The Office of Development and Alumni Relations recently announced the launch of its new program, Brandeisians of the Last Decade, a series of initiatives designed to engage alumni who have graduated since 2002. Annual Giving and Parents Fund Officer Gayle Gordon '08 and Director of Alumni Relations Leigh Creveling are leading the program.

According to the initiative's website, the BOLD initiative is "a young alumni program dedicated to addressing the unique needs and interests of undergraduate alumni during the first 10 years after graduation," and it "seeks to strengthen the young alumni community, develop future alumni leaders, foster mutually beneficial partnerships between Brandeisians and their alma mater, and cultivate annual giving to Brandeis."

Allie Morse '10, department coordinator for Alumni Relations, explained in a phone interview with the Justice that the program is designed to foster alumni relations through various events, including kickoff events in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington D.C, Chicago and Northern California.

Gordon said in a phone interview with the Justice that this initiative is crucial because the alumni of the last decade constitute 26 percent of the University's total alumni base.

"We didn't think we were maximizing our opportunities to engage them; there was [sic] not many activities specific to young alumnae," she explained. She added that this emphasis on aspects important to young alumni renders this initiative different from other alumni outreach programs.

In an email to the Justice, Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Nancy Winship wrote "we are reaching out to [alumni] where they live–online, cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc."

According to Winship, the 10- year period shifts every year with each new graduating class.

Gordon said that university President Frederick Lawrence and Winship formed the idea for this initiative, but she and Creveling have been instrumental in its implementation because they are "more familiar with the social media and how it feels to young alumnae."