NH: July marked one year of serving as president of the Alumni Association. What has the experience on the board meant to you?

FD: It’s been a privilege to serve such a distinguished constituency for the College. Our alumni achieve outsized impact in communities and organizations of every kind and scale.

NH: We had a great turnout for Reunion. More than 600 alumni came home to Easton.

FD: Our alumni care deeply about Lafayette, and anytime they get to be on campus and connect with each other, it always becomes a powerful personal moment for them. We had alumni from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

NH: We both believe there is great value in showing up for this place we all love.

FD: Yes, and alumni are proud to know the College is thriving. The updates that we talked about at Reunion Rally, like the strategic plan, reinforced the values of the school. We’re excited about the future.

NH: Alumni involvement is going to be critical to the upcoming Bicentennial celebration, starting with our kickoff in September.

FD: It’s an extraordinary milestone. We want all alumni to participate in some way, and we’ll have events happening on campus, and also regionally.

NH: You served as co-chair for the Bicentennial Planning and Management Group with trustee Wynne Whitman ’86. What’s a Bicentennial event that you are looking forward to?

FD: The Paris exhibit in the National Archives of France, where the College is sending more than 80 pieces, is at the top of the list. It’s a wonderful and unique opportunity to raise our global awareness.

NH: The exhibit is a great example of the Bicentennial being an ‘and’ moment for us—it’s about lifting up our history, and it is also about our ambition for the future.

FD: How we continue to elevate the College’s story will be really important. I no longer want to hear that ‘Lafayette is the best kept secret.’

NH: There are so many ways the alumni network can amplify the College as we go into our third century. For those alumni who feel like they may be on the sidelines, this is the time to get onto the field.

FD: Our alumni are a huge reason why we are where we are. They are the continuative thread that keeps the engine moving forward and propelling us into the future.

NH: Lafayette’s Alumni Association is actually one of the oldest in the country. We have such a rich history.

FD: Our network is powerful and enduring. Through their lifelong work and achievements, alumni continually reinforce the excellence and values of Lafayette. Alumni are a vital part of our brand story—they are, in large part, what has shaped the legacy of the College.

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Get to know Francine “Fran” Della Badia

At Lafayette, Della Badia (pictured, top right) majored in international affairs and French. The C-suite executive continued her learning through leadership and finance programs at Harvard Business School and at the Center for Creative Leadership.

Expertise

Della Badia, a retail industry expert, is now an independent consultant and adviser for brands.

Noteworthy

Her career includes 16 years at Coach, where she was president of North American Retail, and more recently as president of G-III Apparel Group.

For Fun

As an undergrad, Della Badia rowed crew for two years, was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and earned the Gilbert Prize in English.

Last Word

“The Bicentennial is such a unique opportunity to raise our national and global awareness,” Della Badia says, “and to elevate our Lafayette brand story.”