Reports on YAA Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation

YAA Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation, November 20-21, 2025

My wife, Joanne, and I attended the 2025 Assembly and Convocation…for Yale, having registered online, selecting activities, dining facilities, and tours, on a first-come-first-served basis. There were many friendly staff members at the Rose Alumni House, the YAA Headquarters, and stationed at each event to give directions and to answer questions.

Our first event was a tour of the Afro-American Cultural Center of Yale, the first Ivy League Black cultural center, housed in the former Chi-Psi Fraternity House. The Director/Dean Timeica E. Bethel described the objectives and activities of “The House,” established in 1969 for Yale’s Black student body and for all who want to learn about and celebrate the culture and traditions of the African Diaspora. The Center provides academic exploration through workshops, Wellness initiatives, and individual leadership and career advice to over 50 students. The House offers panels on injustice and critical social issues not only for Yale students but also for New Haven students along with active artistic and cultural events with art exhibits and musical performances offered to them as well. August Wilson, the famous playwright, was a frequent visitor when his plays were performed at the Yale Repertory Theater; he came to pay his respects. Asked if the Center had experienced any disruption in services by the high endowment taxes, Dean Bethel said there was a 5% reduction in income that was funded by withdrawals from the Center’s assets, but there would be a problem in following years if that tax continued.

Our next tour was to the Living-Village, a new 50-bed dormitory for students at the Yale Divinity School. When certified, it will be the largest Living-Certified residential complex on any university campus with the most sustainable water processing facility, the most rigorous use of clean energy, and the use of building materials that are safe. The Village reduces its carbon footprint and projects life in harmony with nature, giving to the environment more than it takes from it. As a result, it upholds faith and ecology. Not only are the kitchens, lounges and terraces attractive and efficient, but also the bright, spacious hallways encourage residents to get to know their neighbors. Sustainable living is both an ecological decision and an ethical one, driven by our growing recognition that humans are part of nature not lords over it. Our tour guide, Gregory Sterling, the Dean of the Divinity School, concluded: “It is a counter-cultural call that emphasizes the role and value of the community at a time when the centrifugal forces in our society are pulling us further apart.” He also reported that the endowment tax forced a 12% reduction in the Divinity School budget this year.

Our next event was the Panel on Yale’s Global Impact: Supporting International Students and Faculty. While each of the panel members were working to support and maintain the important work for Yale’s international scholars and students, the comments that aroused the most interest and therefore inspired many questions were made by Ozan Say, the Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. Since 25% of the graduate school students and 10% of the undergraduates were from abroad, there was great concern about their status. For months his office was deluged with requests for assistance to obtain visas, to explain the situation when 2-year visas end, or to clarify the recent U. S. Governmental Regulations. There were questions about the continuation of research and development grants. No indication was made that the precarious situation would be ending soon.

President McInnis gave a University Update on Saturday morning claiming she was horrified that American faith in higher education was at the lowest level of favorable support for all categories in recent public poles, declining to 30%. She begged those in attendance to become missionaries in their hometowns to support the search for lux et veritas that Yale holds dear and to confront the opposition, especially when it appears on social media. For that matter, she has been spending a great deal of time in Washington, lobbying to repeal the tax on university endowments: for Yale it was $3 hundred million last year. She claimed since the reputation of the faculty was excellent, recruiting outstanding scholars was no problem and that recently three professors won Nobel Prizes. Regarding artificial intelligence, she thought it could be helpful: as a student at Yale working for her Ph.D. in the History of Art, there was a good deal of necessary grunt work, which might have been avoided with what A. I. could offer. Currently, the faculty is studying how it could be integrated into the classroom, such as encouraging teamwork and how best to detect plagiarism. She concluded by mentioning two days before, she and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont met and announced a plan to make Connecticut the physics capital of America with a substantial state grant. Later that day, she met with the Yale Football team, whom she said were pumped up and predicted they would beat Harvard the next day, which they in fact did.

There was a ceremony honoring several individuals with a Yale Medal for their remarkable contributions to Yale’s community of scholars and friends. One of those receiving a medal was a member of our college class, Bill Poorvu.

This Assembly-Convocation ended successfully, with the pervasive enthusiasm for our Alma Mater by the several hundred who attended, with their desire to share the results and information with others, and with their commitment to do what they could to keep their university preeminent. We were grateful to the YAA staff who spent many hours planning a complex event and then perfectly executed it.

November 28, 2025
Submitted by William H. H. Rees
YAA Representative, Yale College Class of 1956

YAA Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation
November 14-15, 2024

My wife, Joanne, and I attended the 2024 Assembly and Convocation, Leading for a Better World: Advancements in Health, Historical Inquiry, and the Environment. The program this year demonstrated the organizational ability of its new Executive Director, Alison Cole. Delegates registered by email and selected the activities, dining facilities, and tours, on a first-come-first-served basis. There were a few friendly staff members at the YAA Headquarters, in the Rose Alumni House, and many more stationed at each event to give directions and to answer questions.

One of the highlights of the Assembly was the State-of-the-University speech by our charismatic President Maurie McGinnis, ’90 MA and ’96 PhD, who reported she did not come with an agenda but, rather, spent her time since her appointment in July 1, 2024 by listening. She did confirm that she supported the plans currently under way for new state-of-the-art buildings with 600,000 square feet of additional space for the Drama School, the Engineering School, and the new Science and Physics buildings, and was happy to report that the refurbished Peabody Museum had 225,000 visitors last year, the most visited facility in Connecticut. She recognized the close relationship between Yale and the City of New Haven, was pleased with the Yale tutoring programs provided to New Haven school children during the academic year and in summer programs, and reported that 21 graduates of New Haven public high schools were admitted to the Class of 2029. In answer to a question regarding her view of athletics, she spoke of her grandfather who was a professional team player, and said that she had attended many games in which a family member played. Indeed, she had already been present at 35 Yale games and promised to attend a home game played by each of the 60 Yale athletic teams. Regarding current the Class of 2028, 25% were eligible for a Pell Grant and 21% were the first in the family to attend a college. On the cost of tuition, she reported that 81% of the Class of 2024 graduated free of debt. Tuition was free for those whose families earned less than $75,000 per year and was greatly reduced for those whose families earned less than $125,000 per year. She also noted many current students seem to be having difficulty making friends, the result no doubt of socializing on cell phones and social media. She and the faculty members recognize this problem and are making an attempt educate students how to be at ease in personal relationships. There is also the need to help students engage respectfully in conversation with students who had opposing opinions.. She was pleased to announce Yale has just received a grant of $150 million to establish leadership in Artificial Intelligence. After referring to the Woodward Report of 1971, which concluded the utmost obligation of the University was to protect their right to free expression, she declared she had accepted the decision of the seven faculty members, the Committee on Institutional Voice, that Yale leaders should broadly refrain from issuing statements on matters of public importance, unless they directly related to Yale’s mission. In certain rare cases of crisis in the world, when Yale’s leaders may deem it is of “transcendent importance to the community”, a statement could be made in writing only that expressed empathy and was not the articulation of an opinion. By accepting their findings she was convinced it would strengthen Yale’s ability to uphold and define academic freedom and the academic enterprise.

She was followed a conversation with Neal Wolin, a University Trustee, then, a panel discussion on Health, Historical Inquiry, and the Environment at Yale, in which the three institutional leaders, who were newly recruited professors, described their attempts to have courses on social justice included in the curriculum. Later, there was a presentation of a Yale Medal to Rob Greenly, Connie Royster, Betsy Sullivan, Michael Tom, and William White in appreciation for service to Yale.

We attended an introduction to CEID, the Center for Engineering, Innovation and Design, in the Becton Building which serves as the hub for collaborative design and interdisciplinary activity at Yale. Its goal is to enable the delineation, development, and actualization of ideas, from the conception to the real world. Students, staff, and faculty from across Yale have access to CEID resources, participate in courses and events, and collaborate with CEID staff on a wide range of projects. The CEID acts as both an educational resource as well as a lab for planning and engineering on the campus. The studio is equipped with 3-D printers, hand-tools, electronics workstations, and a variety of materials, at all hours every day, and a state-of-the-art machine shop, wood shop, and wet lab available during regular staffed hours.

Our second breakout session was in the School of Management where representatives of several Shared-interest Groups, all of whom had websites, to connect, engage, and make a global impact:

1. Yale International Alliance – an association of international Yale graduates
2. Yale Women – an opportunity for women graduates interested in kibitzing with others regarding recipes, books, topics, and on occasion offering solace or comfort in person or virtually
3. Yale International Alliance Film Society –a relationship of lovers of films sharing, discussing, and watching movies and documentaries
4. Global Impact Practice – an organization to identify areas of the world in crisis in which funds and expertise could be made available with local partners help to alleviate suffering

At lunch at Saybrook College, lunch at the Lawn Club, and dinner in the Elm City Club, we had opportunities to meet with passionate and exciting Yalies from around the globe. At one lunch, I sat beside a delegate from Taipei.

This Assembly-Convocation ended successfully, with the pervasive enthusiasm of the attendees who were proud of their Alma Mater, who desired to share their enthusiasm for Yale with others, and ready to return to their communities committed to making better whatever they could with their respective abilities but not before graciously thanking the YAA staff who spent many hours in planning a complex event and then perfectly executing it.

November 23, 2024
Submitted by William H. H. Rees
YAA Representative, Yale College Class of 1956

YAA Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation
November 16-17, 2023

The 2023 YAA Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation was a splendid and enthusiastic event, bringing together Representatives of Yale College Classes and the Yale Alumni Fund with Representatives from the Yale professional schools, current undergraduate classes, and the Secretaries of Yale College Classes. The registration desk and headquarters were stationed in the Omni Hotel, with an efficient and energetic staff, and where several breakout-sessions were held. With its many more attendees and available sessions, this was no “bare-bones”, post-Covid Assembly.

Each attendee selected events and tours from a menu: mine began with a tour of the Schwarzman Center, with its refurbished Dome and beneath it the President’s Room. Outside the northern wall of Commons, another wall has been constructed providing space for several small rooms, including one for naps. Beneath Commons is The Underground, a popular cafeteria with nooks for study, which together with Commons, serve an enormous number of daily meals.

A delicious Yale Alumni Fund lunch was held in the large, elegant dining room of the Divinity School. Joan O’Neill, the Vice-President for Alumni Affairs and Development spoke about the importance of the current For Humanity Campaign, the goal of which is $1.2 billion, with $800 million ( 67%) already received, 10% of which via gifts to the Alumni Fund. Next, there were two interesting Faculty Panel Discussions. At the first, Cultural Developments in Teaching and Learning, the panelists discussed the social, political, and economic factors that affect student, family, and teacher experiences in schools today. At the next panel, Design Agency and Urbanization Models: A Discussion of Architecture & Climate Change, Professor Joyce Hsiang, a founding partner of Plan B Architecture & Urbanism, discussed how her research and design work applies architectural methods and cartographic analysis to explore new relationships between humans and the earth and examines the agency of design at the planetary scale.

In the evening, there was a lavish reception in The Underground before the gala Yale Medal Dinner and Ceremony in Commons when Yale Medals were presented to five recipients for their extraordinary devotion to Yale’s ideals and their demonstrated support through extensive, exemplary service to the University.

Timothy Collins ’82 MBA
Andrea DaRif ’72, ’74 MFA
Edward A. Hirs III ’79, ’79 MA, ’81 MBA
John W. Jackson ’67
David R. Sanchez ’84 MA, ’84 MPhiL

On Friday morning, there were three Plenary Sessions in Sprague Hall. President Peter Salovey ’86 PhD gave a university update, reporting that Yale had increased contributions in lieu of taxes to the City of New Haven, that 22% of the current first year undergraduate class were the first from their respective families to go to college, that the number of students on Pell Grants had increased, and that 85% of the last year’s graduating college class left debt free. He spoke of his pride for the completion of the Schwarzman Center and the Humanities Quadrangle and of the plans already under way to create modern facilities on lower Hillhouse Avenue for engineering and science. Regarding the Israeli-Hamas War, he reported there were demonstrations on the campus in which strong positions were voiced in support of both sides of the conflict, but there had been no violence. Though freedom of speech is essential for education and for civilization, he assured us that hateful, disrespectful tirades would not be tolerated. Finally, he looked forward to receiving the report from the committee, chaired by Professor David Blight, Sterling Professor of History, author of Frederick Douglass, Prophet of Freedom, investigating Yale’s role with slavery; he acknowledged Connecticut Hall was built by slaves.

The panelists for second session by Yale University Deans in Conversation were Jeffrey Brock ’92, Engineering; James Bundy ’95 MFA, Drama; and Megan Ranney MD, Public Health with Renee Kopkowski, Vice President of Communications as moderator. While each had many interesting and important things to say, the most impressive to me was Brock’s commitment to restore the glory of the Sheffield Scientific School, the premier scientific school in America established, in the mid 19^th century by Benjamin Silliman, America’s first important scientist and supported by the eminent scientist Josiah Willard Gibbs. Its reputation suffered in the 20^th century.

The panelists for third session, Yale University Trustees in Conversation were Fred Krupp ’75 and Maurie McInnis ’90 MA, ’96 PhD, with Weili Cheng ’77, the former Director of YAA,  as moderator. Krupp described his study of climate changes and his efforts to deal with them since he graduated and announced the creation of a Vice Provost of Climate Changes. There was also discussion of the law suit brought before the Supreme Court against the admission policies of Harvard and the University of North Carolina for which Yale had filed an amicus brief on their behalf. The Count ruled against Harvard and UNC. Yale is now seeking legal advice on how to comply with the ruling and yet maintain a diversified student body. They also reported that a committee had been created to search for a successor to President Salovey, who is resigning in March, 2024, and would be happy to receive recommendations.

After luncheon in the Omni Hotel Ballroom, there were two Volunteer Development Sessions. The panelists of the first, Managing Alumni Groups on a Shoestring: Leveraging Technology and Social Media were Rachel Littman ’91 and Kevin Winston BA, who discussed proactive methods of utilizing free and low-cost technology and social media to grow and manage membership in alumni clubs or groups. Some brought their cell phones or laptops to try out these tools in real time. In the second session, Engaging Alumni Across Generational Divides, Y. J. Kim ’80, Lauren Harris ’14, Jennifer Ebisemiju Madar ’88, and Thomas Opladen ’66 offered informative and interactive suggestions for cross-generational alumni activities.

The final event was the presenting of Alumni Volunteer Awards to several individuals for their outstanding contributions to Yale and to their respective clubs.

When the Assembly-Convocation ended, its success was evident in the pervasive euphoria of nearly everyone who attended, demonstrated by their heightened appreciation of the outstanding education provided to them by their Alma Mater resolve to do what they could to preserve and enhance that opportunity for future generations. And there was something else: in a time when cynicism is rampant about the inefficiency and even corruption of political, religious, educational, medium, and employment entities, there was an organization, the Yale Department of Volunteer Engagement, that did something very difficult, very well. As an example, having difficulty dealing with on line processes, I was personally contacted by Mara Gross Balk, the Associate Director, who helped me to register and select an agenda. This organization must have spent innumerable hours in the planning and execution of a project of combining so many panels/groups for so many participants at so many locations while the University was alive and breathing and when tens of thousands of Harvard and Yale alumni were descending on the Elm City. Those of us experiencing the results of that effort were given an opportunity to hope that all had not been lost.

On Saturday morning, the Alumni Village was open at the Yale Bowl at 10 AM. The kickoff for The Game, took place at noon in beautiful weather before crowd of 50,000. The Bulldogs prevailed in a close fought game to win the Ivy Championship. It tipped off a thrilling assembly with an exciting game.

December 1, 2023
Submitted by William H. H. Rees
YAA Representative, Yale College Class of 1956

YAA Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation
November 18, 2022

“The more things change, the more they remain the same”, the English translation of a French quotation that seems an appropriate introduction to YAA Assembly in 2022.

This was not a YAA Assembly of representatives of Yale College Classes, as it was in the past, but an alliance with the Yale Alumni Fund Convocation and included attendees from the Yale professional schools. Unlike other YAA Assemblies when representatives were charged a fee and had to fend for housing, all attendees were housed in the Omni Hotel free of charge, although there was a fee for spouses/partners.

On Thursday there were tours on a first-come-first-serve basis, an Opening Reception in the afternoon at the Omni Hotel and a dinner at the Elm City Club (formally the Graduate Club), sponsored by the Yale Alumni Fund. Former YAA Assemblies on Thursday and Friday usually had several panels of professors to discuss general topics such as the environment with half hour breakout sessions involving visits to various Yale sites on an individual basis with a formal dinner on Friday evening in Commons highlighted by the President’s speech. This year everyone gathered at Sprague Hall on Thursday morning to be welcomed by President Peter Salovey with a brilliant address before the presentation of the new graduate school and a panel discussion with University Trustees.

The Jackson School for Global Affairs was opened on July 1, 2022. Dean James A. Levinsohn described its mission to “…inspire and prepare Yale students for global leadership and service”. There are 80 post graduate students enrolled and 240 undergraduates. Courses are also available to students in Yale College and in Yale Graduate schools, an inner disciplinary opportunity that is common to all Yale students. He named several of the professors who were former members of the US Department of Stare. The session included a zoom meeting with Paul Simons from the COP17 in Egypt, where he was a member of the US team with John Kerry and many Jackson students. A Fellow of the Jackson School and a former US Ambassador to Chile, Simons described the negotiations taking place at this important international gathering to mitigate climate catastrophe. The internet address to learn more about this school is https://jackson.yale.edu

The next session was a panel discussion with three Yale Trustees, Joshua L. Streiner, ’87, Marta L. Tellado, ’02 PhD, and Joshua Bekenstein, ’80. Weilli Cheng, ’77, the Executive Director of YAA, asked the panel members several questions that alumni have asked her over time. The questions were intelligent and answered with respect and empathy. Each trustee describe his or her background and individual duties, especially as they dealt with accountability. The session was recorded and can be accessed by typing into Google: yale alumni association trustee panel 2022.

At 11:45 AM, the next event was a Veterans Day Ceremony, held in Woosley Hall because of inclement weather. Dozens of Yale cadets in ROTC uniforms stood facing the audience where Yale Glee Clubs have often stood. President Salovey and Kimberly M. Goff-Crews, Secretary and Vice President of the University gave welcoming remarks. After that the National Anthem, played by the Veterans Day Brass Ensemble and the Invocation given by Rod Lowe, Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts, Yale Divinity School, and Co-Chair of the Yale Veterans Network took place, Michael Sullivan, Yale Law School Class of ’24, delivered an impassioned speech concerning his five year experience in the US Marine Corps. Then Taps was played and Risa Sodi, Assistant Dean of Yale College Honoree gave the Veterans Day Tribute. Next, the Ensemble played the anthems of the various services and veterans in the audience stood when their particular anthem was played. It was a spellbinding moment. US Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Yale Law School graduate, arrived and spoke of the important bill that was just signed into law, after decades of trying, providing medical benefits to veterans with service related disabilities, such as PTSD, sleep apnea, and burn pit exposure. He also noted that the VA Hospital in West Haven was one of the finest in the nation. Lastly, the Benediction was given by Omer Bajwa, Director of Muslim Life, with Vice President Goff-Crews delivering the Closing Remarks.

This celebration also was a unique episode in Yale activities, as was the following event, in the afternoon in the Omni Hotel, the session outlining the range of volunteer Yale alumni opportunities:

#ForBrightCollegeYears
1st Generation Yale Summer Bulldogs
Cross Campus
Yale Alumni Association Board of Governors
Yale Alumni Service Corps
Yale Alumni Fund Board of Directors & Volunteering
Yale College Reunion Giving
Yale Day of Service

The presentation of Yale Medals to five recipients took place in Commons of the Yale Schwarzman Center at 5:00 PM:

Gina Rosselli Boswell, ’89 MBA
Allison E. Brody, ‘95
Rockwell “Rocky” Chin, ’71 MCP
Lauren E. Graham, ’13 MEM
Donald M. Roberts, ‘57

There was a reception with hors d’oeuvres and beverages following the ceremony.

And so the Assembly-Convocation ended: its details and events reflecting our times, but its essence remaining the same: men and women returned to New Haven to demonstrate their appreciation of the outstanding education offered to them by Yale University and with the desire to do what they could to preserve and enhance those opportunities for future generations.

On Saturday morning, the Alumni Village was open at the Yale Bowl at 10 AM and at 12 PM the kickoff for the Yale-Princeton Football Game happened, a game that was exciting even until the last few seconds, when Yale prevailed.

November 21, 2022
Submitted by William H. H. Rees
YAA Representative, Yale College Class 1956