Alumni Affairs Representative

Name: Zach Skypeck 

View post on imgur.com

Bio: I am a first year in Columbia College with an intended History major and Business Management concentration. I work a part time job as the Accounting Assistant at a tax firm as well as being a member of Columbia’s Heavyweight Rowing team. I pursue my passion of law through various clubs on campus such as the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review and the Columbia Pre-Law Society. I have been in leadership positions on athletics teams before, and am ready to tackle the next challenge by bringing my skills to the CCSC table for the benefit all students in Columbia College.

Platform: As students at Columbia, we have access to an alumni network filled with some of the brightest minds in the world, but figuring out how to access this network is sometimes more difficult than it should be. Currently, Columbia runs a mentorship program called Columbia Mentoring Initiative that separates them by their cultural background. While any program keeping current students in touch with alumni is fantastic, I believe there are areas for improvement. This particular system is currently based around a cross-cultural focus that keeps students within certain “family trees,” such as the “Asian Family Tree” or the “Black Family Tree.” In order to become involved a student must submit an application in which “campus/outside involvement is a key factor” in acceptance along with “essays (that) will still be considered a significant aspect of the selection process.” There is a lack of accessibility to this program that must be changed; if such specific guidance is to be offered, then it should be to anyone that desires it, not a select group of students deemed fit. Alumni mentorship is offered to every student through the Columbia College Alumni Association however there is a clear lack of connection between this program and the student body. After asking around, I realized that not many people know about this program at all. This must change. By establishing this opportunity as a centerpiece of Columbia’s education, students will be aware and will act upon their knowledge by signing up for alumni mentorship. For this to work, an increased number of alumni must be willing to help, as focusing on mentorship would greatly increase the need for alumni assistance. This program is certainly easier said than done, however I am willing to reach out to as many people needed to make sure anyone desiring a mentor has access to one. Forming connections between students and alumni provides numerous benefits to both parties, including matching for internships and jobs. As a student-athlete, I see firsthand the opportunities that Columbia’s student-athlete alumni population are willing to present in order to better their peers. There are so many alumni who want to give back to this amazing school, and it is important that we reach out to let them know the ways in which they can do this. Through my experience with event planning and leading meetings with teammates and coaches throughout the years, I have developed my communication skills, which I can utilize to ensure we are connecting alums to students in the best way possible.


Name: Maria Fernanda Martinez 

Bio: Maria Fernanda is a third-year student majoring in American Studies and concentrating in Education. She is an active member of the Latinx community, and a leader for several organizations on and off-campus. Her experience working with alumni ranges from informal relationships through organizations like Columbia Mentoring Initiative to professional ones brought about by the Latino Alumni Association of Columbia University and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. She prides herself in being hyper-organized and willing to work as hard as necessary to get a job done.

Platform: As your Alumni Affairs Representative, my priority would be to increase accessibility of our biggest resource, our alumni, for all students. As a member of two other big alumni networks, my high school’s and an independent scholarships’, I have learned how connections are initiated, fostered, and maintained; student cultural organizations have provided me with a platform to connect with alumni.However, not everyone has access to these resources or the knowledge about how to foster productive relationships with alumni. My priority will be to connect all students, not just those of us who already have a working knowledge of this resource, to alumni that they can truly look up to as mentors. I will do this by: Piloting a newsletter created by current students for alumni, in which alumni get to hear student voices on issues happening at Columbia. Through my work with alumni I have learned that one of the most common requests is to hear what is happening on campus from our point of view, so that we may connect with them beyond just when on the job-search. Organizing and promoting events with alumni that are intimate, and carefully curated so that alumni and current students know they have something beyond professional career paths in common. For example, an event that fosters relationships between black women interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry, will be much more effective than simply a tech-alumni meet up. Implementing and leading workshops for students about efficient networking, building strong relationships with alumni, and making the most out of those connections. Of course, as your representative I will be open and happy to hear and help implement any ideas you may have about improving alumni-student relationships.