When I finished my PhD in French Literature at Princeton in 2018, I didn’t know exactly how—or if—I would stay connected to the graduate community. I had moved across the ocean, transitioned into an alt-ac career, and found myself navigating a very different rhythm of professional life. What I didn’t expect was that in the years to come, some of my most meaningful conversations, collaborations, and professional growth would come not from formal jobs, but from my evolving engagement with Princeton as an alumna.

In 2023–2024, I had the honor of serving as alumna-in-residence with GradFUTURES, Princeton’s professional development initiative for graduate students. Around the same time, I also began a deeper involvement with the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni (APGA), first as Vice Chair of the Lifelong Learning Initiative, then as Chair of Branding and Marketing Writing, and currently as Secretary of the Board. These dual roles—one more grounded in mentorship, the other in strategic alumni engagement—have offered me two complementary views of what it means to be part of an alumni network: a space for giving back, yes, but also one for growing forward.

Mentorship, Not from Above but Alongside

As a GradFUTURES alumna-in-residence, my role was part mentor, part speaker, part conversation partner. I made several trips back to campus, meeting with graduate students across departments and career stages. I gave talks, participated in panels, led one-on-one sessions, and contributed to both structured programs and informal conversations.

What struck me most during this year was the openness of graduate students to explore new paths—even when they were uncertain, or those paths were unfamiliar. I had conversations with students in philosophy, engineering, sociology, French, and more, each navigating their own version of “what comes next?” Whether they were weighing academia, considering industry, or unsure where to begin, they weren’t looking for someone with all the answers—they were looking for someone who had asked the same questions and survived.

It was a privilege to sit with that vulnerability, to share my own messy and non-linear story, and to see the real impact that a single conversation can have.

Serving on the APGA Board: A Wider View of Community

In parallel, my work on the APGA Board has offered a more strategic and structural lens on graduate alumni engagement. As Vice Chair of the Lifelong Learning Initiative, I helped develop programming and resources designed to connect graduate alumni with one another and support their continued intellectual and professional development. In my subsequent roles—Chair of Branding and now Board Secretary—I’ve worked to refine how we communicate our mission, represent our community, and sustain a sense of belonging across time zones, disciplines, and decades.

Graduate alumni networks don’t always receive the same attention as undergraduate ones—but they are rich, international, and full of extraordinary people whose paths may not be visible in traditional alumni materials. It’s been exciting (and humbling) to help shape how we amplify those voices and create opportunities for reconnection.

From contributing to APGA newsletters to co-developing events at Reunions or in major cities, my work with the board has expanded my understanding of what alumni service can look like—not just nostalgic, but future-oriented. Not just celebratory, but also strategic.

The Value of Ongoing Engagement

What ties both of these experiences together is the sense that alumni engagement doesn’t have to be static or ceremonial. It can be dynamic, reciprocal, and personally meaningful.

My time as a student at Princeton gave me more than a degree—it gave me a set of questions I’m still trying to answer. And staying engaged with the graduate community, whether through GradFUTURES or the APGA, has allowed me to continue exploring those questions alongside others.

It’s easy to think of alumni relationships as one-way: you graduate, and then you give back. But for me, it’s been much more of a two-way street. I’ve gotten as much as I’ve given—new friendships, new insights, new professional connections, and renewed purpose in the work I do.

In Closing

If you’re a fellow graduate alum wondering whether you have anything to contribute, you do. Your story matters. Your presence matters. Whether it’s mentoring one student, joining a board, offering a workshop, or simply showing up to a virtual event, there’s value in staying connected.

And if you’re a current graduate student wondering whether this community will still be there for you after your defense—the answer is yes.

We’re here. We’ve been there. And we’re still learning too.