Kicking off community and connection for Tulane alumni

By Mary Sparacello

Welcome TU is the annual kickoff to a new year of alumni connections. Each fall, these events bring together recent graduates and longtime alumni alike, setting the stage for a vibrant year of programming.

In Boston, the event is a kickoff quite literally — with a spirited networking reception paired with a Green Wave football watch party.

Fall is a natural time for new beginnings, making it the ideal opportunity to bring alumni together and energize a new year of activities. Devin L. Qualls (SSE ’07, SSE ’09), president of the Tulane Club of New England, says Boston’s event has become a highlight of the club’s calendar. “No matter how old you get, the end of the summer really is a change in season, a change in tempo, a change in routine. Welcome TU is a good kickoff to the new year — even if most of us don’t operate on a college schedule anymore.”

Alex Chiocca (A ’22), John Furber (A ’23), Kamran Sakhitab (PHTM ’22, SW *23, PHTM *24, SW *24), Annie Donahue (SLA ’21), Nick Salvadore (SSE ’21), and Colin Raiter (B ’21) shared laughs at the 2024 Welcome TU Boston bingo-and-watch-party combo.

Last year, the club’s get-to-know-you bingo was a fun icebreaker before the watch party. Board members enjoyed coming up with the bingo squares, which featured prompts about life at Tulane, such as which dorm alumni lived in.

“It was kind of a fun, almost team-building event for our alumni board, making the bingo sheet,” Qualls says. “Some of our older alumni were like, ‘What’s Wall?’ and we’d explain, ‘Oh, there’s actually a new dorm on campus now!’”

The game sparked conversations across generations, welcoming newcomers and inspiring longtime members to reminisce. “Some of the new people said it wasn’t so intimidating to come in and try to break into a group conversation when the whole point is to break into conversations,” Qualls says.

Last year’s successful Welcome TU in Boston was a significant team effort, Qualls said. The event was held at a restaurant owned by the family of former club president Katie Freeman (SLA ’15), who was crucial in getting Welcome TU off the ground initially. Club leadership was aided by the organizational expertise of longtime board member Colleen O’Donnell (NC ’03) and the creativity and social media know-how of Taylor Kenrich (B ’22).

Lily Rothschild (SSE ’23, SSE *24), Jim Haines (B ’24, B *24), and Nicky Qin (B ’23) caught up with fellow alumni at Welcome TU Boston in 2024.

Qualls credits the club’s success to teamwork and camaraderie. “It takes the whole team to make a successful board, which then leads to a fun event,” she says. “Everyone on our board gets along, so we have these events where they’re socializing and having fun, and that just starts the momentum of bringing people into conversations.”

Beyond an impressive turnout of nearly 50 people, Welcome TU set momentum for the year ahead, energizing the club for future gatherings, such as its Mardi Gras party and crawfish boil. “It almost sets the tone for the season,” Qualls says.

This year, the Boston club plans to stick with its winning formula in a September 20 event, coinciding with the Green Wave football game against Ole Miss. The board is also encouraging alumni to bring family and friends, creating an environment that feels welcoming to all.

Click here to find a Welcome TU event near you.