Jun 23, 2009 - Claremont, Calif. - The Harvey Mudd College (HMC) Alumni Association Board of Governors (AABoG) voted unanimously to bestow Honorary Alumna status upon Director of External Relations Dea Marcano during its regular meeting June 13.

It was announced recently that Marcano will be leaving HMC June 30 in order to assume her new duties as director of alumni relations at Chapman University in Orange County. She will return to campus to be officially recognized by the AABoG during Alumni Weekend 2010.

"This will allow us all to recognize her many achievements and publicly thank her for her commitment to fostering a strong bond between the college and alumni, parents as well as community friends," said Marc Archambault, vice president for college advancement.

The AABoG charter specifies that Honorary Alumni are selected according to the following criteria. A candidate for Honorary Alumni shall:

• Be a long-standing friend of the college, its students and alumni
• Have contributed significantly to the betterment of the students and alumni

"Dea Marcano definitely fits these criteria very well," said AABoG president Jonathan Mersel. "We, the Harvey Mudd College Alumni Association Board of Governors, and I, the current president in particular, will miss Dea greatly. Over the last 13 years she has continuously worked for both the benefit of the alumni and the college.

"She has shown dedication, wisdom, and compassion in helping the Alumni Association in its mission. Her shoes will be most hard to fill, as expressed by the full board which, unanimously, with immediate and heartfelt action, awarded her the status of Honorary Alumna."

Beginning with her first AABoG meeting in January 1996, she has attended every one of them during her tenure at the college - 54 in all.

"I've worked with alumni, parent and Claremont community volunteers over the years and have found that the excellence of Harvey Mudd College's students and alumni invoke a tremendous passion to see the college do well, by all its constituents," said Marcano.

"My closest association has been with the alumni board of governors. I've worked with seven alumni association presidents and found them all to be exceptionally devoted to their alma mater: Adam Shane ‘89, Sally Siemak ‘72, Jerome Jackson ‘76, Howard Deshong ‘89, Fred Pickel ‘74 and Jon Mersel ‘76.

"These and other alumni do a tremendous amount of work: they make sure regional and campus events are successful and that alumni are appropriately recognized for their achievements; they help raise money for the college; and to make sure that meaningful opportunities for engagement occur on as many levels as possible. Their enthusiasm is catching!"

"To be recognized as an Honorary Alumna of the college is a tremendous honor," she continued. "As one who has witnessed the decision process of how awards are granted, much thought and consideration is given for each award, and it is never a rubber stamp. I have developed very special connections over the years, so I am pleased that becoming an Honorary Alumna means I will always be connected to Harvey Mudd College!"