One year ago in this space, I asked you kind of a personal question. How does your Caltech degree translate into living your best life? Not just a job, but the right job. Not just an idea but the relationships to help bring it to life. Not just relationships, but family.

And as you pondered, I shared that while more than 25,000 Caltech graduates continue to produce at the leading edge of the most important work in the world—protecting the planet, curing disease, forwarding science for the benefit of all—CAA’s leadership is focusing on you. How are you doing? Are you satisfied in your work? Do you want to change what you do? Or maybe find people who can help you do it better? How about friends? Relationships? Family? Are you balanced? I know Techers, so I know you work hard. But are you happy in your profession and your life?

It’s one year later now, and despite all the challenges present in the world today, CAA is persistently working to provide a space for the human element, a space for alumni around the world to come together to foster personal and professional relationships based on the unique experiences, skills, and the needs Techers share. Caltech Alumni continues to progress and succeed. Through all the challenges and rapid, global societal shifts,
CAA is growing and thriving.

Here are just a few accomplishments Caltech and CAA have made for Techers over the past year:
    •  Techer Magazine redesigned
    •  Caltech Alumni website relaunched
    •  Alumni Portal launched (portal.alumni.caltech.edu)
    •  Oral History Book, more than 1,900 Techers contributed stories
    •  Black Alumni Council launched
    •  Increased communications, via web, email and social media
    •  Strategic Plan adopted, based on input from alumni
    •  CAA staff vacancies filled (while doing all the above during the pandemic… proud of the staff, too)

And while we are committed to creating as many in-person experiences, virtual events have created new accessibility.
•  Seminar Day 2021 - saw 2,115 people participate over four sessions (You will join us on May 14, won’t you?)
•  Online events and lectures, including the Match Madness chess tourney, Diversity-Equity-Inclusion lecture on Challenges facing Math & Physics, and more.
•  Distinguished Alumni Conversations were expanded and accessible from anywhere in the world. In-depth interviews allowed you to get to know the 2021 Distinguished Alumni.
•  Board and Annual meetings adapted to online environments, and the Board is working to provide for more virtual participation. Finally, alumni played an invaluable role in supporting Caltech’s Break Through Campaign, which closed this fall, raising a record-shattering $3.4 billion, laying the foundation for Caltech’s future successes. Alumni contributed $778 million, and significant funding has been designated for Financial Aid for Future Techers ($416 million), and for Faculty and Staff ($32 million). As Caltech sets its sights on the next goals, we are grateful to know alumni continue to support the mission.

We all benefit in many ways from the power of community. Caltech Alumni works for you, the humans behind the important and challenging work of science, technology, and engineering.

We are here to help you to work, play, and live well.

I hope you will join in,

Ralph E. Amos
Executive Director, Caltech Alumni Association