Alumni Engagement
You're Always Welcome
Alumni Engagement's mission is to connect alumni with each other, with W&L, and to provide interesting avenues for lifelong learning.
Stay Connected with W&L Alumni Engagement
Frequently Asked Questions
Alumni
Office of Alumni Engagement
- P: 540-458-8464
- F: 540-458-8473
- E: alumni@wlu.edu
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Hotchkiss House
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA 24450
On Campus Or In Your Hometown
Let's Celebrate Together
Alumni Engagement creates memorable reunions and destination events on campus and around the country.
Office of Lifelong Learning
Education for Life
The best way to celebrate W&L's enduring commitment to lifelong learning is by experiencing it personally. Share in the life of the University with an educational adventure on campus, around the world or online.
Colonnade Connections
Your W&L Online Community
From career networking to finding long-lost friends, Colonnade Connections is the university's online database.
Alumni Engagement
The staff of the Office of Alumni Engagement provides programming and support for W&L alumni.
John A. Jensen III ’01
Executive Director of Alumni and Career Services
Hotchkiss Alumni House
- P: 540-458-8593
- E: jensenj@wlu.edu
John was appointed executive director of Alumni and Career Services at Washington and Lee University in July 2022. In this role, he leads a combined team consisting of the offices of Alumni Engagement, Career and Professional Development, and Lifelong Learning. Working together, his team engages and supports students, alumni and parents throughout their W&L experience, from the first year on campus to graduation and beyond.
Bridgett Zitmore
Assistant Director of Alumni Chapter Programs
Gary Kirk
Director of Lifelong Learning Programs
- P: 540-458-8724
- E: gkirk@wlu.edu
Gary joined the W&L community in 2023. Previously, he was an associate provost at Dickinson College, where he provided leadership for the Center for Civic Learning & Action and the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues. His interdisciplinary teaching and research are grounded in the fields of nonprofit studies and public administration, and his recent projects have considered civic infrastructure, systems thinking, and community resilience. He is an expert on experiential learning pedagogy and community-engaged scholarship. Kirk holds a Ph.D. in environmental design and planning from Virginia Tech and a B.A. in ecology from New College.
Ruth Candler
Associate Director of Lifelong Learning; Host, Executive Producer for W&L After Class Podcast
- P: 540-458-4866
- E: rcandler@wlu.edu
Ruth joined Washington and Lee’s Office of Lifelong Learning in April 2019. Prior to this position, she managed the Class Secretary Program for University Development. She has held a number of marketing and managerial positions in the publishing and graphic arts industries.
Lisa D’Amelio
Lifelong Learning Program Coordinator
- P: 540-458-8916
- E: ldamelio@wlu.edu
Lisa joined the Office of Lifelong Learning in August, 2021. She began her career at W&L as the Recruitment Coordinator in the Office of Career Strategy at the Law School. Prior to her arrival at W&L in 2018, she worked in varied capacities in the field of education for more than twenty years. These experiences included teaching ESL for Rockbridge County Public Schools, Spanish at Waddell Elementary School, and English as a Second Language at Instituto Tecnológico in Chetumal, Mexico. Lisa also spent many years as the Director of a local preschool. She earned her M.Ed. from Wilmington University in 1996.
Taylor Meeker
Assistant Director of Alumni and Career Services Marketing – Programs Lead
- P: 540-458-8228
- E: tmeeker@wlu.edu
Pilar O'Valle Martinez
Assistant Director of Alumni and Career Services Marketing – Social Media Lead
Alumni in the News
W&L alumni are leaders in their professions and communities. Read on to see who is making news today.
Caleigh Wells ’17 Found Her Calling in Climate Reporting
The reporter and podcast host won a 2023 National Edward R. Murrow Award for her part in BURNED, which investigated failures by the U.S. Forest Service to protect California towns from potential high-risk wildfires.
Wangdali C. “Wali” Bacdayan ’92 Sworn in as Rector of Washington and Lee University
The board elected Bacdayan as the university’s 32nd rector during its October 2023 meeting.
Chronicles: Racing Into History
A statue of Secretariat made a stop in Lexington last spring, as the man whose dream produced the Virginia-born racehorse was a W&L alumnus and trustee emeritus.
Lifelong friends Seng-Kah “Henry” Baey ’83 and Dan Einstein ’83 reflect on their time at W&L.
In May, Mary Hipp ’90 said being a member of the second class of women undergraduates at W&L taught her a lot— although she didn’t realize it at the time.
From Big Law to Foreign Assets
Chrishon McManus ’14L—attorney and competitive swimmer—radiates calm when it counts.
For Ross Draber ’10, people come first
The United Bank senior executive engages with the W&L community through student recruitment and event participation.
Rachel Adams-Heard ’16 wins prestigious business journalism award
The Bloomberg reporter was recognized for her work on investigative podcast “In Trust.”
Catching up with Laura Lemon ’16
W&L’s campus culture — from small classes to the Speaking Tradition — gave Lemon the communication skills and confidence to succeed.
Catching up with Mike Weaver ’20
Weaver’s advice for current students: Take advantage of every opportunity and embrace respectful debate.
Catching up with Sarah Tilbor ’08
For Tilbor, W&L instilled a healthy curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.
Catching up with Kathryn Young ’19
Young learned the critical skills to excel at her job from the veteran journalists in Reid Hall.