New Alumni Council President John Heald '64 Shares His Vision for Inclusivity

As the new Alumni Council President, John Heald '64 is focused on the collective work the Council will undertake to expand opportunities promoting inclusivity, outreach, and engagement for the alumni community.

Heald shared his thoughts on his new role and expressed excitement about the partnership between the 18-person council and the Academy's Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, Samantha Howson P’17, during the coming year. "It's a collaborative group,” said Heald, “and we have six new members this year, so there is a lot of energy and excitement around being innovative and engaged with the alumni community right now."

Heald shared that the Alumni Council will explore ways to expand involvement with current students. "Programs like Life After Byfield, which we introduced in the spring, are excellent examples of connecting alumni with students. We met with seniors to discuss what might come their way post-graduation, from time management to networking to managing college course selections and building a solid resume," said Heald. "It creates a link to the future and the past for students by meeting with and talking to alumni."

Heald also noted the success of Govs Giving Day this past year. "It's a fantastic opportunity to support Govs at any level, and the Council really stepped up to rally fellow alums," said Heald. The day was a record breaker, with a total of 1,262 gifts given in 24 hours; 697 of those gifts were from new alumni donors.

Heald points out that staying connected to Govs and each other can be quite fulfilling for alums. "At some point in your life, you might look back at the school and have a renewed fondness for your time here. There are ways to engage with the Govs community and fellow alums that can be quite meaningful," he said. For Heald, his new leadership role on the Council and his work with GovsPLUS, a tuition-free academic enrichment program for middle school students from Lawrence, Massachusetts, run by Govs, have found a place in his heart.

Fostering a sense of community and encouraging alumni engagement is what we are all about.

Heald encourages other alums to actively participate in the Council's initiatives by sharing their ideas or thoughts on programming and outreach. "Alumni input is valuable to us. We are always open to new ideas and suggestions that can further strengthen our community," said Heald, adding, "fostering a sense of community and encouraging alumni engagement is what we are all about."