CAROLYNN ALDRICH ZIANCE
Chair, Alumni Association Board of Directors
Term: 2004 - 2008

Carolynn Aldrich Ziance received her bachelor’s degree in women’s studies (1996) with a concentration in interpersonal communications from Bowling Green State University. Ms. Aldrich Ziance worked at Harvard Radcliffe Career Services and Ives and Associates Executive Search Firm before becoming recruitment director for City Year, a national nonprofit leadership development organization in Columbus. She has been active with the BGSU Alumni Association, serving as president of the Columbus Alumni Chapter, chairing the chapter’s scholarship committee, co-chairing Falcon Flames and serving as a BGSU Legislative Advocate. She received the 2002 BGSU Recent Graduate Award and the Moccasins Award for Community Service from City Year Columbus in 1998. She is an active volunteer with the Girls Scouts Seal of Ohio Council, Maryland Avenue Elementary and Christ Lutheran’s Children Center. Ms. Aldrich Ziance and her husband, Scott ’93, reside in Bexley, Ohio with their two daughters.

Ms. Aldrich Ziance recently spoke with the BGSU Alumni Association about serving on the Board and how it impacts the alumni community.

Q: How and when did you first get involved with the Alumni Board of Directors?
A: I can hardly believe that I am finishing up my 4th year on the board. It has been such a great experience. I have volunteered in different capacities since returning to Ohio from the east coast and serving on the Alumni Board has truly been an honor. While serving on the board I have worked with amazing people and made great friends, not only on our board but on the Foundation Board and Board of Trustees, as well.

Q: In your view, what is the most important or impactful role of the Board?
The Alumni board, and all alumni, play a vital role for the University. We are ambassadors for our alma mater. We are a connection to the students, present and future. Recruiting new students, helping to support current students, and connecting alumni to the University are a few of the important roles we can fill.

Q: Is there anything members of the Board share in common that you might not find at another school?
I believe we have one of the best, and most active, alumni boards out there! We are a very hands-on board and we take pride in that. What does that mean? We volunteer at Homecoming events. Our board participated in the Homecoming parade with the Student Alumni Connection (SAC) and had a great time! We like to interact with the students and alumni. You will find board members staffing tables at the various Preview Days and at the President’s Day Open House. Our Alumni Laureate Scholars program is an amazing board initiative. Board members are very dedicated to this unique scholarship. Most of all, we have a lot of fun together and we are very proud of our University.

Q: Is there anything exciting you can share that’s “in the works” for BGSU or its alumni community? Any challenges you’ve faced during your involvement so far?
At this time, the sky is the limit for the BGSU alumni community! We have a fantastic staff dedicated to making the Association as strong as it can be. They work so hard! The alumni board is dedicated to the alumni community and we have been working to pinpoint key initiatives which we feel we can impact .

I think a challenge we are facing, and one that won’t go away, is the rising cost of an education. We know that the students are leaving BGSU with more and more debt. We also know that the pool of eligible students will be shrinking in the near future so anything we can do to help recruit students, as well as to help support scholarships to attract and retain students, will make a huge difference. Every alum can recruit students by talking to them about their own BGSU experience! As alumni, we can make a difference.

Q: What from your BGSU experience has “stuck with you” during life since graduating?
My BGSU experience has made all of the difference in my life. Many of the significant things in my life can be traced back to BG in one way or another. Life long friends were made at BGSU. I met my husband Scott at BG. My values were shaped at BG and my career path was started. I loved my time at BGSU. Though I couldn’t have predicted that I would chair the Alumni Board, I knew in my heart that I would always remain a loyal and active Falcon. I still get that feeling of “coming home” every time I drive into town.