AlumniNew York Alumni Group

The New York Alumni group has been active in NYC for over 20 years, welcoming Strathclyders to the big apple and working with a range of international organisations to strengthen the bond between Scotland the USA.

We sat down with the group committee to learn more about what they do and the opportunities available to Strathclyde alumni in New York.

If you'd like to get involved, contact us at alumni-relations@strath.ac.uk.

What is the Scottish diaspora scene in NYC like?

There are many organizations and a wide range of events throughout the year. In January there are multiple Burns Nights, then Tartan Week in April, various Highland Games at many different locations in the summer and autumn, then St Andrew's Day dinners. The university alumni groups get together from time to time - for drinks, quiz nights and a recent hugely successful curling event. There is also a yearly bagpipes concert - The Pipes Of Christmas - in NYC, organised by Clan Currie in December. This is a magical and emotional event, and makes us proud to be Scottish.

Tartan Day parade

Why is Tartan Day so important to Scots in the USA?

Tartan Day – in early April each year – is really the culmination of Tartan Week, a week of celebrating Scotland throughout the US, but with a significant focus in New York City. The parade has grown from a small start in 1999 to a huge event, bringing together over 3,000 pipers and drummers, dancers, clan organisations, businesses, university alumni groups and of course, Scottish dogs! It’s the one time the entire Scottish community gathers in one place, and every year we all meet old friends and new. As Strathclyders, we also organise pre- and post-parade food and drink events to really make the day special

How does the NYC alumni group work with other Scottish organisations in the USA?

We collaborate with many organisations by participating in events and by making connections, for example we have an active cross-university community that organises monthly meet-ups. Tartan Week is probably the time of year when people come from all over the US and Canada to NYC, so that’s when many connections are made. There are also events a few times a year to recognise and celebrate Scottish companies and charities - a recent example being focused on The Prince & Princess Of Wales Hospice in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow.

Why should Strathclyders get involved with the NYC group?

Apart from anything else - it's good fun!

It’s a great way to meet people – not just from Strathclyde, but from the wider community, and to find the organisations and groups that are of interest. For newcomers to New York, it can be a daunting environment, so we can help guide people on where to live and how to navigate the bureaucracy of a very complex immigration system. Apart from anything else - it's good fun!

Meet the committee

Brian Smith

Brian Smith

Brian graduated in Business Administration and then worked in the UK and Switzerland in international banking operations and technology, before moving to the USA in 1991. Now semi-retired after spending the last few years as a partner at a management consulting firm, Brian became involved in forming the alumni group after reconnecting with the university in the late 1990s and has been one of the Directors of the University’s USA Foundation since 2001.

Paul Hands

Paul Hands

Paul studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Strathclyde from 1978 to 1982, and has built a career in technology, including chip design, software and global scale infrastructure for companies like Google and Salesforce. Paul is now semi-retired, but still active in technology, and got involved in the alumni group after moving to New York in 2015.

Fraser Drummond

Fraser Drummond

Fraser is a 2003 Technology and Business Studies graduate who has spent most of his time in financial management, consulting and assurance roles with KPMG and the United Nations system in the UK, Australia and New York. Fraser was originally involved in the Alumni group from 2013 for a few years and re-joined the group after his return to New York in 2021.

Roger Woodend

Roger Woodend

Roger studied Politics from 1993 to 1997, and has since built a career in sales and leadership within the technology sector. He spent 17 years with BT’s global business, during which he lived and worked in London, Sydney, Hong Kong, and, for the past decade, in the US. Roger later joined Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he spent nearly five years in senior commercial roles. He is currently Vice President Sales of Movius, a silicon valley headquartered international technology firm specializing in secure messaging and compliance services for business and governments. 

Andy Banks

Andy Banks

Andy graduated in Scots Law in 2001, and after a stint in the Netherlands working in finance and doing some postgraduate study in International and Corporate Law, has been practising law in New York for the past 15 years. Starting out in corporate law and mergers and acquisitions, Andy now specialises in investment fund formation and investment management regulation. Andy has been involved with the Strathclyde alumni group since 2014.