» Northwest Foundation » Annual Reports » 2021
Dear Northwest Missouri State University alumni and friends,
Despite COVID-19 curtailing many of the Northwest Alumni Association’s typical events in FY21, Bearcats were able to start gathering once again by the spring of 2021. Alumni and friends traveled to Evansville, Indiana, to cheer on the Northwest men’s basketball team as it claimed its third national championship. We also welcomed a new class of Bearcat alumni in May at GradFest, and the Alumni Association hosted the annual Northwest Night at the St. Joseph Mustangs baseball game.
FY21 was certainly a unique year, but I’m looking forward to what the future brings. I started my position as director of alumni relations on Oct. 19, 2021, after 26 years of working as a national non-profit executive director in Nebraska, Maine and Pennsylvania. The opportunity to come back to Northwest is exciting for my wife, Polly (also a Bearcat), and me. As a 1990 graduate with a broadcasting major and music minor who also worked in the admissions office for three years, recruiting in St. Louis after graduation, I now have the opportunity to get fellow alumni involved in the Alumni Association. My career has seemingly come full circle as I return to this wonderful community of Maryville.
On behalf of Northwest and the Office of University Advancement, I look forward to an exciting 2022 as we welcome alumni and friends to engage with Northwest. One of the goals for the Northwest Alumni Association is to involve more alumni and friends in on-campus and off-campus events including the 50th anniversary reunion for the class of 1972, Homecoming activities as well as tailgating or “tablegating” (indoors) at sporting events. As always, we will have Northwest trinkets and giveaways for those in attendance, and of course we will have our spirit beads to distribute to show off our Northwest pride!
The Promote, Engage and Mentor committees of the Alumni Association Board, under the direction of President Allison Kahre-Kreifels, have many goals for the coming year that include, but are not limited to, revitalizing existing alumni chapters, starting new chapters, creating a connection list for Northwest alumni to support Bearcat business owners, and focusing on fun and engaging activities at chapter events.
The Tourin’ Bearcats – the Northwest Alumni Association’s travel program – is expected to take another exciting trip in 2022. The November 2021 trip to Iceland was a great adventure, and we hope to continue to provide unique and popular travel destinations for Bearcats in the future.
We also want to hear from you on ideas of what Northwest alumni and friends want to participate in, whether it be socials, trips, helping with recruiting future Bearcats or more activities for local chapters. Watch for surveys or send an email (alumni@nwmissouri.edu), and let us know what you have in mind. This is your Northwest Alumni Association, and we want you to be a part of the program.
I look forward to meeting you and sharing our stories!
Duane Havard ’90
Director of Alumni Relations
Alumni Relations staff
Duane Havard ’90
Director of Alumni Relations
dhavard@nwmissouri.edu
660.562.1112
Carma Greene Kinman ’85
Constituent Relations Specialist
ckinman@nwmissouri.edu
660.562.1249
