Rodney Ekstrom Makes Connections as PSU's New Director of Alumni Relations

Rodney Ekstrom isn't new to Plymouth State University. In fact, he's been everything from a student to an alumnus to a faculty member, and, as of the 2012 Spring semester, the person that brings them all together.

Ekstrom was recently given the honorable privilege of becoming a bigger part of the University when he was appointed to the position of Director of Alumni Relations. 

As Director of Alumni Relations, Ekstrom reaches out to PSU alumni so that they might interact with one another and with the University. To do so, Ekstrom designs and plans programs and events that might spark a common interest amongst alumni.

Ekstrom applied for the position with high hopes of being able to impact past, current, and future students and members of the PSU community, and was pleased when he got the job. Ekstrom says that the position requires tremendous passion, knowledge of the school, its students, and its alumni.  

"I'm very excited to be able to connect with these alumni in a new way," said Ekstrom, who looks forward to approaching and working with former students that are both close to home and around the world.

Ekstrom is enthusiastic about his recently acquired position and "offering a new and exciting opportunity to Plymouth State."

As one of his first projects as Director, Ekstrom issued a survey to PSU alumni in an attempt to garner a better understanding of current relations between the University and its graduates, what the alumni would hope to see in the form of new programs, and what would encourage them to be more engaged with the University.

"Hopefully," said Ekstrom, "the survey will be completed and analyzed by June of 2012," after which he plans on making changes to the way that PSU approaches its alumni. 

Ekstrom is eager for the new challenges that are to come and to make changes that will benefit the University and its graduates later on down the road. 

"This is a chance for me to take much of what I know and apply it in a new venue," said Ekstrom. "I'm incredibly honored to serve as the Director of Alumni Relations at a place that my family and I call home."

Reporting by Amber McCormack