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Student Leads Effort to Engage Next Generation of Marlin Alumni
Third-year student Miles Pifer collaborates with University leaders to create an alumni undergraduate association.
University News | August 12, 2025
When Miles Pifer wrapped up his term as Student Government Association president, his leadership journey was far from over. Now, he is working alongside the university’s leadership team to launch a new initiative: the creation of an undergraduate alumni association—a student-led effort to help graduating Marlins stay connected to the èßäÊÓƵ community.
Pifer, a double major in Psychology and Music with a concentration in Choral and Vocal Studies, recently reached out to President Scott D. Miller about wanting to be an alumnus who will be remembered. In a meeting with President Miller and Kelly Cordova, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, the idea of an undergraduate alumni association took shape.
The association would connect current students with the University’s alumni network, preparing them to become engaged alumni after graduation. It would foster relationships through networking events, panels, and mentorship opportunities, while creating a sense of belonging within the community.
“I want to make a difference,” Pifer said. “I want to be an alumnus that people look up to, not to necessarily follow in my footsteps, but to follow in creating their own steps and trying to better their community. I wanted to cement an idea for other people to take inspiration from.”
Pifer was inspired to choose èßäÊÓƵbecause of his connection with his high-school choir teacher, Ajee Church ‘16, a èßäÊÓƵ alumnus. “That connection makes Wesleyan feel so much more personal, and that's something that you can kind of only really achieve here.”
He started to feel an even stronger urge to help the community when his higher education journey began, especially after joining Sigma Nu fraternity—a place where he could exercise values focused on bettering the community.
Pifer’s campus involvement started through music; as a sophomore he was already a member of èßäÊÓƵ’s three choirs. He has been cast in several theatre productions and is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society, a cooperative leader of the Campus Ministries, a Learning Center Tutor, Vice President of the Student Government Association, and President of Sigma Nu fraternity.
This summer he is a Batten Staff Supervisor on campus. In that role, Pifer demonstrates leadership by overseeing daily operations at the University’s recreation facilities, managing student staff teams, ensuring safety protocols are followed, and serving as the primary student leader on duty during his shifts.
Pifer also was inspired by the impact Ajee Church made in his community when he was a Sigma Nu member.
“I wanted to make an impact as well, but it wasn’t until I got involved with the fraternity and Student Government that the idea truly took shape. Those experiences gave me opportunities to lead and contribute in ways I hadn’t before.”
Pifer will collaborate with Cordova and members of the Trinder Center for Advancement team to shape the association. Drawing inspiration from universities where student-alumni engagement is a longstanding tradition, he hopes the association will create opportunities for mentorship, networking, and ongoing connection. It would help cement that sense of belonging and give alumni a reason to stay connected—whether they live nearby, move far away, or are busy with graduate school.
“It helps build upon the community we already have. When you look at certain universities that have undergraduate alumni associations, that alumni community is essentially a future foundation for incoming students.” Access to a strong alumni network, he added, gives students a deeper sense of belonging and reinforces the idea that they are part of a lifelong community.