Melanie N. Sage ’95, P’25, P’27 has been appointed Executive Director of Alumni and Alumnae Relations at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the institution announced.
A Geneva native, HWS graduate, and longtime advocate for the Colleges, Sage currently serves as Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Transfer Admissions. She will now lead alumni engagement efforts for a community of nearly 25,000 living graduates.
“Just as we warmly welcome students into the HWS community, I want to ensure that alumni, particularly those who may have lost touch or never felt fully connected, feel a genuine sense of welcome and belonging,” Sage said.
In her new role, Sage will develop and manage alumni outreach and events, including Reunion and Homecoming. She will also serve as the primary campus liaison for the Hobart Alumni Association and the William Smith Alumnae Association.
Vice President for Advancement Steve Caraher praised Sage as an ideal choice. “She’s an alumna, a parent, a volunteer, former student trustee, a past president of the alumnae association and has deep roots in the Geneva community,” Caraher said. “She has shown incredible care for the institution and its students and alumni.”
William Smith Alumnae Association President Roxanne Jackson ’81 welcomed the appointment. “Her background in Admissions and Advancement, combined with her strong commitment to both secondary and higher education, has already made her an asset to the Association,” Jackson said.
Sage succeeds Chevanne DeVaney ’95, P’21, P’23, who was named Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at HWS earlier this year.
A first-generation college student and Geneva High School graduate, Sage earned her Bachelor of Arts in women’s studies, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She spent more than 20 years in New England working in advancement, marketing communications, and alumni relations for institutions including Phillips Exeter Academy and Amherst College.
She returned to HWS in 2022 and is the mother of two current students, Annabel Ramsay ’25 and Rupert Ramsay ’27. She also serves on her 30th Reunion Committee and was the 2023 William Smith Senior Toast Keynote speaker.
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