Message from the Assistant Dean of Advancement and External Engagement

In this issue of Whitman magazine, you have read about the evolution of our school —  the many ways Whitman has continued to transform as a unit and enhance the experience for our students since our founding and especially in recent years.

To continue this trajectory and improve ever still, it is critical to have a supportive and engaged Orange community of alumni, parents and friends. 

While we ask for the continued support of donors and alumni, we also acknowledge our need to support you in return. 
Since I joined the Whitman team in February 2024, we have been working to evaluate and strategize how we as a team can better support not only our current students, faculty and staff but all Orange community members. As part of this plan, the newly formed Advancement and External Engagement team is committed to strengthening and rebuilding our connections with Whitman’s greatest strength — donors, alumni and parents like you. 

What does this mean for you? Through alumni and parent surveys, renewed relationships with our Whitman boards and conversations with donors, we have identified a number of new and exciting ways to generate more support and engage more effectively. 

One of these new strategies is the creation of a Whitman Parents Advisory Council to give a voice to the parents of students as we elevate the experience for their loved ones. Another new opportunity is the introduction of a leadership giving society — the Whitman Leadership Circle — an exclusive group of alumni, parents and friends who are committed to transforming the educational experience at Whitman through philanthropic leadership. Members of the Whitman Leadership Circle will receive year-round engagement and stewardship in recognition of their support, while having the ability to impact any area of their choice at the Whitman School through philanthropy.

As we continue to unveil and grow these new initiatives, I invite you to join us on our mission to elevate the position of Whitman as a global leader in contemporary business education and research. 

Each member of our Whitman community plays an essential role in the future of our school, and our team is excited to offer a personalized engagement experience to all who would like to be a part of building this future. 

Be Orange. Be Whitman. 

Michael Paulus

Assistant Dean, Advancement and External Engagement