Throughout the year, President William Fox and his wife Lynn host multiple Presidential Receptions throughout the country for alumni, parents and friends. This past Thanksgiving, he expanded these receptions overseas as they visited the London and France SLU Abroad Programs.
President and Mrs. Fox began the trip by visiting the London Abroad Program as well as the London FYP. The reception in London was very similar to the Presidential Receptions held across the U.S. throughout the year. Students from the abroad programs, alumni living in London, and even some current parents, attended the reception. President Fox said “It was a very happy occasion,” and that “All the news from Canton had been heard overseas.” It was his first time visiting the London program, since when he was a student at SLU the program had just barely started.
The France program was mainly about language immersion when President Fox was a student. He said it was a great opportunity to visit France, and he was the first president in 50 years. He was able to meet his counterpart while in France, the president of the abroad program. They celebrated the 50 year partnership with a reception, where President and Mrs. Fox were able to meet current host families, students, and go out to eat dinner together. “It was just a delight to see the joy of the student abroad experience,” President Fox said.
He said one of the most enlightening things he experienced was being able to see the social self-confidence that the SLU abroad students have with their comfort in their own lives and personalities. “I am always amazed at the students’ ability to have interesting conversations,” he said. “They truly show their curiosity and connect with inside jokes.” Some students even recommended a play to President and Mrs. Fox, which they then went and saw soley on the basis of the student’s endorsement.
President Fox said that these Presidential Receptions, stateside and abroad, are a fun expectation that comes with the job. He represents the current St. Lawrence to the alumni, students, and parents that attend. The events are organized by the Alumni Advancement office and hosted by local Laurentians in locations like Tupper Lake, NY, Boston, MA, Greenwich, CT and Washington D.C. The main purpose of the gatherings is to help people stay connected and support each other.
President Fox speaks at each event, in addition to mingling with those in attendance. He shares the inspiration of the students and faculty and the progress, ambition and plans for St. Lawrence for hundreds to hear. President Fox said “The events are a great way to invite people back to campus and encourage them to visit and stay involved.” They provide a very direct contact and communication for everyone involved. Parents get the chance to understand the SLU culture and ethics, and be a part of the Laurentian involvement. Students get help with intern sponsorships from alumni at events who are able to network their careers.
Alumni are also inspired to contribute to the annual fund, as well as to make gifts to capital projects to endow scholarships and support faculty development and research. “For me,” President Fox said, “I get a chance to measure the feelings for SLU, our representation, sense of how we are doing with recruiting and the interest of alumni.” Young alumni come to recapture the fun of being on campus and to network with the older alumni who are ten or twenty years ahead with their careers. “I see with great consistency the exchange of business cards at these events,” President Fox said. He shared that he has never heard of a SLU alum refusing a casual conversation with a young student, representing that the doors to SLU are never locked.
President Fox expressed from personal experience how the friendships that begin on campus are strong and long lasting. That is why people come out to the alumni event, because whether in Boston, Connecticut or London, SLU is wired all over. Alumni know they are always going to see someone they know, giving confidence that you are never a stranger to SLU. With parents, friends and spouses, these events show how at SLU, we embrace everybody who comes into our circle. Parents come to the events and network too, even though their children are the only connection they have to SLU. People who observe the connections that come from SLU are “completely dazzled” by it. Even President Fox said that his wife, an “adopted” Laurentian, admits she has never seen a network of connection like there is at SLU. One of President Fox’s favorite sayings is that, “Before there was LinkedIn, there was Canton.”
President Fox had five roommates when he was at SLU, and of the four still living, it is rare for him to go more than ten days without hearing from them or someone else connected to his SLU days. “There is truth in the phrase ‘Laurentian for Life’,” President Fox said. “We promote engagement with graduates, which is extraordinarily special.”