WCAA Profile: The Wesleyan College Alumnae Association (WCAA), founded in 1859, is the world's FIRST alumnae association. All former Wesleyan students who have earned 30 or more semester hours at the College - whether or not they graduated - are considered members. Today the association is governed by a board of managers that is composed of 16 elected members, including three alumnae trustees who serve also on Wesleyan's board of trustees. The board meets officially three times a year and holds an off-campus retreat each fall to discuss strategic goals.
WCAA Purpose: The Association promotes alumnae engagement with the College, with students, and with other alumnae by providing service, mentoring, and learning opportunities. Through e-communications, social media, and WESmag, nearly 9,500 alumnae are kept informed of the activities and achievements of Wesleyan College alumnae.
The president is the chief executive officer of the association who presides over all meetings and acts as chair of the board of managers. She leads alumnae engagement and represents alumnae at various events on campus throughout the year. She is an ex-officio member of all committees of the association and appoints ad-hoc committees as necessary to carry out the work of the association based on the currents needs of the College.
The president-elect serves as the parliamentarian and as the association’s liaison with alumnae clubs and chapters. She chairs the Ruth A. Knox Scholarship for Leadership committee which selects a rising junior each year to receive a scholarship sponsored by the WCAA board of managers. The president-elect performs the president’s duties in the event of absence or incapacity.
The past president serves as chair of the alumnae awards committee that serves in the annual process of recognizing outstanding alumnae and identifying potential award nominees. She also assists the nomination committee in identifying potential WCAA board volunteers. She serves as a resource for the current association president and for the alumnae trustees, and carries out other duties as requested by the president.
The secretary keeps a record of all proceedings of the association including meetings of the board of managers, as well as general meetings of the association. The secretary handles general correspondence and sends out announcements/information to and on behalf of the board.
The treasurer prepares and presents the alumnae association’s financial statements, chairs the finance committee and, along with the finance committee, manages the association’s building fund and general fund. She also monitors the use of association funds managed by the College, such as the Katharine Payne Carnes Lecture Series fund and the Ruth A. Knox Scholarship for Leadership fund. The treasurer shall be allowed to succeed herself.
Serves as chair of the alumnae development committee and as liaison with the College’s offices of institutional advancement and annual giving in helping to coordinate class liaisons, area representatives for development, and other fundraising initiatives, including new ways of engaging alumnae in meeting annual goals of The Wesleyan Fund.
Serves as chair of the alumnae committee for the recruitment of students and as liaison with the College’s office of enrollment. This position is expanding to include being the board member responsible for external relations.
Responsible for WCAA sponsored educational enrichment programs and serves as chair of the steering committee for the Katharine Payne Carnes Lecture Series and as chair for Georgia Women of Achievement nominees from the College.
Serves as chair of the communications committee and as liaison with the College’s director of communications. She suggests articles and news items that may be of special interest to alumnae, submits website updates, and serves as class notes editor for WESmag.
Serves as chair of Alumnae Weekend, coordinating plans for annual reunion class activities. Works with the alumnae office and the WCAA president in planning the weekend’s agenda, providing opportunities for alumnae to reconnect with the College, current students, and with each other. Serves as a liaison between the alumnae office and reunion class chairs/committees. Plans menus for all meals, enlists weekend volunteers from the WCAA, and works with the decorations chair. Attends all Alumnae Weekend events, presides during the salute to reunion classes, and assists in the presentation of alumnae awards at the annual meeting of the WCAA.
Provides guidance and advice to BoM regarding diversity and inclusion concerns. Acts as liaison with the College’s chief diversity officer. Chairs alumnae committee on diversity & inclusion and helps develop diversity and inclusion events to cultivate connections between students and alumnae. Helps develop programs and initiatives to educate alumnae on diversity and inclusion efforts on campus.
Serves as chair and recruits four other alumnae to serve on the nominating committee. Assists with on-boarding new board members. Works to ensure board and committees reflect the diversity of Wesleyan’s student body. Works with alumnae director to maintain a leadership database. Announces nominees during annual meeting.
Serves as liaison between BoM and student leaders for enrichment of the student experience and to communicate student needs to BoM. Assists alumnae director with student programs and events such as Senior Toast and Candlelighting. Creates opportunities for alumnae/student interaction. Works with the student life office, the Center for Career Development, and others to plan ways for alumnae to enhance the student experience.
Three alumnae trustees serve four-year terms as members of the College’s board of trustees and serve as liaisons between the trustees and the BoM.
Communication between the BoM and board of trustees is channeled through these representatives.
Wesleyan College is privileged to steward many arts and cultural events and share them with the community. Most are free and open to the public. Wesleyan art galleries are open M-F 1-5PM and on Wesleyan Market Saturdays from 10AM-2PM.
Event listing
Tour our beautiful 200-acre campus featuring Georgian architecture, lush green spaces, recreational facilities, residence halls, and worship center.
Vist Wesleyan Virtually
Wesleyan College is home to five NCAA Division III sports: soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and softball. In addition, we offer an award-winning Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Equestrian program.
View More