Hailey Tanner ’21 began her involvement as an alumni volunteer as soon as she graduated from Stevens. She is especially eager – on a mission, you might say – to help young alumni bridge the gap between life as a Duck and their new ventures as successful professionals.
NAME: Hailey Tanner
CLASS YEAR AND MAJOR: 2021, Chemical Engineering
STEVENS VOLUNTEER ROLE(S): Board member and chair, Recent Alumni and Current Students Committee of the Stevens Alumni Association; vice president, Class of 2021; young alumni trustee (2021 to 2024).
STEVENS VOLUNTEER SINCE (YEAR): 2021
How/why did you decide to contribute your time as a Stevens volunteer?
The personal growth that occurred for me over the course of my time at Stevens was largely due to a lot of volunteer hours contributed by staff and fellow students at the university. Without them, I would not be who I am today. I attribute a lot of opportunities and success that have come my way to what I learned at Stevens, both academically and personally.
What drew you to your particular volunteer activity or activities?
Much of my volunteering centers around lifting young alumni voices and helping them bridge the gap between student life at Stevens and their careers. When graduation was approaching and I decided to go to graduate school, it was hard balancing my passion for both where I came from and where I was going. I had a lot of people in my corner who helped me navigate that. Although I excelled in the chemical engineering program and could have pursued a lucrative industry role, the mentoring I received from Stevens staff and professors inspired me to become a mentor myself – through a career in academia and by providing programming for Stevens students that connects them with people who can help them navigate these formative years.
What excites you most about what you do for Stevens?
When I was a student, being connected to young alumni molded me as an individual during my undergraduate years, helping me define my own values and contributing to the goals I set academically and professionally. I am extremely glad that volunteering allows me to give back by connecting young alumni and current students so that they too can establish who they are as a Duck!
How has volunteering for Stevens impacted you personally?
It has helped me remain connected to people at Stevens while also developing a lot of leadership skills that are helping me in my career. It’s very rewarding to pay that forward to the next generation of Stevens alumni!
What do you feel is the impact of alumni involvement in the university?
The community at Stevens is what drew me to the university in the first place, and I think that sense of belonging and picking up where we left off resonates with me every time I reconnect with someone from Stevens via volunteering, attending a university event, or just stepping back on campus.
What would you say to other alumni who were considering volunteering at Stevens?
Little things go a long way! When I first started volunteering, I thought, “Wow, I have to take on all these big roles and have such big shoes to fill – how will I ever make an impact?” But now, I realize that the volunteer time that is most impactful often involves activities that may not have a title or metric attached to them. That’s the beauty of being a Duck – you are always connected and can find someone wanting to help you!
