James Garavaglia
President, Wayne State University Alumni Association
I’m proud to introduce myself as the new president of the alumni association Board of Directors. Like many alumni, I feel indebted to Wayne State and I look forward to giving back to the place that influenced so much in my life – from what I do on weekends to where I live to how I diversify my assets.
I never realized how living on campus impacted me in so many positive ways until I was asked to accept a seat on the alumni board. I started thinking about living at the Helen L. DeRoy Apartments and taking the Trumbull bus to Tigers games and the Woodward bus to the symphony.
I remember working at the Detroit Institute of Arts and studying gallery after gallery of the world’s treasures. Now art is a passion, and I collect early 20th century Japanese wood block prints.
I also was taken back to my first Italian opera, which I attended as a Wayne State graduate student. Now I catch productions in Italy on trips to see relatives.
And years after my student and teaching days at Wayne State, I would recognize the name Fred Matthaei while house hunting in Ann Arbor. Now I have lived 20 years in a house built by his son. That was truly the only reason we went to look at it.
Yes, I can honestly say that much of what I am doing today circles back to Wayne State. When I looked back at my time there and what it has meant to my adult life, the connections came together: The things I most enjoy are the things I learned at Wayne.
Ernie Hudson, who recently co-starred in Desperate Housewives, is making the same realizations. He told me how the performing arts department basically saved his life and put him on the right track. I know what he means. Wayne State pushes you into the real world long before you earn your degree. That’s the experience of many Wayne State alumni because the university is truly a unique town within a town, with much to offer whether you live on campus or commute.
And, the experience grows after graduation. I’m asking alumni to think about their lives and how much can be traced back to Wayne State.
I’m also asking everyone to rekindle the connection. Let’s show strength in numbers from fundraisers to the ballot box. We can flex our political muscle in Lansing. Legislators always listen to their constituents before lobbyists despite what people might think. Be heard. Protect the experience for students at Wayne State now.
