Dear Alumni, 

Happy New Year! If your 2026 resolutions are to make new network connections, volunteer more, or get involved with a community or cause you care about, this a perfect time to tap into all that brings us together here at AU.

With January comes a flurry of news and exciting opportunities for our American University alumni network. 

Last week we celebrated opening night at the Alan and Amy Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance and the Well-Being Corner. The community-wide open house welcomed alumni, the campus community, neighbors and AU Athletics fans to tour the state-of-the art facility and cheer on AU Wrestling as they faced Long Island University.  

Having watched AU’s campus change since my own time as a student up to now as a parent of current students, I’m thrilled to see today’s Eagles benefit from a space so holistically dedicated to student wellness—physical, mental, and emotional. And knowing that the university’s first net zero-energy building was fueled by the generosity and personal stories of fellow alumni makes it just that much more AU.  

This is the same alumni spirit I’m proud to celebrate next week as we officially welcome seven new members to the AU Alumni Board and extend our gratitude to the outgoing members who’ve completed their terms. It is a privilege to serve alongside such dedicated volunteers who Show Up for AU with their energy and ideas to keep growing our 160,000-alumni strong network. 

As we look ahead, be sure to mark your calendars for Giving Day on February 25–26, and All Alumni Day on February 28. There will be special events and ways to be involved, so get ready to get your Talons Up and support! 

Lastly, on a more personal note, I want to reaffirm how meaningful it is to be part of an inclusive, globally minded university. I spent my childhood in Caracas, Venezuela, and when I came to AU, I cherished the strong international community I found here and find still in the AU Latino Alumni Alliance, regional chapters, and the broader shared communities and interest groups. Our world is facing many challenges with moments of uncertainty and division, but I continue to value AU’s long legacy of welcoming students from around the world to learn together. 

Best wishes,  

Patty Caballero, SOC/BA ’91, Kogod/MBA ’00