Alumni of ACTION (AoA)
Celebrate your identity and connect with like-minded peers through the Alumni of ACTION network, led by committed alumni volunteers. With five affinity groups—Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ Pride—you'll join in identity-based celebrations, community-building activities, and networking events. Whether you're seeking professional development, opportunities to mentor or volunteer, or simply a supportive space to embrace who you are, Alumni of ACTION provides a platform for alumni to thrive while also nurturing the future of DU students.
Alumni of ACTION (AoA) Networks
Latinx Alumni Affinity Network (DULAA)
DULAA serves the needs of the Latinx community in and around the DU campus, providing opportunities for connection, professional development, scholarships, and academic support to alumni and students of Latinx heritage.
Join the DULAA community by signing up for our listserv here!
Indigenous Alumni Affinity Network (IAA)
The Indigenous Alumni Affinity Network (IAA) is dedicated to strengthening community and fostering the feeling of true belonging for Native/Indigenous students, alumni, faculty, staff, and DU community members within the DU and the greater Rocky Mountain area. By honoring cultural communal customs, IAA takes pride in cultivating intergenerational bonds for Native/Indigenous folx. Membership is open to Indigenous-identifying students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of DU.
The University of Denver and the greater city of Denver acknowledge that they reside within the traditional territories of Hinonoeino (Arapaho), Tsitsista (Cheyenne), and Nunt'zi (Ute).
Join the IAA community by signing up for our listserv here!
Asian Pacific Islander Desi-American Alumni Affinity Network (APIDA)
The APIDA Alumni Affinity Network supports and celebrates the diversity of goals, passions, and cultures of DU community members of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander descent. Membership is open to all DU community members of the APIDA diaspora – students, alumni, faculty, staff, and allies.
Join the APIDA community here!
Black Alumni Affinity Network (BAA)
The Black Alumni Affinity Network (BAA) seeks to steward opportunities of connection between DU’s Black-identifying alumni, students, faculty, staff, and external community members. The goal, both present and futuristic, is to make the University of Denver a destination for Black folx to thrive by providing access to resources, community engagement, and programming that celebrates the polylith of Black life, culture, and history. Membership is open to alumni, staff, faculty, students and DU supporters who identify as Black, African American, and/or as a descendent of Africa.
Join the BAA community here!
LGBTQ+ Pride Alumni Affinity Network (Pride)
For our alumni, students, faculty, staff, and external community members of all sexual orientations and gender identities, the Pride Network, in partnership with DU’s Cultural Center, offers opportunities for support, career advising, community service, and philanthropy. Let's build a supportive community that celebrates diversity, empowers careers, and contributes to positive change at the University of Denver.
Join the Pride community here!
Staff Leader
Meet Zakiya Markland
Assistant Director of Volunteer Networks
Greetings! I joined DU’s Regional Advancement & Volunteer Engagement team as the Assistant Director of Volunteer Networks in December of 2023. I am here to support and facilitate the vital engagement of DU’s identity-based Alumni of ACTION networks by collaborating with network leaders to bring to their communities authentic, impactful, and seamlessly coordinated programming in alignment with the university’s DEI action plan. Too, I am here to equip DU’s full community of volunteers (alumni, parents, and friends) with tools and resources that prepare them to thrive in their volunteer assignments, further generating a wholistic and sustainable model of volunteer-led network growth for DU.
I bring with me over a decade of event production experience spanning the theatre, hospitality, and nonprofit industries, and a highly collaborative and embodied approach to community engagement synthesized from Restorative Justice practices and seven years of acting training.
With deep respect and gratitude for all beings, and a commitment to a future that is bright even for our most vulnerable civilians, I look forward to being of service to you. Feel free to contact me here!
Connect with Zakiya
Connect With Us
VOLUNTEER
If you want to share your time and talent as a volunteer Network Leader for any of our current identity-based affinity networks, check out VolunteerDU. This platform provides you with a menu of volunteer opportunities, and an open door to engage with the Alumni of ACTION and the greater DU community.
CONNECT WITH ALUMNI OF ACTION NETWORK LEADERS:
Looking to get involved or learn more? Email your network leader today!
- Latinx Alumni Network Chairs: Andrea Smith, andesmith77@gmail.com & Neva Martinez, neva.martinez888@gmail.com
- Indigenous Alumni Network Chair: Alyssa Willie, awillie24@gmail.com & Taylor Bennet-Begaye, taylor.bennettbegaye@gmail.com
- LGBTQ+ Pride Alumni Network Chair: John Jarosz, john.jarosz@gmail.com
- Asian Alumni Network Chair: Vacant
- Black Alumni Network Chair: Daniel Byrd, dbyrd@hotmail.com
Sign up to be a Network Leader today!
If you're interested in learning more about how you can become a DU Alumni of ACTION Network Leader, please click the button below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your interest!