News from the alumni association by Justin (Rick) Bardellini, Alumni Association President

The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education Alumni Association (GSEAA) was founded in 1964 to support the Graduate School of Education in its efforts to provide leadership in the field and in its research on education in California. Anyone who has received a degree or credential from the Graduate School of Education is automatically considered a member of the GSEAA. There are no dues, and all alumni receive the GSE Term Paper twice a year, in the spring and fall.

The benefits of active membership are social as well as professional. Members have the opportunity to meet new friends in the field, renew old friendships, and make informal professional contacts. They receive invitations to dinner meetings, seminars, and colloquia with outstanding leaders in education. The Alumni Association helps keep its members up-to-date on recent research by inviting students to make presentations at their board meetings each semester. This year, the GSEAA is planning the first of a series of faculty panels on topical issues in education for Cal Day 2000.

The GSEAA maintains an active involvement with graduate students at the School of Education. Since 1995, the GSEAA has presented two scholarships per year to outstanding graduate students. The funds for these scholarships have come from gifts by members of the Alumni Association. Every year the GSEAA holds a mock interview program for students seeking teaching positions. Additionally, the GSEAA has sponsored a career fair and participates in the School's annual Commencement and Orientation programs.

The Alumni Association is currently working on a strategic plan to guide its efforts for the next five years. To find out more about active membership in the GSEAA, write to Kay Gilliland, Membership Coordinator, 14240 Skyline Blvd., Oakland CA 94619 or e-mail her at gillilandk@aol.com (put EAA in the subject line).