Stanford Alumni

03/06/2026

Each year, the Stanford Alumni Association honors students whose leadership, service, and Stanford spirit have strengthened the university community.

This year’s top honors went to Ava Brown, recipient of the J.E. Wallace Sterling Award, and Georgia Walker-Keleher, recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award.

SAA also recognized 265 undergraduate students with the Award of Excellence and 195 graduate students with the Community Impact Award.

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees ♥️🌲♾️

📸: Damian Marhefka, Caroline Chen, Erin Attkisson

Learn more about the honorees and the history of these awards here: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/05/stanford-alumni-association-honors-outstanding-students

02/06/2026

At Stanford, time alone can start to feel like being left behind.

For Sidney Suh, ’26, solitude had felt like freedom since childhood. But during her time at Stanford, being alone slowly started to feel like something to avoid rather than enjoy. Then, after a quiet afternoon in the United States Botanic Garden, the switch flipped back.

“Like the sun breaking through a layer of morning fog, I realized this was the first time that I was voluntarily spending time alone since coming to Stanford. And what’s more, I was enjoying it.”

Read how solo adventures, spontaneous trips, and quiet moments of reflection helped Suh rediscover the value of spending time alone in STANFORD mag’s “Free Solo," here: https://stanfordmag.org/contents/free-solo

📸: Kali Shiloh

01/06/2026

Last week, lecturer Sara Mrsny, PhD '20, brought together current undergrads and Stanford alumni who enrolled in their respective versions of "Citizenship in the 21st Century".

This was a special moment of dialogue across generations given the same course material but experienced differently: undergrads are required to take the course for credit and met 18 times with assignments to complete while alumni opt in and meet six times with no assignments other than the reading. This evening was for conversation about COLLEGE, to explore engaging citizens, and compare notes about what they learned.

Back to COLLEGE offers alumni a unique opportunity to be a Stanford student again. Alumni from around the world gather virtual or in person for interactive seminar experience designed to challenge ideas, spark conversation, and reconnect with the joy of learning.

Stay informed when enrollment opens in mid-September for Back to COLLEGE: Your Education and The Good Life offered in the fall quarter for alumni. Sign up for the Food for Thought newsletter for the announcement: https://alumni.stanford.edu/resources/newsletters/

📸: Erin Attkisson

29/05/2026

♥️🌲♾️

“You cannot take your place in the long line of those who came before you simply by sitting in front of a screen or at a keyboard.”

Broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw delivered a clear message to Stanford’s Class of 2006, one that still resonates today: Technology can connect the world, but it can’t replace conviction, civic duty, or showing up for one another.

And, as always: “Godspeed and Beat Cal.”

Watch the full Commencement address at the link in our bio.

📸: Cover image, L.A. Cicero
🎥: Fernando Ramos, Monica Chua, Patrick Jang
🎵: MB01TGDADFEGPF5

29/05/2026

This NBA preseason, Mitch Johnson, ’09, began his first year as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, the 19th head coach in franchise history and the first Stanford Men's Basketball alumnus to lead an NBA team.

Today, the Spurs forced a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals. The teams play Saturday at 5pm PT. The winner will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.

LET’S GO CARD 🏀🌲🏆

📸: Stanford Athletics

27/05/2026

Mung Chiang, ’99, MS ’00, PhD ’03, has been named president-elect of Northwestern University.

Chiang currently serves as president of Purdue University, where he has led major research growth, expanded industry partnerships, and launched new academic initiatives. A Stanford-trained engineer and researcher, he previously served on the faculty at Princeton University and is recognized internationally for his work in communications and wireless technology.

Learn more about Chiang's appointment here: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/05/mung-chiang-named-next-president-of-northwestern

📸: Northwestern University / Shane Collins

Mung Chiang, the president of Purdue University, has been named the 18th president of Northwestern University, Northwestern's Board of Trustees announced today.

22/05/2026

🐛🐛🐛

University horticulturist Gahl Shottan explains why campus is covered with caterpillars in the spring.

Learn more in the 2007 article “What You Don’t Know About Campus Caterpillars” in STANFORD mag. Link in bio.

🎥: Fernando Ramos
🎵: MB01K4WVLWMFRTC

21/05/2026

Lagunita Court dining room in the 1940s. Eighty years later, the room still has the same familiar glow ✨🌲♥️

📸: Stanford Libraries, H. Taghap

19/05/2026

Dr. Chelsea Clinton, ’01, is returning to Stanford.

Next Thursday, Dr. Clinton will headline the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Stanford Medicine 2026 Rosenkranz Global Health Policy Symposium, joining Secretary Condoleezza Rice in a conversation on the future of global health at a pivotal moment for international partnerships and policy.

A longtime advocate for health equity and global access, her work has spanned the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, with a focus on expanding opportunity and improving outcomes worldwide. Learn more about the symposium here: https://healthpolicy.fsi.stanford.edu/2026-rosenkranz-global-health-policy-research-symposium

This fall will mark the 25th anniversary of her graduation from Stanford.

📸: Linda A. Cicero

9/19/1997: Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and President Bill Clinton walk to Meyer Library on orientation day.

6/17/2001: Following Stanford’s Commencement ceremony, Chelsea Clinton celebrated with fellow graduates and danced with the Stanford Band on the field.

Additional photo: Ted Eytan, 2016 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

18/05/2026

Stanford alumni professional groups are hosting summer networking mixers across the country to connect students, interns, young alumni, and industry professionals. Sign up here: https://alumni.stanford.edu/career-connections/summer-networking-mixers/

These events create casual, career-focused spaces for mentorship, networking, and industry connection throughout the summer.

• 7/7 - San Francisco Bay Area
Stanford x McKinsey: Data Centers, Power, and Connections

• 7/14 - Boston
Boston Summer Networking Mixer

• 7/30 - Los Angeles
Stanford LA Summer Networking Mixer | STK Westwood

• 8/1 - Los Angeles
Summer Picnic with Stanford in Entertainment

• 8/4 - Seattle
Stanford Entrepreneur & Angel Investor Mixer in Seattle

• 8/13 - San Francisco Bay Area
Stanford Alumni in Healthcare AI Summer Mixer

• 8/18 - Stanford Campus
Summer Network Mixer for Stanford Students and Young Alumni - Public Service, Sustainability, and Global Impact

📸: From this month’s Stanford Alumni Groups meetup in Menlo Park, CA. H. Taghap