Renew, Reconnect, Reunite

The Kellogg School's Centennial-year Reunion turned out to be the largest in the school's history, drawing more than 2,000 alumni and family members from 28 countries to renew old friendships, revisit the campus and take part in professional enrichment opportunities.

Highlights included a full slate of MBA Updates, Career Management Center workshops and the 1979 Alumni Panel, featuring CEOs from that year discussing their views on the economy and the outlook for the future.

Graduates visited classes and joined student-guided tours of the campus. On Friday evening, the Special K Revue (right), the annual comedy show staged by current MBA students, entertained the alumni audience. (This year's theme: "How to Lose a Job in 10 Days.")

More than 175 alumni volunteered to help plan the festivities — and for the first time ever, a 30th-year committee emerged to coordinate the celebration for that year's class. New this year were class "e-books," an electronic collection of news and notes that allowed alums to reconnect prior to Reunion and offered those unable to attend a chance to share with their class.

Brian Uzzi (left), the Richard L. Thomas Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, was elected the 2009 Alumni Professor of the Year. The award recognizes the Kellogg School professor deemed most influential on the professional lives of alumni returning for Reunion.

A Dean's Council and Distinguished Alumni breakfast was attended Saturday morning by more than 150 alumni, faculty and friends. The breakfast also recognized alumni celebrating their 40th and 50th reunions, and for the first time included past and present Austin Scholars. On Saturday evening, alums gathered at five venues in the Chicago area to reconnect with their classmates.

"The Reunion planning group worked tirelessly to ensure that Reunion 2009 was all that it could be," said Ed Wilson '84 (left), associate dean of alumni relations. "We were blessed with a good plan, good weather and the greatest attendance we ever experienced, making it a weekend to remember."

For more on Reunion 2009, including class pages, photo galleries, e-books, video of the 1979 Alumni Panel and more, please visit  alumni.kellogg.northwestern.edu/reunion/index.htm