Alumni on the move

Johns Hopkins alumni chapters have been growing—fast—all over the world. Within the past year, thanks to a new model of support introduced by the Office of Alumni Relations and the grassroots efforts of local alums, a number of new regional chapters have gotten their start. Here are just a few.

In Hawaii, what began with several young alumni getting together informally for game nights and happy hours has become a small but growing community. Chapter leader Luis Oros, A&S '11, who came to Honolulu last year with Teach for America, says it can be difficult staying connected to friends and family on the East Coast, but the Hawaii chapter is "kind of like a pseudo-family." Oros reports that so far, the group includes alumni from the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, and the Bloomberg School of Public Health, "and parents, actually," he adds. "We had a parent of an alum join us [for an event]." In August, the group hosted a send-off party for rising freshmen headed to Johns Hopkins in the fall, and a beach barbecue—it is Hawaii, after all—is in the works for January.

Roughly 4,000 miles away, Denise Anderson, A&S '89 (PhD), found herself in a similar situation, adjusting to life in Minneapolis after relocating for a job. Looking to make friends and network in a new city, she started a local alumni chapter, connecting with other alums, including Genevieve Gallagher, Engr '04, and Anthony Scinicariello, Engr '97, who helped organize the Leadership for Scientists and Engineers event at St. Jude this past September. For future events, the group is considering themes such as nanotechnology, water quality, and a behind-the-scenes look at a local museum.

And over in Dubai, Peter Davos, A&S '00, and Karina Schumacher-Villasante, A&S '05, have formed the first Johns Hopkins alumni chapter in the United Arab Emirates. Though they initially started the group to connect with other Hopkins alums for networking and social events, they now are planning to expand by joining forces with other Ivy Plus chapters in the region. "I love the people I've met," says Schumacher-Villasante of living in Dubai with its diverse mix of cultures and backgrounds. "Everyone has a great story and a fascinating path."

To get connected with these or other regional chapters, visit alumni.jhu.edu/chapters.