KSUAA History
The Beginnings of the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University Alumni Association
John E. McGilvrey, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State’s first president, believed graduates played an integral role in growing Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State’s normal school. In 1911, McGilvrey established the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University Alumni Association (KSUAA). McGilvrey planned an alumni association before students came to campus, before any buildings were finished, before he had a faculty and even before he came to Ñý¼§Ö±²¥.
Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State’s Normal School graduated its first class in 1914. Soon after, the school formed a faculty committee for alumni relations and several alumni clubs throughout Northeast Ohio. In 1933, the alumni association successfully lobbied Ohio state legislators, preventing the transformation of Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ Normal College into a mental institution. The Normal School’s evolution to a university in 1935 and the establishment of the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) in 1971 further demonstrated the strength of the alumni lobby.
Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Alumni Today
Alumni continue to support Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University. With more than 273,500 alumni, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Alumni enriches lives, encourages loyalty and partners in shaping the university’s future. We strengthen our relationships with alumni each day by accomplishing the following:
Serving as a gateway
- Through professional networking, social programs and alumni communications - Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Alumni is your point of access to Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State and fellow alumni.
Connecting alumni and students
- Alumni support student success through student leadership organizations, career mentoring programs and student scholarships.
Promoting alumni success
- Your success is our strength. Alumni accomplishments elevate the university’s reputation while increasing the value of a Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State degree. We are proud to promote and celebrate alumni achievements
Making Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State strong through programming initiatives
- We cultivate alumni and student volunteers who give their time and talent to make Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State strong.
keeping the golden flash spirit alive
In addition, our alumni chapters and area representatives keep the Golden Flash spirit alive throughout the country. Following the formation of our first alumni chapter in 1965, the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Alumni Association has grown into more than 30 alumni chapters and area representatives.
The Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Alumni Association National Board of Directors, a leadership board representing Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University alumni, is committed to serving the university as well. This dynamic and exciting group of alumni help strengthen the bond between alumni and Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University.
Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Alumni makes its home at the Center of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement at 350 S. Lincoln in Ñý¼§Ö±²¥.