By Lawson Bowman, Shield Editor
NRCA stays connected with alumni by visiting them on campus at local universities like North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Liberty University. These campus visits began a couple of years ago.
Devon Corey, an NRCA graduate who was recently named Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, explained what the alumni relations team hopes to accomplish on these visits. “We reach out to our alumni and let them know we’re coming and we’d love to see them. When we visit, we get to learn about their current experiences on campus. We want to know how they are adjusting to college life, what churches or campus ministries they’re involved in, and how their overall college journey is going since leaving NRCA,” Corey said.
Leah Cate Bowman, an NRCA alumna who is a senior at Liberty University, went by the campus visit last year and felt like it was beneficial. She said, “I love when NRCA visits. It is so good to see some of the NRCA staff and connect with the other alumni.” She looks forward to their upcoming visit in the spring of 2025.
The NRCA staff who go on campus visits are intentional in making relationships with the alumni and helping them connect with each other. Corey explained the types of conversations, “Well, now you guys are at college together, and you come to one of these college visits, and you realize, 'We have never really talked. I knew of you while we were at school together, but it’s really cool that we’re here on the same campus.’” Students who did not connect in high school get a second chance in college and even in the professional world.
Corey, new to his role in alumni engagement, partners with Tiffany Benson, current Student and Alumni Relations Director, to create a wonderful experience for alumni at these visits. “We bring two different personalities into this role. I love the ability to connect with our students but also be able to start a relationship now that they’re post-NRCA,” he said.
