News

September 24, 2009

The Value of Staying Connected

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Kristen MacCartney Fitzpatrick ’81 finds personal and professional reasons for using Alumni Online Community

In posting to the Alumni Online Community, little did Kristen MacCartney Fitzpatrick ’81 know that her guest list and photo of her and husband Scott’s St. Patrick’s Day party would hold a greater significance.

“A classmate we hadn’t seen in a while appeared in that photo; people noticed and got in touch,” she says. “He has since passed away, so those contacts were even more important.”

Fitzpatrick, who at Rutgers earned an M.B.A. in 1984 and a Master of Library and Information Science degree in 2005, works for The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as the university partnership program manager. Because she develops educational, leadership, networking, and outreach opportunities for students, librarians, and faculty at 13 of the top technical schools, she understands the value of staying connected.

“I have occasionally used the online community’s alumni directory to reach out to classmates for both personal and professional reasons,” Fitzpatrick says. “I am pleased that so many alumni have gone on to distinguished careers while remaining loyal to their Lafayette roots and are willing to assist peers as well as the younger students at the College. The Alumni Online Community facilitates that. Even one opportunity to renew an old friendship or acquaintance is worth the time spent keeping information there current.”

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At Lafayette, the answer is a resounding yes. Payscale.com reports that Lafayette is third among all liberal arts schools in average starting salary (excluding military academies) and sixth in 30-year return on investment.

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