Oakland University Alumni Association

06/02/2026

⚾ Last chance to register!

Don’t miss OU Night at United Wholesale Mortgage Field on June 19 featuring baseball, an all-American BBQ buffet, fireworks, reserved seating, kids running the bases and more! 🎆🌭

⏰ Registration closes TOMORROW, June 3 - grab your tickets before it’s too late!

06/02/2026

🌟 Tribute Tuesday 🙌

After more than a decade of dedicated service to Oakland University, Rick Rachner, associate vice president of University Advancement, has helped shape the place our alumni call home in more ways than one.

Since joining OU in 2013, Rick’s thoughtful leadership, strong partnerships and unwavering commitment to Oakland University have helped guide alumni engagement and advancement efforts through moments of growth, periods of transition and unprecedented challenges. Most notably, Rick played a pivotal role in the unparalleled success of the university's Aspire. Advance. Achieve. fundraising campaign.

There are few areas across campus Rick hasn’t touched. Known for his collaborative spirit and ability to bring both purpose and humor to the work, Rick leaves a lasting impact on the many colleagues, donors and campus partners he has worked with throughout the years.

As Rick prepares to begin a new leadership role at Michigan State University, we thank him for his many contributions to OU and wish him continued success in this exciting next chapter.

Once a Golden Grizzly, always a Golden Grizzly. 💛🖤

06/01/2026

Calling all Golden Grizzly entrepreneurs, creators and business owners! 🐻💛

Join The Gold Pages - Oakland University’s alumni business directory - and put your business in front of fellow alumni, students, faculty and friends of OU. Participating businesses receive increased visibility, opportunities for social media spotlights, newsletter features and more!

Whether you own a storefront, run an online business, freelance or offer professional services, we want to celebrate your success and help connect the OU community with alumni-owned businesses. Plus, your business could be featured on our alumni social media channels for even more exposure!

🔗Learn more: https://www.oakland.edu/alumni/programs/gold-pages/

05/29/2026

May is Mentorship and Teaching Excellence Month 🎓💛

As a first-generation student, Charon Morgan, SECS ’96, didn’t just learn engineering, she learned how to navigate an entire industry. From Oakland University to a global career in vehicle dynamics and safety critical systems, her journey has been shaped by curiosity, resilience and a commitment to growth.

🛩Her work has taken her across the U.S. and abroad, including five years in China, while staying closely connected to OU through mentoring, advising and industry partnerships. Through organizations like Automotive Women's Alliance Foundation and Society of Women Engineers, she helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience, creating pathways for the next generation of engineers.

Today, she continues to give back as a mentor and educator, serving on the ME Advisory Board , SECS Advisory Board and Industry Mentor to the OU SWE Chapter where she supports students, especially women in engineering, with the guidance, networks and opportunities they need to succeed.

Oakland University School of Engineering and Computer Science

05/28/2026

Set sail on the journey of a lifetime in 2027! 🌍🚢

Join fellow alumni on the European Coastal Cruise from Lisbon to London and experience the rich history, culture, and cuisine of Portugal, Spain, and France aboard a deluxe small ship. Highlights include UNESCO World Heritage sites, Mont-Saint-Michel, Santiago de Compostela, Bilbao, and Normandy’s historic D-Day beaches.

From unforgettable coastal scenery to meaningful connections with fellow travelers, this is more than a trip — it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Learn more and start planning your 2027 adventure today: 🔗https://www.oakland.edu/alumni/programs/golden-grizzlies-getaways/

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

⭐Join us for an evening of celebration at the 2026 Alumni Night of Excellence✨

This event brings the Golden Grizzly community together for an unforgettable night honoring outstanding alumni and community leaders alike who continue to make an incredible impact. This will be a special opportunity to connect, celebrate and show your OU pride alongside fellow alumni, faculty, staff and friends.

📍 Saturday, June 6, 2026
📍 Oakland Center | Oakland University
🎟 Register by May 27

Learn more about this year’s inspiring honorees and reserve your spot: 🔗https://bit.ly/4ueJ6j4

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

As Golden Grizzlies, we are grateful for their sacrifice and the freedoms they helped protect. Wishing our Oakland University alumni community a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day. 💛

05/22/2026

🌟 May is Mentorship & Teaching Excellence Month 👩‍🎓

For OU alumna Elizabeth Gerhart, '05, whose work with the Oakland University School of Business Women's Leadership and Mentor Program helps connect students with meaningful opportunities, mentorship means more than professional guidance — it has the power to shape careers, build confidence and create lifelong connections.

This meaningful program connects students with professional mentors who provide encouragement, advice and real-world perspective as they prepare to transition from college to career. Through one-on-one connections, leadership development and shared experiences, students gain support that can have a lasting impact long after graduation.

As we continue celebrating mentorship this month, we’re proud to highlight opportunities that bring together incredible women across the OU community — especially our inspiring alumni who continue to give back and lift others along the way. 💛

Special thanks to Oakland University Credit Union for supporting the SBA Women's Leadership and Mentor Program.

Interested in becoming a mentor? Learn more and apply by May 25: https://ow.ly/UopU50YZJZq

05/22/2026

✨ Feature Friday ✨

Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Bittinger, SON ’89, ’96 and ’18, recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Service Award at the upcoming Alumni Night of Excellence.

Dr. Bittinger is a distinguished alumna, clinician, educator and leader whose enduring connection to Oakland University spans more than four decades. As a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Corewell Health–Royal Oak and longtime faculty member in the Oakland University–Beaumont Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia, she has helped shape the next generation of health care leaders through teaching, mentorship and outreach.

Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Bittinger developed outreach initiatives introducing middle and high school students to careers in nursing and nurse anesthesia and has coordinated shadow experiences for more than 900 aspiring nurse anesthetists. She also became the first certified registered nurse anesthetist in the United States to be certified in emotional intelligence.

Her lifelong commitment to OU includes serving as a student-athlete, faculty member, volunteer, philanthropist and advisory board member. Together with her husband, Scott, she has established three scholarships to support future students.

Join us in celebrating Dr. Bittinger and all of this year’s incredible honorees at the 2026 Alumni Night of Excellence on June 6! Be sure to register before May 27 to attend this unforgettable evening celebrating the Golden Grizzly community. 💛🖤

🔗Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4dX6w6N

Oakland University School of Nursing
Oakland University Graduate School