Connect. Be Proud. Be Inspired.

Thank you for being a member of the Andrew Carnegie Society.

Your gifts are making transformative ideas in technology, the arts, humanities and social sciences, business and policy possible by CMU faculty, staff and students. Your support is deeply appreciated.

As I prepare to transfer leadership of the Andrew Carnegie Society Board to our incoming president, Katherine Kohatsu (ENG 1997; TPR 2005), I’d like to leave behind a few thoughts.

First, as ACS president, I’ve served as your representative on CMU’s Board of Trustees. This has given me an opportunity to see the incredible dedication and thought that these leaders put into the university, all of its people and the mark we are making on the world. Be proud.

Second, I want to thank my colleagues on the ACS board, past and present, for their enthusiasm and partnership. They put their hearts into connecting with and mentoring students, volunteering at campus events, serving on committees dedicated to advancing the university’s mission, and providing a great experience to all of you.  

Finally, I invite you to connect. I hope you’ll attend an ACS event or a faculty talk, join your local alumni network and let others know that you support CMU. If you’re passionate about your school or college, your fraternity or sorority, or a specific CMU activity and want to organize with others to support it, reach out to the ACS board or a development officer.

In short, let us help you to keep your heart in the work.

I hope you’ll be inspired by the stories in this issue of ACS Insider and how your support is making a difference.

Thank you for being a part of the ACS community!

With my heart in the work,

John Watts (TPR 1985, 1988)
President, Andrew Carnegie Society

This year’s ACS Scholars have made a mark on the university — and their fellow students — through leadership, volunteerism, academic achievement and philanthropy.

The ACS Scholars Program recognizes some of Carnegie Mellon’s most talented seniors. Each year, at least 40 scholars are chosen by the university’s deans and department heads for this prestigious program for their exemplary achievement in academics, leadership and volunteerism and involvement in the campus community. 

Meet the scholars

During Spring Carnival 2024, the Carnegie Mellon University community came together under a tent on the corner of Forbes Avenue and South Craig Street to break ground on the university’s next campus project, the Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences.

Once open in 2027, the Hall of Sciences will serve as the epicenter of a collaborative approach to education and research that merges science, technology, art and creativity. With its prominent location adjacent to major cultural institutions, it will create thrilling new connections to the community.

The Hall of Sciences is the cornerstone of the university’s future of science initiative, a decade-long effort to revolutionize and accelerate research and education, leading to innovations and breakthroughs that will benefit humankind.

Designed by ZGF Architects, the building will have elements that echo symbols at the core of CMU’s identity: its tartan and the thistle at the center of its official seal. Inside there will be cutting-edge teaching and research laboratories, classrooms and lecture halls of various sizes, and work and collaboration spaces. A full-service restaurant and multiple interior and exterior spaces for gatherings will further activate the building and draw visitors.

University leadership, faculty visit alumni from coast to coast

By Joyce DeFrancesco

Carnegie Mellon University alumni, parents and friends — including Andrew Carnegie Society members — around the country enjoyed the chance to hear directly from President Farnam Jahanian, university leadership and faculty, and connect at a series of special events during the 2023-2024 academic year.

An Evening with Carnegie Mellon University: Pioneering the New Era of Artificial Intelligence brought a rotating panel of university faculty members working in AI to Seattle, Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley and New York:

• Simon DeDeo, William S. Dietrich II Associate Professor, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences

• Dina El-Zanfaly, Assistant Professor, School of Design

• Tom Mitchell, Founders University Professor, Machine Learning Department

• Jeff Schneider, Research Professor, The Robotics Institute

• Alexander Waibel, Professor of Computer Science, School of Computer Science

In three cities, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston, attendees at An Evening with Carnegie Mellon University were part of a fireside chat-style event with President Jahanian and Chair of the Board of Trustees David Coulter (TPR 1971) that touched on a wide range of topics shaping CMU’s vision of the future.

All events included updates on university developments, priorities and achievements. Guests also had the opportunity to network with each other during receptions before and after the program.

CMU events provide a great opportunity to connect and engage with your fellow ACS members and CMU alumni as well as CMU faculty, staff and leadership — we hope to see you at an event on campus or near you in the future!

Scroll through photos from tour events