This year’s reunion brought together over 180 alumni, students and faculty for a weekend of socializing, learning and remembrance. Our returning alumni spanned almost 40 years of graduates, ranging from our newest Class of 2009 to Rick Stafford, who was among the very first graduates of SUPA in 1972! Alumni representing milestone classes from ’04, ’99, ’94, ’89, ’84 and ’79 were on hand to celebrate, and 11 of the original 18 members of the class of ’74 visited Heinz in October too!
Reunion Weekend included two fantastic alumni panel presentations, a college update from Dean Krishnan and a memorial to MPM founder and friend, Harry Faulk. Click the links below to read about the events and view reunion photo galleries.
- Dean Ramayya Krishnan’s Address
- Harry R. Faulk Memorial
- Alumni Panel: “Social Media for Change”
- Alumni Panel: “Transforming Communities”
- Milestone Celebrations
- Delgado Scholars Brunch
Dean Ramayya Krishnan’s Address (back to top)
Dean Ramayya Krishnan presented alumni with an update on and his vision for Heinz College. During the Saturday morning session, Dean Krishnan offered some insights on the pairing of a public policy school and an information systems school and the resulting College's relevance in the digital age. At the end of his presentation, the dean addressed questions from attendees.
Harry R. Faulk Memorial (back to top)
Alumni, faculty, students and friends joined with Harry’s widow, Annabelle, and over twenty of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to honor the man who had touched so many lives. Harry Faulk was known as an innovator in education, and he founded executive education at Heinz. But Heinz College alumni remember Harry for his deep personal commitment to his students. He understood the special needs of mid-career professionals returning to graduate school, and went to extraordinary lengths to ensure both their professional and personal success.
View photos from the memorial >>
Watch a video of Harry Faulk memories >>
Read personal remembrances of Harry from students and friends >>
Alumni Panel: “Social Media for Change” (back to top)
Reunion Weekend kicked off with an alumni panel titled, “Social media for change: A conversation about its impact on business, policy and culture.” The panel was moderated by Assistant Professor Laura Dabbish, CS (MS-HCI) 2005, CS (Ph.D.-HCI) 2006, and featured presentations by five alumni who are using social networking technology to advance business, government and society. In the spirit of networking, the event received live coverage from exponentialweb.com, a blog founded by two Heinz College students, as well as from Brad Stephenson (MAM 2005), our very own Heinz College social media manager. Please click on an alumni link below to view her/his presentation.
- Cara Weiser Keithley, MAM 2004, Marketing and Communications Strategist and Gov 2.0 Practitioner
- Stacey Monk, MAM 2000, CEO and Co-Founder, Epic Change
- Glenn Pasewicz, MSPPM 1993, Public Policy Analyst, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Darren Tome, MISM 2005, Technical Product Manager, Local Integrated Media, NBC Universal
- Nathanial McNamara, MSPPM 1996, SocialFeet
View the "Social Media for Change" Flickr photo gallery >>
View coverage of the panel from exponentialweb.com >>
Alumni Panel: “Transforming Communities” (back to top)
On Saturday, Heinz College alumni gathered for a presentation titled “Transforming Communities: IT, Civic Engagement and Economic Development.” The panel was moderated by Rick Stafford, MSPPM 1972, Heinz College Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy. Panelists shared examples of their application of policy and technology to advance cities, government and businesses. Please click on a speaker below to view her/his presentation.
- Donald K. Carter, CFA (BAC) 1967, Director, Remaking Cities Institute, Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture
- Gregory Lagana, MSPPM 2003, Research Projects Director, Heinz College Center for Economic Development
- David W. Patti, MSPPM 1985, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Business Council
- Deepa Saldanha, MISM 2002, Senior Security Analyst, Coalfire Systems
- Carol E. Whitmer, MS3 2006, Food Programs Manager, Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks
View the "Transforming Communities" Flickr photo gallery >>
Decade Receptions and Milestone Celebrations (back to top)
On Saturday evening, alumni from each of the Heinz College milestone classes gathered for dinner at restaurants throughout Pittsburgh. This year's milestone classes were 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004. Prior to the dinners, all alumni were invited to the following decade receptions:
- 1970s, 1980s & 1990s - Dolores and Al Blumstein, J. Erik Jonsson University Professor of Urban Systems and Operations Research, Former Dean of the Heinz College; Also hosted by Ann English, MAM 1999, Senior Director of Operations, Heinz College
- 2000s & current students – Rhonda and Mike Smith, Heinz Career Development Associate Professor of Information Technology and Marketing
Delgado Scholars Brunch (back to top)
Marco Delgado (MSPPM, '90) started a scholarship fund at Heinz College designated for talented Public Policy and Management students who are expected to make a significant contribution to the Latino community. On Sunday, Heinz College professors Pamela and Gordon Lewis hosted a brunch for Delgado and students from Heinz College and Carnegie Mellon University's Latino/a Graduate Association.
View photos from the brunch on the CMU Latino/a Graduate Association's Facebook page >>