CMU Names Matt Weinstein to Lead Alumni Relations
Matt Weinstein has been named associate vice president for alumni and constituent engagement at Carnegie Mellon University. With more than 20 years of experience in university advancement, including the last five years at Carnegie Mellon, Matt brings a wealth of higher education knowledge to his new role.
“In this world where people have the ability to connect with anyone about any subject, I am excited to be in a role that helps bridge alumni with what inspires them about their university,” Matt said. “My colleagues and I have an opportunity to elevate the alumni experience by creating greater connectivity and unite Tartans with their specific CMU passion.”
Most recently, Matt served as the associate vice president of college development and university initiatives, a role in which he worked closely with each of CMU’s schools and their leadership to facilitate advancement operations with the university.
“The relationship with our 114,000 alumni around the world is central to CMU’s mission,” said Scott Mory, vice president for university advancement. “Matt’s leadership will advance our work to engage our entire Tartan family of alumni, parents and friends in new and meaningful ways.”
Before joining CMU, he spent 12 years at the University of Pittsburgh holding numerous positions within institutional advancement, including as the senior executive director of development and alumni relations for the Swanson School of Engineering, where he led a comprehensive external relations team that helped Pitt successfully complete its $2 billion campaign. Matt earned his Ph.D. in political science at the University of Pittsburgh and holds degrees from Lehigh University, Clark University and the London School of Economics.
The CMU Alumni Association has championed connections and created meaningful programming for Carnegie Mellon’s global alumni community for the last 100 years, helping alumni grow and prosper beyond their graduation day.
“We are at a unique moment in time to strengthen our alumni community and engage our entire Tartan family around the world,” said Alex DiClaudio (DC 2009, HNZ 2011) Alumni Association Board President. “As a CMU graduate, I’m excited about how cultivating this relationship will have a profound impact on alumni everywhere, and thrilled to be partnering with Matt and the team on these important initiatives.”
Matt shared his thoughts on what CMU alumni can expect from their alma mater in the future:
Most Tartans identify themselves and their connection to CMU through their college or department, student organizations in which they participated, and the academic rigor that is a trademark of the university. This means it is our job in the Office of Alumni Engagement to enhance that relationship by providing alumni the opportunities to connect with the campus through those touchpoints. We will work with the alumni community to create platforms and opportunities to connect with the university, faculty and students in the areas where they are most passionate. Our goal is to create programs that will focus on what CMU graduates need for their continued relationship with Carnegie Mellon as well as their professional and personal momentum.
Some of the ways we will be accomplishing that goal is through programs like our new CMU Faculty Dialogues, which offer alumni an engaging, deeper dive into contemporary topics where our faculty are leading the way. We will be bringing our faculty to cities around the U.S., the world, and through online events, so that Tartans can remember the joy – and challenges – of being a student again.
Another program that we will be expanding is our new CMU Alumni Community. This is a forum to join online communities based on your geography, student organization, or professional, academic or career interests. It allows alumni to network with fellow alumni and discover the latest news from CMU, and soon alumni will be able to connect with current students. With alumni around the world, it is important to have a forum to network with each other and be able to hear from current students about their experience. Alumni are encouraged to join Community and share their feedback with us.
Other programs that alumni should be aware of is our popular Tartan Circles program, where alumni come together online to build their professional network; and the CMUConnect webinars and panels where alumni can expand their knowledge and expand their career horizons. Of course, our Domestic Networks and International Networks are always a good way to stay connected.
Our alumni are curious, dynamic and connected, regardless if they spent their time at CMU on the stage, in the lab, building buggies – or all three. We are excited to work with our alumni to continue to enrich their relationship with their alma mater. That is our mission.
