Problem Statement

When Jonet Cooper took over as the Director of Alumni Relations at a prominent University in Boston, she knew she was facing a serious problem: disconnection.

Despite boasting over 10,000 graduates worldwide and a rich 75-year legacy, the alumni network had become little more than an occasional newsletter and an outdated website. "We were sending updates out into the void," Jonet recalled. "The same 50-60 people would show up every year for reunions, but the rest... it was radio silence." Jonet wasn’t alone. Across the education sector, alumni teams were grappling with low engagement, fragmented social groups, and a new generation of graduates who expected digital-first, community-driven experiences. This University needed more than a better email campaign — it needed a complete rethink.

Solution Implemented

That rethink came in the form of Jumbow’s AlumBook platform

Initially skeptical about “yet another tech rollout,” Jonet and her team were surprised at how intuitive the process felt. Working with Jumbow’s onboarding specialists, they quickly customized a white-labeled mobile app — branded entirely as “Our Uni Connect” — that segmented alumnus into micro-communities by batch, geography, and even professional industries.

Gone were the days of shouting in the void. Now, alumni were naturally discovering each other through smart AI-driven suggestions. Gamification features encouraged participation: points for RSVPs, badges for attending events, rewards for volunteering as mentors. "It wasn’t just digital noise," Jonet noted. " Numerous individuals have the drive to come back, to interact, to rebuild relationships. "

Results

One of the first big tests came with the annual Homecoming Week:

• A complete in-app RSVP system replaced bulk emails
• Push notifications and interest-based event suggestions boosted relevance
• Event RSVPs increased by 47% compared to the previous year
• First-time attendee participation rose by 20%

But it wasn’t just about event turnout. Within six months, they saw a doubling of regular engagement metrics — alumni sharing job postings, organizing local meetups, even forming new mentorship circles. The team set up micro-challenges (like “Reconnect with 5 classmates”) and watched friendly competition bring the network alive.

Possibly the most noteworthy change was impalpable: a change in attitude. Where communication had once been top-down, formal, and distant, it was now warm, peer-to-peer, and alive. Alumni themselves were creating momentum.

" Prior to Jumbow, it constantly felt like we were beseeching individuals care," Jonet said. "Now, the energy comes from them. We just guide it."

Behind the scenes, the impact on Jonet’s small team was just as profound. What used to require hours of manual tracking, RSVP chasing, and spreadsheet juggling was now handled automatically through AlumBook’s dashboards. The data was clean, accessible, and actionable — making it easier to demonstrate ROI to university leadership and secure more budget for future initiatives.

Future Initiatives

Looking ahead, Jonet’s goal isn’t just to sustain engagement — it’s to scale it. Plans are already underway for alumni-led mentoring pods, virtual career fairs, and a global Westbridge Day, powered entirely through the app. As Jonet puts it, "We didn’t just launch a platform. We built a living, breathing alumni family. And Jumbow gave us the keys to bring it home."