Empowerment through the Black Alumni Network: an alumni spotlight on Eugene Nichols III ’20

Meet Chicago Black Alumni Network Member, Philanthropy Committee Member, and Class of 2020 Reunion Volunteer Eugene Nichols III ’20

What Eugene is up to now and reflecting on his time at the University

Share a bit about yourself and what you’ve been up to since graduating from the University of Rochester.

Since graduating from Rochester, I’ve been heavily involved in the compliance industry, working as an investment compliance analyst at Northern Trust in Chicago. I believe that the compliance industry is a great segway into law which I hope to pursue in the future as a securities attorney. Moreover, I’d love to pursue pro bono work in the civil rights sector as well.

In my spare time, I’ve been enjoying Stranger Things! I never truly watched the series and spent the entirety of my time off during the holidays binging it. I also love hanging out with family and friends in my spare time as well.

What are your most cherished memories from your time at the University? Are there specific moments or people that stand out?

My most cherished memory from Rochester would certainly be the Early Connection Opportunity Program (ECO). ECO allowed me the opportunity to come to Rochester a month early, assimilate to campus life, and meet so many friends early on. The experience was a catalyst for my success as a student. Additionally, without the support of individuals like Thomas Crews, Sasha Eloi ’05, ’17W (EdD), and Dean Norman Burgett, I would not have exponentially grown both professionally and personally as a student.

How did your time at Rochester shape your personal and professional growth?

My experiences as a student leader, as well as my experiences socially, shaped my personal and professional growth. Managing an array of different responsibilities for student clubs, on campus jobs, and academics taught me how to manage my time more effectively, make an impact, and lead others with compassion. My most rewarding experiences at Rochester would definitely be the Meridian Society, Student Alumni Ambassadors Program, Minority Male Leadership Association, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. All of these experiences shaped me throughout my time at Rochester, and I couldn’t be more thankful for all the skills I sharpened and gained.

Volunteerism and making an impact

What inspired you to get involved with the Black Alumni Network, and how has that experience been for you?

I would not be a part of the Black Alumni Network (BAN) had it not been for Vice President of Alumni and Constituent Engagement Karen Chance Mercurius motivating me to do so! She has always been a source of guidance for me at Rochester, and her push for me to pursue leadership in the BAN is why I am indebted to it today. It’s been amazing connecting with so many African American alumni, while intentionally making strides to better bridge the connection between our undergraduate and alumni African American community as well.

How do you see your role as a volunteer contributing to strengthening the sense of community among Black alumni?

Hopefully, my engagement as a Reunion volunteer will strengthen the amount of African American alumni who return for Meliora Weekend. This is my first year being a part of Reunion planning! This is my class year’s 5th year reunion, so I’m excited to reunite with my classmates this fall. I believe that Rochester has so many resources as an institution and coming to Meliora Weekend is a great way to reconnect with one another, gain insights on how the University could be of assistance to your personal and professional endeavors while reliving your college memories all over again!

Reconnecting with classmates is always rewarding because you can see how much you all have changed over the years. Meeting alumni is amazing because you oftentimes find similarities between the both of you rather quickly. I believe that Rochester students and alumni all have the same spark—there’s a strong desire to win and achieve that we all possess. Also, most of the time, we’re quite eclectic! Finding those similarities can be both funny and satisfying all at the same time.

Celebrating a Reunion this year or want to see what you can look forward to in the future? Check out the Reunion website!

Are there any specific goals or projects you’re passionate about advancing through your involvement with the Black Alumni Network?

The Black Alumni Network granted two scholarships to students last year which I really was happy about! Strengthening the connection between Black undergraduates and Black alumni is something I also look forward to as well. With groups like the Black Students’ Union and Douglass Leadership House, both of which I was a part of as a student, I think that there is a lot of opportunity for alumni to give back and pour into our current students.

Are there specific alumni events or initiatives in Chicago that you’ve enjoyed or feel have strengthened the local University network?

Attending Regional Alumni events is a great start to getting active as an alumnus of Rochester! Whether you are in a city with a large or small number of alumni, there is always someone from Rochester who you can connect with; leveraging those connections and showing up I believe is the first step.

Events I really enjoyed would be the Boundless Possibility Event in April of last year! I was fortunate enough to speak on my Rochester experience at the event and meet so many Chicago Regional Network alumni. The experience was really rewarding, and I’m looking forward to more events on that scale in the future! Our Chicago Young Alumni Network is also very active! I love the events that they put on and attend them frequently.

Check out volunteer opportunities with the University today!