Editor’s Note: Meet Christen “Cricket” Handy, the newly elected president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore National Alumni Association (NAA). Handy, a Pocomoke City native, is a 2008 graduate who majored in Human Ecology with a concentration in Child Development.
How long have you been involved with the NAA?
I’ve been involved since October 2020. I joined the Tri-County Alumni Chapter, which is where I learned about the NAA.
Why did you take on the challenge of serving as the NAA president?
I saw a need. There was a gap that I knew I could bridge between the school and community, the different generations of alumni, and alumni and students. I call the Tri-County Alumni Chapter “the Mecca” for UMES because of the heart, dedication, and service this chapter gives to our university. As president of Tri-County Chapter, I was intentional about ensuring we engaged with the student body as much as possible. From projects and events, to just eating dinner in the cafe, we are present. Our theme last year was “Unite to Ignite”, and that is exactly what we did. We’ve worked closely with the Student Engagement and Leadership Team and constantly collaborated with Mister and Miss 1886, and we’ve listened to the students’ needs. Letting the students know that we are here and want to make an impact is the most important thing. I plan to carry that same energy as the NAA President.
What does it mean to serve in this role?
It means honoring our past and empowering our future. It means giving students opportunities that they didn’t know they could have and ones we as alumni didn’t have. It’s about being present, available and open to hear from those I serve, from all generations. I’m a solution-based person so if I can assist, I will.
When your election became official, did you hear from your classmates?
I heard from everybody. I got a lot of support from a lot of people who saw that I was campaigning, even people I didn’t know. To see that support was so overwhelming.
Why is being a member of the NAA important in 2026?
It’s important to give back to what got you where you are. So, regardless of whatever woes you had while you were in school, that piece of paper afforded you the opportunity to have a career and your livelihood that you have now, so it’s important to help someone along the way.
What ideas do you have to make the NAA even more relevant now?
There are a couple different initiatives we’re looking at. One is a health and wellness component that we don’t have as a committee, but some of the different chapters do things such as hiking events and participating in 5Ks. I’d like to make that a national initiative. Another thing is to increase younger alumni participation and representation, because a lot of younger graduates feel that the NAA is for older people. There is a place for everyone. I want to help bridge that gap. My goal is to emphasize the importance of being part of the NAA when students arrive at UMES as freshmen, so that they understand what it means to be an alum. You understand that when you graduate, you become part of this alumni family and it’s something you’re looking forward to. We want to be as present as possible with the current student body, so that they have something to look forward to and that it doesn’t stop after they graduate.
How is the NAA working to attract more recent graduates to join?
As the national membership chair of the NAA, I was in charge of recruitment. I knew that you couldn’t wait until graduation and send an email to get them enrolled. I came to the graduation brunch and practice and talked with students and encouraged them to sign up. My committee and I also set up graduation morning to engage and pour into the graduates. With this past graduating class of 300+, we were able to enroll 80 students, which was more than we’ve ever had from a graduating class. This will definitely increase with the plans my team and I have this year. Being local and being close to Princess Anne and the campus, that is definitely beneficial in building that connection with students and it’s something I look forward to continuing to do.
What was your reaction to philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s gift announced in October 2025?
WOW! That’s a generous gift! What are the plans for it? I know she had previously given money in 2020, but the question was what the campus has planned for it. Unsure if there are any restrictions with it, but it’s exciting to say the least.
How do you see it fitting into the NAA’s toolbox of motivating members to support their alma mater?
It’s a way to show that if someone of that stature can donate, then everyone can donate no matter how much or how little they can afford. Every little bit adds up. The question I often get when trying to get alumni to pay dues is “What do I get for the money I donate?” You get the satisfaction of helping a Hawk along the way. We give scholarships yearly, throughout the year. We have some alumni where dues are a drop in the bucket and are renewed every year. We have others that are more hesitant, and the hope is to change that and have the most financial members and the most donations ever. Everything we do is to serve and add value to the university, students and alumni.
Final thoughts?
We sincerely thank our Immediate Past President for her dedication, and all previous board members for the lasting impact of their work. Building on that strong foundation, we are now driving the mission forward with renewed energy, purpose, and a vision for the future. I’m really looking forward to the impact that the NAA is going to have over the next two years. My term expires in June of 2028, unless I decide to run again, so I’m looking forward to the big ideas we have to impact our baby hawks and alumni. We want to provide support to the students whether it’s coming to sporting events on-campus or away, meeting with them, or providing opportunities such as scholarships and internships within our organization. It’s being intentional about the presence and support of alums across generations supporting our student body. That’s the vision. That’s the goal of the message of “Bridging the Gap: Honoring Our Past, and Empowering Our Future.”
