More than 200 alumni attended Guttman Community College’s first major alumni event, held on 6/26 at John Jay College from 6 to 8 p.m. President Johnson and the Guttman Community College Foundation Board invited all former Grizzlies to reconnect with fellow alumni, faculty, staff and friends to celebrate over a decade of growth since the College’s first graduating class walked the stage in 2014.
Robert Pagan, senior advisor for partnerships, alumni engagement and development, said “What an incredible evening we shared at Guttman’s first-ever all class year reunion! It was truly heartwarming to see alumni from every class year come together—reconnecting with old friends, beloved faculty, and the Guttman community that helped shape their journeys. The energy, stories, and spirit of the night reminded us just how far we’ve come and how vital our alumni are to the College’s ongoing mission. This reunion wasn’t just a celebration of the past ten years—it was a powerful step forward in building an even stronger future together.”
Participants reflected on individual and collective achievements as they networked over hors d’oevres and cocktails, posed for photos and flashed swag from special alumni gift bags. Alumni speakers included: Alejandro Lopez, Information Technology ‘15; Maria-Isabelle Parada, Liberal Arts and Sciences ‘16; and Brian McCollough, Business Administration ‘16.
Dr. Alia Tyner-Mullings, a founding faculty member and Humanities and Social Services department chair, commented, “I was most excited about seeing students I hadn’t seen in a long time and hearing what they are doing now.”
Addressing the alumni, Guttman Community College Foundation Board Member Marissa Lewis, senior consultant for Penn Creative Strategy, reminded the crowd of the value Guttman places on belonging, saying, “The Decade of Growth reunion was a truly inspiring celebration of the community our students have built and how deeply connected they are to our College and its mission. It was a joy to witness how eager they are to stay involved!”
