Board of Fellows: Bringing Norwich Experience and Expertise Back to Campus

What happens when Norwich graduates and friends bring their professional experience, industry knowledge, and personal connections back to campus? For the Norwich University Board of Fellows, the answer is opportunities: stronger academic programs, meaningful professional connections for students and learning experiences that extend well beyond the classroom.

Established in 1975, the Board of Fellows was created to give alumni and friends a meaningful way to remain involved in Norwich and contribute to its continued success. Robert W. Christie, Class of 1944, became the organization's first president. Christie, Bob Hallam, and the then-Commandant of Cadets worked together to establish the Board, which was founded on a simple but enduring idea: people with a deep connection to Norwich have valuable experience and expertise to share with the University.

That idea continues to shape the Board's work today.

Operating as an arm of the Office of the Provost, the Board of Fellows is a volunteer advisory and advocacy organization. Through its Executive Committee and academic Visiting Committees, it brings together alumni, friends and accomplished professionals who work alongside faculty and university leadership to strengthen academic quality and enrich the student experience.

The work is both practical and far-reaching. Fellows provide expert guidance to academic units, offer professional perspectives on teaching and scholarship, and support institutional self-assessment and continuous improvement. They also help connect students with internships, professional placements, networking opportunities, mentorship and experiential learning.

These opportunities are an important part of the Board's mission. By connecting students with professionals and real-world experiences, Fellows help bridge the gap between academic learning and its application in the workplace. Whether through professional mentorship, hands-on experiences, industry connections or career exploration, students gain opportunities to apply what they learn, develop practical skills and better understand the paths available to them.

A Commitment, Not Just a Title

The Board seeks members with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and professional interests. Membership, however, is more than an honorary appointment. Fellows are expected to be active participants, contributing their time, knowledge, and professional networks through Visiting Committee activities and other Board initiatives.

That commitment helps create a valuable link between Norwich's academic programs and the professional communities its graduates will enter. Fellows bring an outside perspective to academic discussions, help identify emerging industry expectations and open doors to opportunities that can shape students' educational and professional journeys.

The Board supports both undergraduate and graduate education, with an emphasis on academic excellence, faculty development, student success and experiential learning.

An Enduring Connection to Norwich

Nearly 50 years after its founding, the Board of Fellows remains grounded in the same principle that brought it to life: there is tremendous value in keeping Norwich's extended community actively engaged with the University.

Its members bring more than professional credentials. They bring experience, perspective, relationships and a shared interest in seeing Norwich and its students succeed.

For the University, that means a network of committed volunteers who help strengthen the academic mission. For students, it means access to people, professional networks, and hands-on opportunities that extend their education beyond the classroom — allowing them to put knowledge into practice, explore career possibilities and build confidence as they prepare for their next steps.
Ultimately, the Board of Fellows is about more than staying connected to Norwich. It is about putting that connection to work.