Faces of Xavier: Shane Lavin

Shane Lavin '03 (left) with Rob Hennessy '83,
when Shane had a minute to take a breath at the
2011 Xavier Beefsteak!

Faces of Xavier
Mr. Shane Lavin '03
Director of Alumni Relations

These days in the Advancement and Alumni Relations office, well, it always seems like busy season! If you've attended one of our regional events like the one last week in Houston, TX, or the recent blockbuster Beefsteak Dinner on Jan. 21, you may have met Shane Lavin '03, Xavier's director of alumni relations and event-planning extraordinaire. He's got a tough job - to not only plan the gauntlet of Xavier events, geared toward just about every type of Xavier grad, but also to make each event grow to new levels of success.

Mr. Lavin's usually within earshot of all things E-News, but this week he was traveling through North Carolina and Georgia, as he and Mr. Raslowsky hosted three alumni receptions and met grads!

Alas, Mobile-Shane, on the run:

E-News: So where are some of the places Xavier has done receptions in the last year?

Mr. Shane Lavin '03: In the last year we've spanned the country, hitting L.A., San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Denver, Phoenix, Tucson, Chicago, Houston, several cities in Florida as well as the old stalwarts in Boston and Washington, DC. Our most recent receptions had us in Raleigh and Charlotte and will take us to Atlanta Thursday night. The upsurge can be attributed to a renewed interest in getting out to places Xavier hasn't visited in a number of years as well as giving our alumni who can't easily join us for events in New York a chance to meet the president and other members of the advancement staff.

E-News: What's the best part about getting out and meeting grads in different cities?

Mr. Shane Lavin '03: The great part about getting out and meeting our alumni, no matter where we are, is hearing about people's affection for Xavier. On our most recent travels, the attendees have stretched from the class of 1940 through the class of 2004 and throughout that span of years there is still the same appreciation for Xavier and for their time on 16th street. It's so great seeing the bonds being formed by alums in their new cities. They might not be in the New York area anymore, but it's clear that the feeling of community travels to wherever we gather.

E-News: Funniest story from the road.

Mr. Shane Lavin '03: Tough to put a finger on in particular. I think some of the funniest stories are the ones we hear about guys' days as students...alums are much more willing to admit things when they're 15, 20+ years out. One recent anecdote I heard was a group of guys who, when running late to school, would organize themselves on the subway so that they could arrive at school in a big group and blame it on the subways.

E-News: If there's just one thing you've learned about our grads from a year of events, in-house and otherwise, what is it?

Mr. Shane Lavin '03: I think the one thing that really stands out is that no matter where someone lives, where they went to college or where they work, people make lifelong friends on 16th street. It may just be one or two long-term friends, or there might be 30, but we all make friends for life at Xavier.

E-News: Last question. We all want to know - what's it like to be on a road trip with Mr. Raslowsky, like you are right now.

Mr. Shane Lavin '03, via text message: It involves a lot of Bruce Springsteen and staying on your toes. The plan constantly evolves, but it's been a good time and very interesting to get a first-hand view of the demands placed on the president.

Faces of Xavier: Shane Lavin

Xavier High School