Back in 1926, Queen’s had roughly 6,000 living graduates. Today, that number has surged past 185,000 alumni living in more than 150 countries.
That’s a lot of people who have left Queen’s and taken vastly different paths over the past century. But through all that time, all those alumni have shared one connection whether they knew it or not: membership in the Queen’s University Alumni Association (QUAA).
Like Homecoming, the QUAA is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It was created at that first Homecoming in November 1926, when grads and former students voted unanimously to form an association that would help them stay connected to one another and the life of the university.
A century later, the QUAA is still doing that work. But ask the average alum what the association does and means for them, and the answer may not be so clear.
“We know there are alumni who hear ‘QUAA’ and picture a small board or a group of longtime volunteers,” says QUAA President Allison Williams, Artsci’09. “But the QUAA is much bigger than that. It includes the entire Queen’s alumni community. This is everyone’s association.”
So, what does that mean in practice? Here are answers to some common questions.
Am I a member of the QUAA?
Most likely, yes – and you didn’t even have to sign up.
Anyone who has received a Queen’s degree or diploma is automatically a member. Former students who completed at least one full academic year also become members once their class has graduated.
Membership isn’t reserved for alumni who return for Homecoming or volunteer regularly. It includes Queen’s alumni around the world.
What does the QUAA actually do?
At its simplest, the QUAA helps alumni maintain a lifelong relationship with Queen’s and one another, and it gives them ways to participate in the life and work of the university.
Because the QUAA encompasses the entire alumni community, that work happens in many different ways.
The QUAA Board of Directors provides direction to the association, while across the broader community, branches connect alumni by geography, chapters build community around shared identities and affiliations, and classes and reunion volunteers help former classmates reconnect.
Individual alumni take part, too – attending events, volunteering, mentoring, sharing their expertise, or simply staying connected.
Several members of the QUAA board gather at the 2026 QUAA Gala Awards. From left: Kelly McKinley, Artsci’91; Gareth Gibbins, Com’00, MIR’01; Allison Williams, Artsci’09; Julie Nixon, Com’99; Stacy Kelly, Artsci’93; Akin Akinsipe, MBA’19; and Tamanna Chuhan, MIB’23. (Photo: Callum Linden)
What are the benefits of being part of the QUAA?
Being part of the QUAA means being connected to a global alumni community, with opportunities to make that connection useful throughout your life.
Alumni can take part in awards programs that celebrate the achievements of fellow alumni,, build professional and personal networks, and find opportunities for mentoring, learning, volunteering, and recognition.
“Some alumni are looking to build their professional network, some want to reconnect with old friends, and others want to give their time or experience back to Queen’s students,” Williams says. “The QUAA gives alumni so many different ways to make that connection meaningful to them.”
Is the QUAA the same thing as the QUAA board?
No. The QUAA is the full alumni association. The QUAA Board of Directors is a group of alumni volunteers who provide leadership and strategic direction.
The board’s work includes alumni giving, recognition, outreach, volunteer engagement, awards, and grants, as well as supporting branches, chapters, and reunions. The board also works in partnership with staff in Queen’s Office of Advancement.
And by the way, alumni don’t have to become directors to contribute to the board’s work. Non-board alumni may also be eligible to serve on one of its committees.
A family joins the Alumni Parade to Richardson Stadium during Homecoming 2025, one of many QUAA-supported ways for alumni to reconnect. (Photo: Scott Adamson)
What is Alumni Assembly?
Alumni Assembly is the QUAA’s voting body. It brings together the board and representatives from branches, chapters, reunions, faculties, student groups, and other Queen’s communities.
Members act as liaisons for the groups they represent, share perspectives, and vote on matters including changes to the QUAA constitution.
All QUAA members can attend the association’s annual general meeting, although only assembly members can vote.
How can I get involved in the QUAA?
There is no single way, and it doesn’t have to mean joining the board or taking on a major volunteer commitment.
You might attend an alumni event, connect with a branch or chapter, help plan a reunion, mentor a student or fellow grad, nominate someone for a QUAA award, or volunteer for an alumni initiative.
If you’re interested in a larger role, you can volunteer with a branch, chapter, or reunion, serve on a board committee, or apply to become a QUAA director when positions are available.
“There isn’t a right way to be involved,” Williams says. “Your connection to Queen’s is going to change over the course of your life. What matters is knowing that this community is here for you and that there are so many ways to be part of it when and how it makes sense for you.”
Learn more about the QUAA and discover all the ways you can connect with your alumni community. And if you have questions, reach out to the QUAA board at quaa.board@queensu.ca or the QUAA president at quaa.president@queensu.ca.
