Presentation for Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference, January 2012, Washington, DC - Panel on the use of Technology as an Alumni Engagement Tool. Presented by Hilory Federgreen Wagner, Class of '86.

2. Technology as an Engagement Tool:
25th Reunion and Beyond
Hilory (Federgreen) Wagner
Communication Arts, Class of 1986
@hilorywagner
hilorywithano.wordpress.com

3. Before Media Became “Social”
• “The Cornell Connection”
• Cornell Magazine was the main news source
– Life happened
– “Nothing newsworthy”
• Reunions presented opportunities to renew
enthusiasm and involvement

4. From “News” to “Conversation”
• Social media as an alumni engagement tool
– Changes the flow of information
– Eliminates / minimizes the gatekeeper
– Offers easy tools to connect
– Lets alumni connect locally, nationally, internationally
– Gives an instant, multidimensional sense of community
– Provides career and networking benefits
– Has enormous potential for strengthening ties and
boosting class spirit

5. Class of 1986 on the Web
• Focus on class website
increased around
reunions
• As 25th approached,
Cornell rolling out new
content management
tool
• Opportunity to integrate
other web and social
media tools

6. Facetime on Facebook
• Class of 86
page existed as
vehicle for
news gathering
• Created
dedicated
Reunions page,
launched Event
from this group

7. Linking with LinkedIn
• Started last
year, now more
than 50
members
• Emphasizes
career
/networking
• Addresses
different
communities

8. @CornellClass86
• I blame / thank Larry
Robiner, „86
• Launched Twitter
handle September
2010
• Great potential for
communication
during Reunion
• #LearningCurve :(

9. YouTube: Reunion Kick-Off Video

10. Virtual Reunion: Blog

11. A Quick, Statistically Dubious Survey
• Snapshot of how alumni are embracing social
media tools, January 2012 (23 responses)
• Level of involvement:
– Part of my DNA (Class Officer, employee): 5
– Very active (attend events, donate, encourage/force
teens to apply to Cornell): 7
– Supporter (try to stay up to date): 9
– On the fringe: 2

12. A Quick, Statistically Dubious Survey
• How have social media tools affected your
relationship with Cornell over the last several
years?
– Little impact: 4
– Not much of a Facebooker/Twitterer, but thinking
about using these to keep up with Cornell: 3
– Somewhat influenced me to be a more active
member of my alumni class: 9
– Definitely increased my engagement with alumni
class: 7

13. A Quick, Statistically Dubious Survey
• How often do you use Facebook?
– As little as possible: 3
– Not very often – people have commented how
annoying it is that I don‟t check Facebook: 4
– In healthy moderation: 4
– Daily – it‟s an enriching and positive part of my
day: 11
– Constantly: at my computer, via Smartphone – if I
eat a brownie the world hears about it. Don‟t
judge me: 1

14. A Quick, Statistically Dubious Survey
• How often do you use Twitter?
– Like I need one more excuse to waste time! Ha, I
don‟t use Twitter: 8
– I set up an account and tweeted, “This is my first
tweet!” And that was it, pretty much: 4
– I dabble now and then, getting used to it: 5
– I am on Twitter daily, and love it: 5
– I am on Twitter daily, and hate it: 1

15. A Quick, Statistically Dubious Survey
• Which statement about social media sounds
like you?
– I am soooo busy, I really have no time to invest in
any Facebook or Twitter learning curve: 3
– I am happy with my current involvement on
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and so on: 18
– I think I might spend some time learning about
Twitter and other tools this year: 1
– I am absolutely planning to use more social media
tools, personally or for my business, in the coming
year: 1

16. A Quick, Statistically Dubious Survey
• Which statement about social media and CORNELL
sounds like you?
– I am soooo busy, I won‟t be changing any of my involvement
with my alumni class. Don‟t take it personally: 1
– I am happy with my current involvement on Facebook, Twitter,
yada yada, so I‟ll most likely keep up the same clip: 14
– I definitely want to engage more with Cornell alumni on
Facebook: 5
– I am definitely going to connect with more Cornellians on
LinkedIn this year: 4
– As soon as I finish this survey, I‟m going to follow
@CornellClass86 on Twitter: 1

17. CornellConnect with All Communities