Cottrell retiring as EVP of Alumni Association
Will stay at university in part-time role
Karen Cottrell ’66, M.Ed. ’69, Ed.D. ’84, is retiring as executive vice president of the William & Mary Alumni Association and assuming a new, part-time role providing programming and assistance to alumni families with children going through the admission process.
“Karen’s love for William & Mary is manifest in the historic legacy she leaves at the Alumni Association,” said President Taylor Reveley. “During her term as executive vice president, the bonds between our alumni and the university have been strengthened like never before. With the assistance of a superior staff that she has recruited and led, Karen has built a strong foundation of alumni support that will be crucial to the university’s continued progress.”
Cottrell, who has headed the Alumni Association since 2005, is no stranger to the admission process. She served as dean of admission from 1980 to 1985 and vice provost for enrollment from 1997 to 2005. Cottrell also spent 12 years at the University of Virginia as associate dean of admission. She shepherded the Alumni Association from 72,000 to more than 94,000 active alumni.
“In my nearly decade –long tenure at the Alumni Association I’ve seen the University move from good to great in appreciating the importance of alumni engagement and how it values the voice of alumni,” Cottrell said. “I leave this position confident in the direction that has been set for the association - a vital asset for the William & Mary community.”
Marilyn Midyette ’75 has been named executive director of the Alumni Association and associate vice president for Alumni Engagement. Midyette’s position is part of the new Office of University Advancement, a partnership created between the William & Mary Alumni Association and the College’s alumni engagement resources to streamline and enhance the university’s alumni engagement activities, which was announced on June 27.
“In order for the College to remain one of the Country’s top universities, we must continue to develop and strengthen the support of our alumni and their lifelong connection to the College,” said Alumni Association President David Kelley ’81. “Karen’s stewardship of the Association this past decade and our new partnership with the Office of University Advancement put us in a tremendous spot to ensure we accomplish those goals.”
