A Debt of Gratitude for Rudy’s Tremendous Dedication to O4U
Dear O4U Friends,
Michael “Rudy” Ruderman, our Chair of the Board of Out for Undergrad (O4U), announced in 2019 that he would be retiring at the end of 2020. Dr. Shannon Moran was elected as the incoming Chair. We are nearing the end of our Conference season and it is time to give Rudy our biggest shout out and thanks. Rudy has given us fourteen years of outstanding leadership and accomplishment as an O4U student, organizer, conference concept creator and Chair of our Board. Since Rudy stepped into the role of Chair, we have reaffirmed our commitment to our mission, expanded and sharpened our strategies and tactics, and developed our leadership as well as our ability to learn and improve. During Rudy’s tenure, we have weathered two economic downturns, booked our largest and most diverse conferences in three consecutive years, diversified and expanded the Board to eleven, created four strategic initiatives for the next three years, created the Anti-Racism Subcommittee on the Board, successfully navigated the transformation of our site based conferences to digital during COVID and created a reserve for the first time in O4U history.
We at O4U believe that LGBTQ+ student success is essential to both the economic and social success of our society. Under Rudy’s guidance, O4U shifted its focus from recruitment largely confined to elite institutions and white, gay, cisgender men to the very diverse admissions of today.
Our mission hasn’t changed — and won’t change with the coming leadership transition. We are indebted to Rudy for greatly improving our ability to achieve that mission by bringing about a significant evolution for O4U’s leadership as well as its work.
During Rudy’s tenure, we have increasingly encouraged the use of data in evaluating organizational performance, forged and strengthened partnerships that cut across the boundaries of institution and sector and proven that we can work effectively in a complex and ever-changing landscape. We have demonstrated that we are a learning organization that embraces reflection and refinement. Rudy has helped develop a board that collectively holds this vision. We are fortunate to have worked alongside a leader with Rudy’s passion, intellect, creativity, and good partnership.
Rudy leaves a legacy to be proud of, and leaves O4U at a good moment for new leadership to take the helm. We are on a strong new trajectory to significantly improve recruitment of LGBTQ+ students and sponsors interested in hiring them. The board is committed to that trajectory. We have the resources and plans in place to take our work to address the many opportunities ahead.
Please join us in wishing Rudy well in his next phase of work as a volunteer and thank you, Rudy, on behalf of all of us, for all you have done in service of students and achieving their full potential and your deep care for all is us in the O4U Community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Cindi Love
Executive Director
Out for Undergrad
