Throughout the last year, 14 volunteers have been meeting, zooming, studying, and more—carefully planning the next steps for Johns Hopkins’ upcoming comprehensive university-wide fundraising campaign. The group, dubbed the Campaign Planning Committee (CPC), includes multiple voices, perspectives, and experiences, ensuring the future campaign of Johns Hopkins will be presented and executed in a thoughtful way.
The CPC is charged with considering how to enhance and strengthen a university-wide campaign; serving as a sounding board through which institutional leaders can recognize and consider the perspectives of diverse supporters; and championing the institution through their own experience of Hopkins. The chair of the CPC, Jeff Aronson, A&S ’80, Parent ’13, ’15, has deep knowledge of Hopkins as an alum, parent, university trustee, and long-time volunteer leader. He has served in many leadership roles including as the chair of the university board of trustees, the chair of the Committee on Philanthropy and Engagement, and Campaign Chair.
“The Campaign Planning Committee is a terrific group of volunteers, giving their time generously, sharing their expertise wisely, and, above all, advocating for Hopkins with the excitement and insight we need in this pivotal moment for the institution,” Aronson states.
A variety of backgrounds is a major strength for the CPC. The volunteers represent all of Hopkins’ divisions and are alumni, leadership volunteers on a number of boards and councils, active community members, and professionals in an array of fields. Each of these roles and experiences helps to inform their work on the CPC.
“The Campaign Planning Committee is a terrific group of volunteers, giving their time generously, sharing their expertise wisely, and, above all, advocating for Hopkins with the excitement and insight we need in this pivotal moment for the institution.”
Jeff Aronson, A&S ’80, Parent ’13, ’15 Campaign Chair
Regardless of which division they call home, the CPC are staunch and knowledgeable advocates for the institution, and their excitement and pride for Hopkins is evident. One of the focal points for the committee has been finding ways to connect the many ideas, people, and facets of Hopkins.
Natalie Bush, a CPC member who has served on the School of Nursing board since 2014, and been its chair since 2022 states: “One of the most exciting things with this campaign is that we’re bringing all the different schools together in one place to plan and share ideas, so there is a lot of learning that’s happening… We have the opportunity to get people behind something that they would really want to solidify around and be a part of.”
As the CPC’s work winds down, the members will continue their efforts in service of this important moment for Johns Hopkins. As a CPC member, Leadership Fellow, past chair of the Second Decade Society, and volunteer on the Krieger School advisory board Arielle Goren, A&S ’05, states, “One of the things I love most about being an alumni volunteer is constantly learning from the Hopkins community. Whether it’s a fascinating conversation with Dan Weiss about humanities in the age of AI, or learning about Dean Szanton’s work at the School of Nursing to train the next generation of leaders and advocates in the field, or hearing about the incredible careers and lives our many impressive alumni have built, there’s always something new to be discovered.”
Topics: Alumni, Faculty and Staff, Foundations, Support Scholars