CAAE Member Spotlight, April-May 2022

Name: Caryn Schultz Korman, Executive Director, UIC Alumni Association

Institution: University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)

Q: Are you new to alumni relations, new to your institution, neither, or both? 

A: Neither, I have been working in higher education and in alumni relations for 25 years (!!!) this year. This is the third time I have worked at UIC – the previous two times I worked for the University of Illinois Alumni Association (when we were all one alumni association for the three campuses of Illinois), but I have always been and focused on UIC.

Q: Best perk of the job so far?

A: I have had an incredible opportunity to come back to UIC and build our first Alumni Association for only UIC Alumni. The campus has a vast and interesting history and has had incredible momentum over the past few years. There has been tremendous support for Alumni Relations across UIC. It has been rewarding to build a team, a strong and diverse alumni board, and the strategy to engage our alumni. It’s been hard work, but never a dull moment!  

Q: Biggest challenge so far?

A: Same answer as above – building a new Alumni Association is very rewarding, but has been very challenging. Lots of twists and turns I couldn’t have predicted. And, of course, the other challenge I know we have all felt has been adjusting during the pandemic and now dealing with the great resignation.  

Q: If you needed to, could you sing your school’s fight song and/or alma mater?

A: Yes, I can sing Fire Up Flames (fight song) and May the Flames Burn Brightly Forever (school song). However, I am in the minority as we are primarily a commuter campus in downtown Chicago. Most people/alumni can’t sing it and don’t know either song even exists, but I work to teach people every chance I get!  

Q: What would it surprise people to know about you?

A: I’m pretty much an open book!

Q: Who would be your dream dinner guests?

A: This is so hard as there are so many people whose brains I would love to pick! The first people who come to mind are Susan B. Anthony, RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) and Betty White.

Q: When I’m not on the job, you’ll find me…:

A: With family, friends, at swim meets, at Broadway in Chicago or on the pickleball court!