They laughed. They cried. They reminisced.
About 600 alumni, family, and friends returned to Hunter College March 27-31 for an unforgettable Alumni Weekend — the first such in-person gathering since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019.
The four-day extravaganza honored the classes ending in 0 and 5, with special recognition for the milestone classes of 1975 and 2000. Spanning eight decades, alumni traveled to Hunter’s Manhattan campus from across the globe — united by their desire to reconnect, witness the college’s evolution, and contribute to its future.
The long-awaited reunion was filled with laughter, nostalgia, and a renewed sense of community as alumni crowded the halls of Hunter’s “vertical campus” at 68th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Alumni at the Thomas Hunter Society and Leadership Dinner on March 27.
“It was so enjoyable to meet up with friends and relive the many cherished experiences I had at Hunter,” said Lawrence Chisolm ’07, who traveled from South Carolina for the event.
Alumni attended socials, breakfasts, lectures by Hunter faculty members and alumni experts, a dessert reception, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and immersive tours of the Toby and Leon Cooperman Library’s special collections and archives, the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, and the Brookdale and Silberman campuses. Hunter’s schools of nursing and social work provided several of the lecturers, as well as Hunter’s School of Arts and Sciences.
The festivities opened on Thursday with a Young Alumni Mixer on the 7th-floor skybridge, connecting the east and west buildings over Lexington Avenue. Lit dazzlingly for the occasion in Hunter’s signature purple and white, the illuminated skybridge showed the city (or at least motorists and pedestrians) that Hunter alumni were home. The event fostered new connections and rekindled old friendships among both recent graduates and the young at heart.
Young alumni at the mixer.
“Despite our diverse paths, we all connected over memories of navigating the bridge between classes and the infamous registration rush,” said Monica Chawla ’14. “I can’t wait for the next reunion!”
Chawla said Hunter changed her life trajectory when, as a pre-health student, she took a chance on a pre-law class; now she’s a successful attorney.
In that, she was like many of the alumni who participated in the “But for Hunter” video campaign, which were collected throughout the morning on Saturday, and will be shared on the series page soon. The campaign highlights how Hunter helps students achieve their American Dream and impact the world.
The 7th-floor skybridge is lit for the Young Alumni Mixer.
Also on Thursday, the college held a private dinner for loyal donors and members of the Thomas Hunter Society — those who have included the Hunter College Foundation in their estate plans. Donors heard from Hunter President Nancy Cantor, who spoke about and shared a video clip of the “But for Hunter” testimonials. It was a powerful reminder of how Hunter changes lives.
On Friday evening, the Hunter College Alumni Association inducted five distinguished individuals into its Hall of Fame, which comprises a set of plaques in the lobby of the West Building.
Nursing luminaries Judith Aponte BS ’94, MS ’98; Aliza Ben-Zacharia MS ’90, and Eileen O'Connor Coulom ’76 were honored alongside New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes ’06 (D-Brooklyn), an adjunct instructor, and novelist Kaitlyn Greenidge MFA ’10. A 2024 Hall of Fall inductee, Arnold Serotsky ’68, gave remarks.
From left, Hunter College President Nancy Cantor, Acting Alumni Association President Kim Hafner ’95, Community Service Awardee Leslie Lieth, and Hall of Fame Committee Chair Barbara Andrews Shackatano.
Saturday’s packed schedule drew more than 300 to Hunter West. “Morning Memories: Breakfast by the Decades” fueled attendees for a day of enriching activities. A tour of the library’s special collections showcased remarkable historical artifacts, including century old yearbooks, athletic uniforms from Hunter’s decades as a women’s college, and the 1988 Nobel Prize gold medal of chemist Gertrude Elion ’37.
