Volunteer for Deerfield

Opportunities for Alumni Engagement

Each year, Deerfield benefits from hundreds of volunteers who help engage other alumni, encourage donations, partner with us on events, or serve as guest speakers or participants on and off campus. Here are some ways that you can help the Academy:

Frequently Asked Questions

Regional Clubs
Currently Deerfield Academy has eight domestic and three international clubs to help engage alumni, parents and friends in their local areas. To get involved, please email Alumni Relations at alumnirelations@deerfield.edu.

Alumni Network
Utilize our Alumni Network to stay in touch with classmates, take part in our alumni-to-alumni mentoring program, share your business endeavors and post jobs. Sign up or log-in here. If you have any questions please email Jenny Hammond at jhammond@deerfield.edu or call 413-774-1801.

Host/Facilitate a Special Access Event
If you have unique access to offer the campus community or the alumni community, due to the nature of your career or other connections, please let us know.  Some alumni have hosted gatherings in their homes, private businesses, or places of corporate employment. If you have unique access to a notable event or venue, please email events@deerfield.edu or call 413-774-1483.

Summer Opportunities
Can your employer offer summer internships or extended service opportunities for young alumni? Email Alumni Relations at alumnirelations@deerfield.edu for help in spreading the word.

Admission Office Support and Athletics Recruitment Initiatives
Contact the Office of Admission or Office of Athletics, respectively to get involved in your region.

Annual Fund Class Captains and Agents
We are grateful to the many volunteers who help Deerfield to reach our ambitious financial goals each year. The funds raised provide essential support to the Academy’s students and teachers, ensuring that the Deerfield educational experience continues its tradition of excellence. If you are interested in or have questions about becoming a Class Captain or Agent, please email annualgiving@deerfield.edu or call 413-774-1458.

Reunion Chairs and Reunion Committees
Reunion Chairs and Reunion Committees rally their classmates to attend Reunions and make gifts to Deerfield in recognition of their milestone year. If you are interested in finding out more or have questions about joining a Reunion Committee, please email annualgiving@deerfield.edu.

Reunions Back to School Sessions
Open to all milestone reunion alumni, these sessions are generally on Friday of Reunions and allow the alumnus/a to present on an array of experience-driven topics. Look for the Call for Presenters application online in the fall of your reunion cycle or email nsharac@deerfield.edu.

Pathways Program
This on-campus event provides an opportunity for alumni to return to campus to share about their “paths since Deerfield Days” with the senior class. In addition to joining a panel of various alumni, you will also have the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations following the event. We select alumni based on their profession or ”path” and like to have a range of experiences appropriate for senior students preparing to leave Deerfield. Please email alumnirelations@deerfield.edu if you are interested in participating in our Pathways program.

Martin Luther King Day Weekend
Our annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration includes a full day of workshops facilitated by students and employees. We hope to increase alumni participation in this event. In the past we’ve had alumni facilitate workshops, serve as guest speakers, and share their work and art, but we’re always looking for new modes of engagement: if you have an idea please email Director of the Office of Inclusion and Community Life Steven Lee at smlee@deerfield.edu.

Von Auersperg Art Gallery
The gallery calendar extends out for several years. Alumni visual artists could exhibit their works in residency, and we welcome a return to campus for the opening of the exhibit. Visit the gallery website for more information.

Visiting Academia and Visiting Performing Arts (Theater, Music, Dance)
Generally, opportunities for alumni with expertise in a subject area or in the performing arts are originated by the various faculty members in consultation with the Head of the Department and the Office of the Dean of Studies. The Office of Advancement can help with linkages only, and cannot guarantee involvement in the classroom.

Work at Deerfield
Come back to teach or serve in other capacities! Visit https://deerfield.edu/employment/ for current opportunities.

For any of the following opportunities, please contact the Office of Inclusion and Community Life unless stated otherwise.

Meetings with Student Alliances
Interactions with Alliances like DBSA (Deerfield Black Student Alliance), DMOC (Deerfield Men of Color), ASA (Asian Student Alliance), GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance), and their counterpart groups across campus, must be structured through the Alumni Relations office, who will facilitate the arrangements in partnership with the Office of Inclusion and Community Life and the faculty advisor(s) for that particular student group. Please email Jenny at jhammond@deerfield.edu.

Inclusion Programs at Reunions
We currently offer LGBTQ and alumni of color programs at each reunion weekend. If you are interested in generating ideas that will improve engagement with alumni from historically underrepresented groups, please email Jenny at jhammond@deerfield.edu.

National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference (PoCC) 
The National Association of Independent School (NAIS) sponsors an annual People of Color Conference that draws attendees from independent schools from all over the nation and the world. We attend this conference and host alumni gatherings while in the host city. If you are an educator or school administrator already attending PoCC, please email Jenny at jhammond@deerfield.edu so that we can connect in a mindful way.

Special Projects/Initiatives
The Office of Inclusion and Community Life is looking to build a database of alumni who can contribute to workshops and trainings related to diversity and inclusion. If you have expertise in a specific area or would like to propose a project, please contact the Office of Inclusion and Community Life.

We’re inviting you to become an important part of the Deerfield recruitment team by signing up to be an Admission Regional Representative. The duties might include light telephone and/or email communication with prospective families, perhaps attend a School Fair, or help to host an event – the level of involvement is up to you. Your voice and experience carries an incredible amount of weight with our applying families and we hope you will help us recruit the next group of terrific Deerfield students. If you are interested, please fill out this form.

Upon graduating from Deerfield, alumni enter a diverse network of former Deerfield students. Deerfield alumni have ventured into almost every area of employment, and many are at the top of their respective fields. The advantages of this vast network are numerous and significant, as every member of the Deerfield family receives the following:

Alumni are also eligible for alumni awards, such as the Ashley Award, Heritage Award, and the Mimi Morsman Award.

There are no membership fees or dues for members of the Deerfield family, but Deerfield does ask for assistance in a few areas. First of all, in order for Deerfield to have the most up-to-date records possible, we encourage members to keep us apprised of their current contact info. Alumni are also urged to direct all concerns and suggestions regarding Deerfield’s operations through the Executive Committee, the governing body of the Alumni Association. The committee acts as the voice of the alumni body, and works closely with the school administration. In order to keep tuition affordable and the quality of a Deerfield education at its highest, the Academy depends upon the continuing support of alumni and their families. This support can take the form of annual or capital gifts, or time spent volunteering on behalf of Deerfield.

There are Deerfield Clubs in many major American cities. Please visit here for more information on specific clubs and their sponsored events. 

Of course! Be sure to read the latest issue of From Albany Road in your email’s in-box for current news of what is happening on campus. As we also send out periodic invitations, it’s always best to make sure we have your current physical address. And if you do plan on visiting campus, why not tell us ahead of time?

Contact the Office of Advancement

alumni@deerfield.edu
413-774-1474

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 306
Deerfield, MA 01342