“Columbia Has Given Me So Much”

“Columbia is my community,” says Alex “A.J.” Vervoort ’26TC. “It’s a great privilege to be a part of this centuries-old, storied institution of higher education that enriches my life every day.”

A.J. has scored a Columbia trifecta: He’s a student, staff member, and donor. As a student, he is on track to earn his Doctor of Education (EdD) from Teachers College, Columbia University (TC) in 2026. As senior associate director of alumni relations and executive secretary to the Columbia Engineering Alumni Association (CEAA), he manages the CEAA and the Columbia Engineering Young Alumni (CEYA) board. He also fundraises for the Engineering School and manages reunion committee volunteers.

Before coming to Columbia, A.J. earned a BS in Business from Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, and an MSEd in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He joined the Columbia community in 2015 and has held various roles at Columbia Business School and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University.

A.J. was drawn to Columbia, he said, because of its “incredible global diversity and unwavering commitment to upholding democratic values, academic freedom, and freedom of speech and expression.” Professor Noah Drezner in the Higher and Postsecondary Education Department was a particular inspiration for A.J.’s enrolling in Teachers College. 

“He is an excellent faculty advisor, and he supports my research interests with great interest,” A.J. said. “In fact, I was drawn to TC by the impactful research of the faculty.” A.J.’s own research explores why lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) student activists organize around LGBT rights at religious affiliated institutions of higher education.

After nine years in Manhattan, A.J. and his significant other, Drew Galante, have moved to Jersey City, where he is passionate about giving back to his community. He serves on the Board of Education for the Monmouth Regional High School District, representing his hometown, Shrewsbury Township, and he also serves on the Equity Council, Green Team, and Policy Committees. Through these committees, A.J. has been able to bring his educational background and experiences to help design a more inclusive, equitable school district.

A.J. is equally passionate about giving back to Columbia. “It’s a great privilege because Columbia has given me so much—from developing lifelong friendships to opening up my world to new, nuanced perspectives and schools of thought,” he said. “I’m a proud member of the 1754 Society, and I love participating in annual giving initiatives: the Pi Day challenge for Engineering and Columbia

Giving Day for all of the University. They are hallmarks of the year and are fun community events.” 

More recently, A.J. made a bequest to Columbia by will. “It’s very rewarding to be able to support a cause so deeply personal and close to my heart,” he said. “One day, I hope to be able to endow a fund to support Columbia’s core mission and benefit students and faculty.”

“Columbia has impacted me so much more than I could have imagined in terms of my professional development, educational advancement, and deepened connection with its incredible community,” he continued. “It’s a very special place for all of us—and collectively, we have an obligation to preserve and advance our great institution for generations to come.”