2023-2024 Lawrence S. Preo Fellow

Megan Marshall, Assistant Director of Student Alumni Programs & Family Engagement at the University of California, Los Angeles, has received the CAAE Lawrence S. Preo Fellowship. Her fellowship project will address the hypothesis that alumni engagement and reengagement is positively influenced when an alumnus/a has one or more children who attend their alma mater. She will examine engagement trends amongst UCLA alumni and the impact of intersectional identities pertaining to the University. Her project will focus on three groups of individuals with varying affiliation to the university: (1) constituents who identify solely as UCLA alumni, (2) constituents who identify as both alumni and parents of current UCLA students, and (3) constituents who identify as both alumni and parents of graduated UCLA students. This project could heavily impact the way the UCLA Alumni Association approaches engaging and supporting alumni parents with the probable impact of making a significant impact for alumni-parent and family offices at institutions nationwide.

Ms. Marshall received her Bachelor of Science in Selected Studies in Education with a Minor in Sociology from Syracuse University and her Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Policy at Northwestern University. Her current work at the University of California, Los Angeles includes developing quarterly newsletters for student and family populations, social media and web engagement, podcast producing and editing, volunteer management, and supporting large-scale programming for current students, alumni, and families.

Named in honor of CAAE’s first Executive Administrator until his retirement in 2013, Lawrence S. Preo was Executive Director of the Purdue Alumni Association for 16 years, following a career that spanned more than 20 years with Purdue’s Division of Recreational Sports. Applicants must be entry-level professionals with up to five years of experience in alumni relations at a CAAE member institution. Preo Fellows receive up to $2,500 to cover research-related expenses as well as hotel and travel costs for participation in the CAAE Winter Institute.