GIA Alumni Collective
GIA’s alumni association has a new name, a fresh look, and up-to-date features. With a mission to connect GIA graduates around the world, provide opportunities for continuing education, and foster networking throughout the gem and jewelry industry, the GIA Alumni Collective (see above) builds on the association’s long history with updates that better reflect the creativity, technical savvy, entrepreneurship, and vitality of GIA’s alumni.
After successfully completing a GIA program or course, alumni can register for the Collective and stay informed about all the resources available to them by visiting the new GIA Alumni Collective website. The new online community, collective.gia.edu, serves as a “central hub” where members can add their profile to the directory, engage and connect directly with other members and global chapters, join “virtual” chapters, register to attend professional events, access more than 20 Continuing Education seminars at a 10% discount, and more.
“The new GIA Alumni Collective website and online community is a reflection of our diverse alumni network. The collaboration with chapter leaders and other members brings new energy and a modern look that connects our global network and provides a space to experience the future of gems and jewelry,” says Cathryn Ramirez, executive director of alumni development and continuing education at GIA.
GIA has more than 155,000 active alumni in 58 chapters spanning the globe—33 in the Americas, 16 in Asia, and three apiece in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. While chapters host their own meetings and events, chapters often co-host to provide additional networking opportunities. The GIA Alumni Collective hosts annual events at the AGTA Tucson and JCK Las Vegas trade shows where hundreds of alumni from all over the world meet up with longtime friends and colleagues and foster new relationships.
