Alumni Association welcomes Ganjam, Robinson as new volunteer leadership

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Alumni Association welcomed new volunteer leadership on July 1, with Anand Ganjam, class of 2015, beginning a two-year term as president. Fellow leader Susan Robinson, class of 1994, started her two-year term as vice president on the same day.

Ganjam is the 83rd president of the Penn State Alumni Association and the youngest president in the association’s history. His term as president runs through June 30, 2025. 

"It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as president of the largest and greatest Alumni Association in the world,” Ganjam said. “Penn State has given me so much, and I am on a mission to help our over 174,000 members and 750,000 alums discover and take advantage of the countless opportunities provided by our Alumni Association.   

“When you combine the incredible efforts of our Alumni Association staff with the leadership and passion of our volunteers and affiliate groups, I have no doubt we can achieve unimaginable heights for Penn State.”  

Ganjam succeeds Kelley Lynch, class of 1987, who will serve a two-year term on the Penn State Board of Trustees as the immediate past president of the Alumni Association. 

“Anand Ganjam will bring a new, fresh perspective to leading the Penn State Alumni Association as the youngest graduate to hold this post,” said Alumni Association CEO Paul Clifford. “He is a champion for innovation, engaging recent graduates, and helping all alumni unlock the power of the Penn State network. His ability to lead organizations through change with passion and purpose will help us win the day — every day — for Penn State.” 

More on Anand Ganjam

A life member of the Penn State Alumni Association, Ganjam got his start with Alumni Council in 2014 with an ex-officio term as the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) student body president.

Ganjam was appointed to the Alumni Council in 2015 following his graduation from the Smeal College of Business, and he was appointed to the executive board in 2016. Throughout his tenure, he has chaired multiple committees, including Young Alumni and Student Engagement, Membership Experience, and, most recently, the Nominating Committee. In 2021 he was elected to the position of vice president.

Professionally, Ganjam is a strategy and consulting senior manager with Accenture. He specializes in helping Fortune 500 organizations navigate change, develop talent, increase digital fluency, and create impactful employee experiences. He has worked across multiple industries, including life sciences, consumer products, chemicals, technology and state governments. In addition, Ganjam is an advocate for financial wellness and has led numerous efforts within Accenture and Penn State to expand financial literacy through educational sessions and dialogue.

He has served on several University boards and committees, including the Financial Literacy Advisory Board and the Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education Development Committee. He is a mentor for the Alumni Association's FastStart program, and he is actively involved with the UPUA alumni interest group.

More on Susan Robinson

Robinson earned a health policy and administration degree at Penn State in 1994. She is a leader who shifts thinking, elevates potential and inspires action.

As a keynote speaker and business consultant, Robinson blends more than 25 years of multi-sector leadership with her experiences being legally blind. She works with global firms, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, universities and the United Nations. Her work impacts the lives of people in more than 130 countries. Robinson has long been connected to Penn State as an alumna. She served as president of the New York City chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association from 1996 to 2000 and has been an active member of Alumni Council since 2017. 

“It's a tremendous honor to have the support of my Alumni Council peers as I step into the role of vice president for the Penn State Alumni Association,” Robinson said. “I am looking forward to serving, with the best alumni leaders, the best alumni and the best alumni association in the world.”

Learn more about Robinson's work here.