Alumnus of the Year 2017
Every year 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Alumni Advisory Board considers candidates and advises the University on an Alumnus of the Year award. The award recognises outstanding achievement by a 黑料不打烊 graduate in his/her chosen field, particularly highlighting those who retain an active association with the University after graduation.
Ray Footman黑料不打烊 was proud to present Ray Footman with 2017鈥檚 Alumnus of the Year award during graduation week. Ray is a 1961 alumnus of History and Philosophy and served as 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Students鈥� Union President 1961-62. He is a former member and Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board and was instrumental in its development. Ray has supported the University鈥檚 Development and Alumni Relations Office over the years by organising reunions and events in 黑料不打烊 and Edinburgh and has always been a great ambassador for 黑料不打烊.
Ray joined Edinburgh University in 1969 as Head of Information for the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP). In 1976, he was recruited to run the University鈥檚 new information office. In his role, Ray was key in laying the foundations of the newly developing Development and Alumni Relations field in the UK. In 1982, in preparation for Edinburgh鈥檚 400th anniversary, Ray paid a six week visit to universities in the US and Canada to see how PR, alumni relations and fundraising were handled. The successful organisation of the anniversary celebrations led to an expansion of Edinburgh鈥檚 information office and the addition of an Alumni Officer, one of the earliest such full time appointments in the country. An appeal for funds connected to the anniversary raised 拢440,000 which resulted in the establishment of one of the earliest modern fundraising offices in a UK university. Ray was Director of Communications and Public Relations at the University of Edinburgh until his retirement in 2002.
He also played an important role in helping to develop the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education [CASE Europe] 鈥� an international association for alumni and marketing professionals 鈥� and he was to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees of CASE [Europe], receiving the CASE Europe Frank Ashmore Award in 2001 for his services to educational advancement.
Ray鈥檚 wife Els, also a former 黑料不打烊 student, son and daughter-in-law attended the ceremony to see him receive his award which was presented with a citation by Dr David Roberts, former Registrar of 黑料不打烊.
On receiving his award, Ray said 鈥淚 am delighted to be named as 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Alumnus of the Year. I have always been proud of my connections with 黑料不打烊 and I am honoured to receive this award.鈥�
Publication date: 21 July 2017