DU’s Alumni Council: An Investment of Love

Members of DU’s Alumni Council, which was brought to new life in 2020, spend long hours engaging alumni and acting as a conduit for two-way communication between DU and alumni. They do it not for recognition or personal gain, but out of a sense of love for DU. 

The Alumni Council provides a vital connection between the University and alumni, as well as fostering the connections among alumni themselves. Now at full strength with 28 members, the Council works to expand and enrich DU’s regional groups, connect with current students to explain what it means to be an active alum, and they also established a matching gift fundraising effort in partnership with the DU Student Foundation.   

“The DU Alumni Council plays an important role in the overall connection between the University and our alumni community,” says Ben Hancock, associate vice chancellor, alumni engagement and career development. “The partnership provides so many meaningful alumni engagement opportunities and is essential to the success of the Denver Difference campaign and achieving our constituent and volunteer engagement goals.” 

“To serve on the Alumni Council is a major commitment,” explains Maggie Kirchhoff (BSBA ’05), “especially in my role as chair. But I do it because I loved my DU experience and I firmly believe I am where I am because of DU, so it’s really important for me to be giving back.”  Kirchhoff, a Division 1 soccer standout at DU, went on to earn an EMBA and is currently a CFP and owner of financial planning firm True North Partners. Her commitment to the Alumni Council is particularly notable given numerous other professional and volunteer interests and activities.  

“There’s no shortage of work to be done,” says Kirchhoff, “so we’re always actively seeking volunteers for both Alumni Council members and to serve on our committees.”  

Another current Council member, Salomon Malekou (BA ’05), hails from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and brings a passion for internationality and diversity. He thrived academically at DU, studying international relations, specifically diplomacy and conflict resolution, and that gradually evolved into a corporate career in human resources. Today, he’s CEO and owner of BOSSoutions, a Denver-based startup in the organizational training space. It’s a demanding and time-consuming role, but Malekou nonetheless makes DU volunteerism a priority.  

Malekou was nominated by a friend to the Alumni Council in 2021. “I agreed to serve,” Malekou said, “because DU has been my family away from home. It gave me a profound sense of belonging and played a large role in my becoming a citizen of the US. Representing alumni also really matters to me, especially because international students like myself were often left out of conversations. Now I can make a contribution to that issue and many others. DU holds a very special place in my heart,” he relates. “I am where I am because of the University.” 

For Donald “Boomer” Hogoboom (BSBA ’74), serving on Alumni Council is in many respects a continuation of his undergrad engagement. In addition to the demands of his Finance major, Boomer played an active role in his fraternity and served as a student senator in his senior year. “Being a senator was not just fun,” Hogoboom relates, “but let me see and understand a bit about how DU worked behind the scenes. That’s very much the case with Alumni Council, where I chair the Program committee. Thanks to that role, I’m still learning something new every day and benefiting from the many warm relationships I’ve developed not only with Council members but DU alumni I meet at our events. It's a truly fascinating and warmly satisfying experience.” 

Today, his work on the Council’s Program Subcommittee has resulted in standing-room-only success at many activities, and “Meet@Burwell” has become a catchphrase for DU alumni events, especially pre-game hockey receptions. “My undergrad experience at DU was superb, both academically and socially,” Boomer explains, “and it’s been deeply rewarding to not just sustain but enhance that relationship through my work on Alumni Council.” 

For alumni who value their DU experience and wish to develop, sustain or deepen relationships with both fellow alumni and the University, it’s easy understand why Maggie Kirchhoff, Solomon Malekou, and Boomer Hogoboom so freely contribute their time and energy to Alumni Council.  

The Alumni Council is currently inviting nominations for individuals to serve on the Alumni Council. Submit nominations by February 28, 2025. https://alumni.du.edu/content/alumni-council-nominations. To learn more about Alumni Council, its committees, and volunteering for DU, please contact Alumni@DU.edu.