Mays Business School expands corporate and alumni relations reach

Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School has a long history of maintaining strong relationships with its alumni and corporate partners, which are often potential employers for its students. With more than 62,000 living alumni around the world, Mays is expanding its reach with the “Mays Connection”  – an initiative to increase engagement with its former students, industry partners and employers.

This fall, events include a “Mays Corporate Connection” program featuring the Center for Executive Development (CED) at Mays Business School. The corporate event, to be held at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 23 prior to the Texas A&M-Arkansas football game, features special guest speakers Texas A&M President Michael K. Young and Mays Dean Eli Jones, as well as a keynote on “5 Words that Guarantee ROI” by CED Assistant Dean Ben Welch. The CED provides fully custom executive education programs that cultivate ethical leaders.

Mays delivers lifelong value to its graduates by providing them with networking opportunities. Upcoming alumni events include a Yell Practice at its CityCentre Houston campus at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Former Texas Aggie Yell Leaders will lead the Yell Practice in preparation for the game on Saturday, Sept. 17, when  the Aggies take on the Auburn Tigers. The event is free and open to all Texas A&M alumni and friends in the Houston area. In addition, Mays will host an MBA alumni tailgate for Mays Full-Time, Professional and Executive MBA graduates on Saturday, Oct. 8 before the Aggies take on the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field.

Mays alumni play an important role in advancing the school’s mission by serving as guest speakers, corporate recruiters, student mentors and advisory board members. Bruce D. Broussard ’84, CEO of Humana, will speak at Mays Business School from 11:10 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. on Sept. 29 as part of Dean Eli Jones’ Leadership Series. The event is free and open to the public. Additional executive speakers this fall include Bruce Peterson of USAA; representatives from JP Morgan Chase; and David Williams of Noble Corporation. Banquets are also scheduled to honor scholarship donors and recipients, as well as outstanding alumni.

As a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Mays Business School is committed to efforts to expand opportunities for women business leaders. Mays will host its eighth Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) program at its CityCentre Houston campus on Oct. 26. WLI is a series of seminars and networking events that seeks to connect women leaders and equip them with the tools for continued success. The event is free and open to the public.

The school has also added a position to serve as a single point of contact for alumni and corporate contacts, streamlining the processes for people who want to connect with Mays students and instructors. Cynthia “Cindy” Billington, a long-time employee at Mays, moved into the role of associate director for corporate and alumni relations at Mays in January. She develops and supports alumni and corporate relations activities, including development of a communications plan that represents the Mays strategy.

Diane C. McDonald, director of marketing, communications and public relations for Mays, said the position rounds out the team that serves the school’s outreach needs. “The Mays Connection for alumni and corporate relations will help us achieve our vision to be a vibrant learning organization that connects students and faculty to former students, industry partners and employers,” she said.

Billington has spent years collaborating with prospective employers and current and former students, and now she will be expanding her role. “Mays has enjoyed a great history of strong relationships with our corporate partners and former students,” she said. “By enhancing corporate and alumni relations at the college level, we will be able to provide a more cohesive experience.”

For more information or to become involved, visit https://mays.tamu.edu/alumni/ or contact Cindy Billington at cbillington@mays.tamu.edu.