Connor Named Director of MBA Alumni Events

Marita Hoffman Connor (MBA '98), the new director of MBA alumni events, hopes to foster a sense of belonging that mirrors her own experience as a Notre Dame MBA alumna. "It's been two years since our MBA class graduated and we're still very tightly knit," says Connor.

"Through alumni events in major cities, we want to keep MBA graduates abreast of the exciting developments here in the College," says Connor. "It's also important that our alumni maintain a bond with their classmates and a connection to our MBA program."

Connor and Katie Anthony, director of MBA relations, have already begun organizing networking events throughout the U.S. The first, which took place in New York in September, was a huge success. Fifty current MBA students and alumni attended the gathering and were energetic about the prospect of future events.

"The networking events are a great way for our students to get career advice from seasoned professionals in various areas of business. Current MBA students have a chance to meet and talk with MBA alumni involved in the same fields they are interested in pursuing after graduation," says Connor.

Only a few weeks into her job, Connor has already made great strides towards organizing alumni networking events in several cities. Future events will be held in San Francisco (January 11, 2000), Chicago (February 1, 2001) and Boston (April 7, 2001).

Connor and Anthony have begun planning for a Notre Dame MBA mentoring program. "We want to connect recent grads with established MBA alumni living in the same areas. Our alumni are a tremendous resource that we need to tap into," says Connor. "Katie and I hope to serve as a resource to our grads as well, whether that be providing contacts to alumni searching for new jobs, or helping those looking to recruit MBA students."

A 1993 graduate of Villanova University in Pennsylvania, Connor worked as a consultant at the South Bend firm of Crowe Chizek before signing on at Notre Dame. She and her husband, Brian Connor (ND '94, MBA '98), the senior director of business affairs at the South Bend Center for the Homeless, moved back to South Bend shortly after graduating from the MBA program. "I always wanted to work for Notre Dame," says Connor. "This seemed like a great fit."