A Very Long Engagement

As a student, Thomas F. Flannery ’81 couldn’t help but be engaged by the classroom discussions of accounting professors Arthur Glynn and Paul Devlin, both of whom guided him on the path to a long and successful career at Ernst & Young. Now, as president of the Boston College Alumni Association, Flannery promises to create his own brand of engagement—by working to reconnect BC’s alumni population in as many ways as possible to their alma mater.

Flannery knows he has a willing audience. Surveys show—and Flannery is quick to point out—that BC has some of the most loyal and dedicated alumni of any university in the country. As president, he plans to energize this base by building upon the Alumni Association’s strong relationship with the BC Fund and offering a wide range of alumni events and activities. “I expect my presidency to be an active one—be it accompanying Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations John Feudo and University President William P. Leahy, SJ, on visits to alumni across the country; attending chapter and sporting events; or promoting the importance of alumni giving back to their alma mater,” says Flannery.

This type of active involvement is nothing new for Flannery. Since he graduated in 1981, he has remained connected to BC in myriad ways: as a regular at football games and other sporting events on campus, as a recruiter of BC grads for his firm, and most recently as Alumni Association treasurer. Flannery also comes from a large BC family, which includes his father, Francis ’54, and his sisters, Maryellen Pease ’87 and Joan Golden ’93. Afforded this broad and historical vantage point, Flannery believes that BC is a thrilling place to be these days, and he is excited about his tenure.

“I have great faith in the Institutional Master Plan and Strategic Plan and the leadership involved to effect the positive changes they promise,” says Flannery. “I appreciate how the plans touch on all aspects of the University’s life, with equal focus on capital improvements, student formation, the attraction and retention of top faculty, and academic excellence.” Alongside these objectives, according to Flannery, is BC’s overarching goal to become the leading Catholic University in the world. “Our strong Ignatian tradition is one in which students and alumni alike can readily share,” he explains.

Flannery believes that sharing and rejoicing in a common tradition will anchor his presidency and reconnect alumni to the University.