Northwestern University Alumni

A Global Ambassador is a volunteer who serves as a liaison for Northwestern University and the NAA in a targeted geographical city, region, or country—in the United States and abroad.  Our goal is to have an Ambassador in each location where Northwestern alumni live to help us create a true global alumni association. In cooperation with NAA staff, Global Ambassadors assist the NAA in supporting alumni in meaningful ways that strengthen their lifelong connection with Northwestern and positively impact both the individual and the University.

• Serve as a key resource for alumni and members of the Northwestern community in the region
  • Welcome, advise, and support those who are new to the area, including alumni, current students, and parents, and help strengthen their connection to the University
  • Allow the NAA to share contact and location information on public-facing pages of the NAA website and in Our Northwestern, the University’s online alumni community
• Support other NAA and Northwestern University-sponsored activities and initiatives
  • Identify opportunities for developing awareness around University priorities and global initiatives as requested; help local alumni understand the importance of philanthropy
  • Support communications and the profile of Northwestern’s alumni community by sharing alumni stories
  • Support Northwestern’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Alumni Admission Council (AAC) as needed by interviewing prospective Northwestern students
  • Provide information on the region to the NAA as requested

• Provides support to the global alumni network
  • Identify opportunities to profile and recognize alumni and highlight Northwestern’s work locally and globally
  • Allow the NAA to share contact information with others in the community
• Promote local, global, and digital programming and initiatives launched by the NAA
• Work with NAA staff to identify regional opportunities; support Northwestern University administrators, faculty, or key stakeholders if and when they visit
• Coordinate and market a local Northwestern Connects gathering (held in January) and/or New Student Reception (held in late July/August) in the region in alignment with event parameters set by the NAA (*If applicable)
• Help keep Northwestern’s alumni database and records accurate and up to date
  • Refer address and email updates to NAA staff as needed
  • Submit local event information and attendance lists
• Complete an annual survey on activities in the region and experience as a volunteer
• Read and sign the Volunteer Code of Conduct and the Confidentiality Agreement

*Ambassadors are not required to plan alumni activities or events, although they are welcome to do so. If there is interest in planning events, please contact the NAA.

• Relationship-building skills
  • Builds and actively maintains working relationships and/or networks of contacts to further the NAA’s priorities
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to speak positively and with knowledge about Northwestern University and the vision and mission of the NAA

• Welcome kit of helpful resources and Northwestern/NAA information
• Global Alumni Ambassador lapel pin
• Access to regular NAA and Global Alumni Ambassador volunteer communications

• Networking and relationship building
• Written and oral communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills

• The Global Ambassador is appointed for a two-year term, renewable by the NAA. The NAA has the right to end an Ambassador’s service mid-term if the above expectations are not met.
• This is a responsive role, and time commitment will depend on the volume of requests, regional needs, and activity.
• There will be no more than two (2) Global Ambassadors per territory. Terms may not be renewable if there is a waitlist for the region.

• The Global Ambassador is expected to be an annual donor to Northwestern each fiscal year (September 1–August 31)