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The LEAD Initiative

Emerging Leaders Working with Their Peers


The Lead Committee
Mark Hannah LA98, Chair
John Kindschuh LA00 BU00
Cynthia Traub, GR02 GR06
Rene Morency, Jr., LA91
Beth Freund, LA05
NatalieWest, LA07

The LEAD (Lead, Engage, Achieve, Donate) Initiative is a new program to better engage younger Arts & Sciences St. Louis alumni, between the graduating years of 1988 and 2011.  The LEAD Initiative will help to close the void in cultivation that exists between younger alumni - those who graduated less than 10 years ago - and our older donors.  This initiative includes specific efforts and events to connect this age range of alumni to Arts & Sciences.

The mission of the LEAD Initiative is to engage, educate, and invite alumni in this targeted age range to become more connected to Washington University and join the Eliot Society.  Our goals are to increase alumni giving among this important group, increase their involvement in University activities and philanthropic efforts, and ultimately increase their likelihood to become future volunteer leaders and donors.

Members of this initiative are asked to:

  • LEAD by example by giving back and being active in the University community.  
  • ENGAGE alumni peers to be more connected to the University and fellow emerging alumni leaders in the St. Louis community.
  • ACHIEVE results in recruiting target age Eliots, recruiting new LEAD members, promoting philanthropy and volunteerism among the LEAD group and alumni in the target age group.
  • DONATE time, talent and treasure: offer the opportunity for LEAD Eliots to be mentors for current students in their professional field or to speak on campus, ask LEAD members to make a gift at the Eliot level or above and discuss the potential of LEAD members to serve on future influential committees.

The LEAD Initiative is a component of the Arts & Sciences Eliot Society Membership Committee.  For more information, contact Christina Weyers, or call 314-935-5148.