---
title: "Connect with Alumni"
artifact: "highlights"
resource_person: "Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula and Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam"
resource_person_role: "IIT Madras professors and institutional leaders with experience in alumni relations, development, and higher-education administration"
vertical: "careers"
module: "Mentorship and Networking"
lesson: "Connect with Alumni"
lesson_key: "connect-with-alumni"
source: "GuruSetu original"
source_channel: "GuruSetu"
---
# Connect with Alumni: Highlights

**Resource person:** Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula and Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam - IIT Madras professors and institutional leaders with experience in alumni relations, development, and higher-education administration

1. Ask alumni to share real career choices, mistakes, and lessons alongside their success stories.
2. Set up a staffed alumni cell and keep one reliable institutional contact database.
3. Choose well-connected, representative batch contacts to update records and convene their peers.
4. At reunions, protect time for reconnection and keep the institutional segment focused.
5. Invite contributions of time, mentoring, referrals, equipment, expertise, introductions, or money.
6. Match each request to the person’s interest and capacity. Start with something specific and achievable.
7. Follow legal and tax requirements and apply every restricted gift to its promised purpose.
8. Report the result personally and clearly so alumni can see what their contribution achieved.