Message from the Alumni Association President
October 2025
Dear Fellow Purple Knights,
As I gather my thoughts and write this note, the wind is rustling through the trees, the leaves are starting to change from the many shades of green to the beautiful rainbow of fall, and I can鈥檛 help but be thankful to call Vermont home. Change is in the air and with the fall semester underway, I feel excitement around what is to come for St. Mike鈥檚.
Change can bring a mix of emotions. Excitement, nervousness, fear of the unknown, maybe a bit of each! Students have arrived on campus, fall athletics are in full swing, and the Alumni聽Board of Directors is excited to launch this year鈥檚 priorities. Living locally has allowed me to visit campus more frequently and every visit brings a rush of memories and a feeling of being home. Campus is vibrant and electric with new and returning students, faculty and staff, and the buzz of new possibilities.
One of the things I am most thankful for from my time聽at St. Mike鈥檚,聽is the gift of a liberal arts education. The world is ever shifting, and we have been uniquely prepared to meet those changes head-on, not just academically but with compassion and empathy. Leaning into those liberal arts principles, our partnership with President Plumb, his administration, and our SMC peers will enable the Board to change and adapt with our alumni and the college.
Speaking of change, the Board is聽off and running this year with a few new members and the addition of six committees: Admissions, Athletics, Career Symposium, Student Success, Reunion & Awards, and Events & Fundraising. By collaborating with SMC staff in these important areas聽we aim to engage more deeply with our 23,000 alumni.
Looking for more information or want to chat? Reach out! You can find us at alumni@smcvt.edu. In addition, there are many regional events within your local communities, or on campus events like Reunion, and Alumni & Family Weekend. Peep the calendar 聽and save the date!
With change comes growth, and we can鈥檛 wait to see how we grow in the years to come.
All the very best,
Jillian (Kasierski) Charest 鈥04
President, SMC Alumni Association