect alumnae with students for mentorships, speaking opportunities, and more.
• The Alumnae Outside of LA Committee supports alumnae wherever they live, appointing local leaders in key cities, organizing regional meetups, and managing networks beyond Los Angeles. It’s a direct response to the reality that the Marlborough community doesn’t end at the city limits.
• The Young Alumnae Committee carries forward the important work of the former Young Alumnae Council in its new home under ALB. Dedicated to graduates of the last 20 years, this committee will host social and professional networking events, collaborate across committees on signature events, and participate in the selection process for the 20Y Award.

Alongside these changes, ALB is proud to re-establish ALB Emeritae, a group of alumnae who have previously served on the board and have graciously raised their hands to stay involved. Representing the Classes of 1956 through 1999, these women bring decades of dedication to the community they continue to champion.

Applications for ALB and ALB committees will re-open in the spring. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a decades-long Violet, whether you live in Los Angeles or across the globe, there is a place for you here. We invite alumnae of all backgrounds, locations, and experience levels who wish to share their time, talent, and passion with Marlborough to apply.

The table is bigger than ever. We hope you will pull up a chair.