Yale University

Class News

Don Edwards '64 reports on the 2019 YAA Assembly


Don Edwards '64, AYA Representative

Don Edwards, our Class Representative to the Yale Alumni Association, attended the November 21-22, 2019 Assembly with the theme “Cultivating Leadership: Advancing Yale’s Mission.” Given the fact that Don’s wife Sally had an accident that week, it’s admirable that Don was able to attend as much of the Assembly as he did. To complement his report, Sam Francis and I (who were there to make a presentation that is separately reported) have added some observations on Assembly sessions that we attended.

Don Edwards’ YAA Class Representative term ends in June 2020. He’s done a great job attending annual assemblies in November and writing reports. If you would like to consider this role for a 3-year term, please contact Tony Lavely, ’64 Class Secretary.

YAA Assembly and Convocation
November 21-22, 2019

Report to the Class of 1964
by Don Edwards

The annual Yale Alumni Association Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation opened later than usual this year, presumably to coincide with the 136th edition of “The Game.”  The timing was prescient, as all who went to the Bowl or watched on TV were treated to the most dramatic playing of The Game since the infamous 29-29 tie in 1968.  The game ended in darkness after an hour-long half-time climate-change demonstration.  But Yale rallied with two touchdown passes in the final 88 seconds of double overtime to win 50-43. (see details)

The Assembly was far less dramatic, but enlightening nevertheless, with a varied program that featured our own Class of 1964 website!  Tony Lavely and Sam Francis gave an excellent presentation of the site’s development to the College Classes workshop, which you can see directly in the Class News.  Thanks to Sam, we can take pride in the fact that a class that was, at best, introduced to punch cards before graduation is a leader in digital communication.

My wife Sally was released from Yale-New Haven Hospital the day before the Assembly began, so I missed the panel of deans that introduced the Assembly theme, “Cultivating Leadership: Advancing Yale’s Mission.”  (A report of that discussion can be found here. But I did get to the next session on leadership in athletics.  In a nod to the 50th anniversary of coeducation at Yale, the new Director of Athletics, Vicki Chun, moderated a discussion with Lisa Brummel ’81 and Ginny Gilder ’79, two of the owners of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. After lunch in the colleges, the afternoon program offered a wide variety of breakouts and tours. Leadership in research, innovation, social entrepreneurship, and international relations were among the topics. The Founder and Director of the William F. Buckley, Jr. Program led a panel of student leaders on promoting intellectual diversity at Yale, a topic that was addressed at our reunion last June. The Yale Medal Dinner Thursday night honored five outstanding alumni leaders: Nancy Marx Better ’84, William H. Donaldson ’53, Caroline Hsiao Van ’79, John Walsh ’61, and Scott R. Williamson ’80 (see details). The ceremony also recognized the winners from previous years, including our own Chris Getman.

Following the class website presentation Friday morning, I joined Tony and Sam for the University Update with President Salovey. His remarks built on the priorities coming out of last year’s report of the Science Strategy Committee. Yale is in the silent phase of its next capital campaign, and Salovey is polishing the message for that effort. I thought he seemed more focused and confident than in past years. The almost 600 alumni leaders gave him a standing ovation at the end. The speech was followed by a panel of trustees (what we knew as Members of the Corporation) who spoke about the work of the Board and their personal philosophies of leadership. At a joint YAA and Alumni Fund luncheon, Nathaniel Nickerson, the newly appointed VP for Communications, outlined his strategic vision. Having played that role at Rutgers for many years, I was impressed with his approach. 

I’m grateful to the Class Council for asking me to serve as a delegate to the Assembly.

Donald B. Edwards
December 18, 2019

Addendum by Tony Lavely:

In addition to what Don reported, I am adding my observations on sessions that I attended.  As someone interested in technology, I was pleased to see that YAA added a smartphone app for the first time, so you could carry your schedule in the palm of your hand.

  • On Thursday morning, I attended a panel titled, “Belonging at Yale: Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on Campus.”   It was moderated by Dean Burgwell Howard, VP for Student Life, and by Sharon Kugler, Yale University Chaplin, and they spoke about the how the currents of diversity require new ways of engaging with students and students with each other.
  • Yale Alumni Fund Lunch on Thursday: As a board member of the Yale Alumni Fund, I attended their lunch on Thursday at Yale Divinity School (where I had not been since freshman year). Joan O’Neill, VP for Alumni Affairs and Development, spoke.  Her main theme was the preparation of the next Yale capital campaign.
  • On Thursday afternoon, I attended a panel titled “Student Leaders on Promoting Intellectual Diversity,” in St. Thomas More Hall. Don attended this, too, but I would like to add that student representatives from the William F. Buckley, Jr. Program will be attending our annual Class Council meeting on February 8, 2020.
  • Branford College Fellows Dinner:  As an Associate Fellow, I don’t get to attend as many of their monthly events as I would like. Master Enrique De La Cruz and his wife, Leslie Carmin, hosted us for cocktails in the Branford College home. You’ll remember that they attended our 55th Class reunion last May. This was followed by dinner in the Branford Common Room, where I had the great pleasure and edification to sit next to James Rothman ‘71, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 2013.
  • On Friday morning, Sam Francis and I presented our approach to the Class website and Class Notes to about 50 Yale Class officers. You can see the presentation here.
  • On Friday afternoon, Sam and I attended a special workshop on Digital Strategies, especially social media. Yale has really awakened to the power of social media for alumni and special-interest communications in recent years. I belong to nine Yale Closed Facebook groups, from Food & Wine to Football.
  • Friday evening, I joined three other classmates — Chris Getman, Terry Holcombe, and Chuck Post — at the Blue Leadership Ball.
  • Saturday was all about The Game. You can find narrative and photos here.