Jared Levine SEBS’12 and Amanda Choo SAS’11, SMLR’12

w17_JaredLevine106_sized_inline.jpg

President Jared Levine SEBS’12 and vice president Amanda Choo SAS’11, SMLR’12 are among the alumni leaders of the Rutgers University Programming Alumni Association.

Photography: 
John O'Boyle

The Rutgers University Alumni Association’s more than 100 chartered organizations are a wellspring of connections for alumni with similar interests and experiences. A special camaraderie is formed when alumni reconnect over a shared student experience, and that is the purpose of the subset of alumni groups that have grown out of student organizations.

Spotlight on: Rutgers University Programming Alumni Association

Who they are: The Rutgers University Programming Alumni Association was formed in 2012 to connect alumni who had been part of the Rutgers University Programming Association (RUPA), the student organization responsible for planning a variety of events to appeal to Rutgers University–New Brunswick’s diverse student body. Membership has grown to more than 100 alumni, mostly from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, from the Class of 2005 (when RUPA was formed) and on.

What they do: With roots in RUPA, it is no surprise that this group got its start with social events. Whether through a reunion organized around Homecoming weekend or dinner and drinks at a New Brunswick eatery, these alumni know how to have a good time. They recently  expanded their focus to include networking with and mentoring current RUPA students, with plans to host volunteer events in the future.

Why they’re involved: “Certainly, we enjoy the social connectivity and coming back to campus to see how it’s changed,” says president Jared Levine SEBS’12. “But what makes us unique is that we’re a smaller group by definition, so it allows our members to connect with people they’ve once been so close with. It provides a medium for us to maintain those relationships and also foster new ones—and help a new generation of RUPA students along the way.”           

To learn more about how to get involved, visit Ralumni.com/charteredorganizations or contact the RUAA volunteer engagement office at volunteer@winants.rutgers.edu or 848-932-2266.