New liaison seeks to reconnect alum to Pitt

‘ ‘ ‘ Jeff Gleim wants to reconnect Pitt alumni to campus. ‘ ‘ ‘ So, as the new head of… ‘ ‘ ‘ Jeff Gleim wants to reconnect Pitt alumni to campus. ‘ ‘ ‘ So, as the new head of alumni relations, Gleim will host events aimed at bringing together the University’s alumni and current students. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim, who served as interim associate vice chancellor for alumni relations and executive director of Pitt Alumni Relations since August, brought what his colleagues considered a fresh perspective to the way Pitt interacts with alumni. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘He came in here and hit the ground running,’ said Al Novak, vice chancellor of institutional advancement, the office that oversees alumni relations. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim, who became the head of alumni relations earlier this month, started several new events. He said he hopes to continue some of them, including the Alumni Barbeque held in conjunction with the Panther Club at Heinz Field last August. Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and several coaches gave speeches. Fireworks followed. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim said the event drew more than 2,500 people and got them excited about the upcoming football season. He expects the event to grow in the future. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We’re trying to offer new things, be a little more diverse in the events we offer,’ said Gleim. ‘We’re trying to be more things to more people.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim said he also hopes to continue hosting homecoming celebrations on campus, which include the Homecoming Welcome Back Reception for Alumni. Gleim said the event, held for the first time on campus rather than at Heinz Field this year, drew more people than ever before. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I’m all about focusing on tradition and getting people to come back to campus,’ he said. ‘We essentially took over the Cathedral for the night.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim also started Alumni Day for men’s basketball last month, where alumni were welcomed as special guests to the game and given commemorative gifts. The University will hold an Alumni Day for women’s basketball Friday, and Gleim said he hopes to start one for football next year. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We are about building relationships for the University,’ said Gleim. ‘ ‘ ‘ He said that the Alumni Association, which works with clubs and representatives from around the country, wants to foster involvement and tradition with the current student body as well as with graduates, because both are ‘the lifeblood of the University.’ He added that he wants current students to leave feeling proud of Pitt. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Without students we would be lost,’ he said. ‘Once they’re gone, they’re gone.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim said that keeping students involved after graduation is important. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Many of these alum and supporters are the ones who encourage their kids and neighbors to go to Pittsburgh, to live or for school.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Novak said that Gleim’s attitude represents Pitt well. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘He’s direct and honest, so you know what the facts are,’ said Novak. ‘He empathizes. He’s welcoming.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ He’s hands-on, often taking the time to individually greet alumni as they arrive at events, said Novak. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim’s nature, Novak said, has allowed him to build bonds with his staff and with the Alumni Association Board of Directors. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘He does empower his staff and volunteers to take ownership of projects and programs ‘mdash; and that’s key,’ said Novak. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim came to Pitt two years ago as the Alumni Association’s associate executive director. He came from Ohio State University, where he served as head of the university’s Alumni Association’s Advocates Program. ‘ ‘ ‘ Before working at Ohio State for more than a decade, Gleim worked in politics with the Office of the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives for nine years. After Ohio instituted term limits and the speaker left, Gleim wasn’t needed anymore, he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘So I had to go find new employment,’ said Gleim. ‘The opportunity to work at Ohio State really fell into my lap.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gleim has lived in Pittsburgh for about two years now and said his only problem has been navigating. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I think the city is beautiful,’ he said. ‘I love the diversity of it. It’s a little difficult to maneuver because of the rivers. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Whoever invented the GPS system invented it thinking of Pittsburgh.’