Established in 2015, the Department of History Board of Visitors consists of History Department alumni from a variety of careers, life pursuits, and geographic areas who volunteer their time to serve the Department and its students. Members share in common their enthusiasm for the History Department and their eagerness to support and advocate for the Department.
The Board of Visitors serves as volunteer ambassadors for the Department of History and provides assistance to Department faculty and staff for enhancing the experiences of undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni of the Department (including alums of formerly separate departments and programs such as the History of Science Department), class auditors, and friends of the Department.
The Board aims to strengthen interest in the Department’s well-being and achievements, and expand support for the Department’s activities. To do so, the Board of Visitors focuses on:
- Serving as an informal sounding board for present and proposed programs and activities, particularly in regard to the Department’s strategic planning and long range development.
- Collaborating with the Department to enhance and expand key wider audience outreach activities and programs to foster awareness of and engagement with the Department, with a particular focus on activities to connect and inform Department alumni and the State of Wisconsin community about the work and value of the Department.
- Collaborating with faculty and staff to increase career mentoring and related career exploration opportunities available to students, including internships, externships, traineeships, applied research, student employment, and overall career option awareness and career skills development.
- Promoting a culture of philanthropy among alumni and friends of the Department.
- Supporting Departmental initiatives to enhance undergraduate and graduate experiences through philanthropic participation of the Board of Visitors and expanded alumni and friends participation.
Each Board member serves on one of three committees established to advance these focus areas: the Careers, Development, or Outreach Committees.
Members serve 3 year, renewable terms. The Board meets in Madison twice a year in the Fall (September, October, or November) and Spring (April or May).
The Board of Visitors has a maximum size of 35 members. Prospective members are nominated by current or emeritus Board members. The Board’s Nominations Committee considers nominations and engages with Department stakeholders, including Alumni, regarding potential members.
