By: Grace Bailey, Staff writer

This fall the Lebanon Valley College Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement is connecting with alumni one cup of steaming coffee at a time in local central Pennsylvania cafés.

Starting on Sept. 22, the office kicked off its “Alumni Coffee Commutes” as a way to connect alumni in the immediate central Pennsylvania area. By the end of the fall semester, the office plans to have held four Commutes in Reading, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Camp Hill areas.

The Commutes offer an informal environment where alumni can drop in, grab a coffee and socialize with some familiar faces or meet other alumni living near them. The Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement started the event about three years ago as a way of meeting alumni where they are in their daily lives and connecting with them.

“We try to include faculty and staff that live close by as well,” Sue Jones, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, said. “A lot of times alums want to connect with their old professors, coaches and other staff people.”

The last Coffee Commute was located in Harrisburg with a strong turnout. Alumni came and mingled, and some folks even stayed the entire two hours. The Office’s goal is to not only connect people with the College but also with each other and other faculty and staff.

Jones mentioned that a retired sacred music professor came to the event and reconnected with alumni. This special type of connection is exactly why the office continues hosting these local café gatherings.

“The Coffee Commutes just seemed like a nice way to meet alumni where they are,” Jones said. “We have a lot of alums in our back yard. “

For Jones, the events are also a great opportunity for her to witness her own work at LVC. Jones just transitioned into the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement this summer, but before that she worked to recruit students for LVC. For her the Coffee Commutes have connected her with students she brought to LVC.

“It’s fun and it’s really about engaging people,” Jones said. “I’ve recruited twenty plus years of alums, and now I get to reconnect with them.”

While the Commutes are for alumni, the truth is there are many seniors this year who are quickly approaching that stage in their LVC career. Jones hopes that seniors will consider participating in the Coffee Commutes and other various programs upon their graduation.

“When you leave here with your diploma, this is still your alma mater,” Jones said. “This is still a resource for fun and for networking.”

Alumni are also enjoying the connection these Commutes offer them after their experience at LVC. Graduate Kevin Molina ’15 is attending all the events this semester because he appreciates the support he is still able to find within his ‘family’ at the College.

“It is definitely beneficial to have more than one supporting family,” Molina said. “However, it is really up to us to maintain and strengthen those bonds. These events are great venues to do just that and I hope others will truly consider joining us.”

For more information about the “Alumni Coffee Commutes” and other events, visit the Office’s web page at https://www.lvc.edu/alumni/events.aspx or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.