It is an amazing fall, and I am filled with gratitude as I reflect on where we are at Wharton.

I am thankful for the tremendous leadership provided for so many years by our former Board of Overseers Chairman Jon M. Huntsman Sr., W’59, HON’96, and for six years of dedicated service from our former Alumni Executive Board Chairman Rob Newbold, WG’99. Both proved that Wharton leaders are unmatched in their ability to lead not only in business but in service to others.

I am also thankful for the tremendous success of Penn’s Making History Campaign and The Campaign for Wharton. The generosity of our alumni throughout one of the most challenging economic cycles in history reveals our collective hearts and minds around the importance of Wharton as a channel for advancing the development of the world in a way that no other organization can.

I am thankful that our board is moving forward and working closely with the School on key major initiatives that are critical to everyone’s future.

Lifelong Learning is an initiative that extends every Wharton four-year and two-year experience into their lives and careers—through education, knowledge sharing and peer engagement. Think about how much Wharton has impacted how we all think and act. Continuing that neural nutrition is a no-brainer!

The Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative (Penn Wharton PPI) may be the most important initiative of our time. Never has our country more needed the knowledge and wisdom of Wharton faculty, alumni and students. The initiative seeks to drive research and education that focuses on issues that are relevant to business and the economy.

Through independent, practical, timely and nonpartisan data and analysis, it will inform government decision-makers and positively impact the American economy.

Looking forward, we will continue to work through our Wharton Global Forums, Class Ambassadors, Global Clubs Network and other activities to drive the engagement of alumni in our community. More and more alumni are experiencing the full benefit of the community that is Wharton, but we don’t want even one to miss out. So join our incoming Alumni Executive Board President Bruce Schulman, WG’99; our new Board of Overseers Chairman William “Bill” L. Mack, W’61; and me in finding an old friend and rejuvenating engagement with Wharton.

L. David Mounts, WG’04

Chairman, Wharton Alumni Executive Board