Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s Management Information Systems Student Association (MISSA) celebrated a remarkable milestone at its 54th Annual Alumni Reunion, held at the Kellogg West Conference Center and Hotel. The evening welcomed alumni, students, faculty and supporters for a night of connection, reflection and celebration.
The event kicked off with a mocktail mingling hour, where attendees reconnected in a relaxed, inviting setting. From the start, the energy in the room reflected the warmth and camaraderie that has defined MISSA’s legacy for more than five decades.
Outgoing MISSA President Ally Nguyen officially welcomed guests and new president, Kaitlyn Yen, sharing how the club played a transformative role in her personal and professional journey.
“I saw that the more I involved myself in MISSA the more I opened up,” Nguyen said. “Because of my time in the club, I was able to build a network of supportive friends and mentors who helped me open up more, and eventually I became the youngest member of our eBoard. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone even further, and I became club president in spring 2024.”
The evening featured keynote reflections from influential figures in the MISSA community. Dan Manson, professor emeritus and a longtime faculty advisor and club champion, reflected on the value of co-curricular engagement.
“What you do outside of the classroom is just as important as what you do in a classroom,” Manson said. “But what you do in a club is just as important as any class you’ll ever take. Life is not about what you do, it’s about who you get to do it with, and I have been so fortunate to be a part of this club for many years as an advisor and sponsor.”
Diane Miller, Chair of the Board of Directors of the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Philanthropic Foundation, and a proud 1981 alumna, brought a deeply personal perspective to the celebration. She spoke about her own leap of faith in joining the program at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ and the lasting impact it had on her 40-year career.
“I really want to thank Ally and Kaitlyn, and of course, Dan Manson for this fabulous event in celebrating 54 years of student success through MISSA,” Miller said. “I’m a proud alumnus. I graduated in the class of 1981, and when I tell students that, they usually say, ‘Were there computers back then?’ In fact, when I selected the program at CPP, it was advertised at the time by Dr. Jerry Wagner as an ‘experimental curriculum’—using the application of technology to address business challenges and opportunities. At the time, I was a forestry and conservation major in another state, and I remember telling my parents I wanted to go to Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ for this program instead. They wondered aloud if the computers would be around long enough to have a career. Since then, I have been fortunate to enjoy an amazing 40-year career, and I attribute a lot of that success to my time here at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½.”
The program also featured longtime supporter Jim Savitz, an experienced case writer, who converts relevant data into valuable insights, and acts as a sponsor for the Information Technology Competition, lent his appreciation for the club’s sustained excellence and student innovation. Savitz and Manson also shared a memoriam for Bob Strumpf, Ko Isshiki (’20 doctorate, CIS), Peter Dawson, Professor Emeritus, and Ron Eaves, former Dean of the College of Business Administration, Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, all stewards of the club who have helped define its legacy.
Interactive moments added a festive touch to the reunion. Guests participated in table games that tested their MISSA knowledge and competed in a raffle for prizes such as Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ merchandise bundles and lunch with the current MISSA president.
A dedicated networking session invited alumni from multiple decades to connect with current members, fostering mentorship, and new opportunities. The evening stood as a testament to MISSA’s enduring mission: to build a strong, supportive community of future-focused tech leaders. With stories shared, achievements celebrated and friendships renewed, attendees left energized by the club’s legacy and its bright future.
All I Really Needed to Know In Life I learned at MISSA at CPP – Dianne Miller, (’81, business), Chair of the Board of Directors of the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Philanthropic Foundation at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
- It’s never too early to begin building your professional network. Attend every career fair. Talk to every corporate representative who will talk to you because every engagement is an opportunity to learn and build network.
- Practice engaging with adults. It is so important to learn how to effectively introduce yourself. Make eye contact, offer a firm handshake and stating your name clearly.
- A collaborative style gets better results. Invite those perspectives to foster open conversation before making any critical conversation When I was club president, we were known as the Data Processing Club. I held a competition about how to rename the club, everyone voted, and we awarded a prize to the student who came up with MISSA. This simple action was fun, it increased engagement and that’s what collaboration is all about, everybody feels like they are a part of the decision and clearly it was a good competition because the name has stuck for 45 years.
- Planning and organizing are valuable and valued skills. You’ll be making hundreds of decisions throughout your whole life. The sooner you learn to make plans, schedule activities and organize your work the more you increase your chances of success. Employers really appreciate people who take initiative, know how to plan and get things done.
- Know how you learn. Are you a visual learner? An auditory learner? Experiential learner? Learning how to learn is the most important thing I took away from Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. In this industry where the technology is changing so quickly, there is no way a university will teach you today what you need to know for the next 40 years of your career. You must be flexible and keep on learning in whatever way works best for you, but you should embrace being a lifelong learner.
- Friends are essential. Get to know people on a personal level. Meet students outside of your major, participate in multi-disciplinary clubs.
- A college experience is more than your classes. You can learn as much outside the classroom as you can inside the classroom, like. My colleague Dan Manson likes to say. Take electives outside your major.
- Always say “yes.” Following that advice has led me to life changing opportunities.