The Boise State University Alumni Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, supported largely through membership. We connect, celebrate and engage alumni and friends to build lifelong relationships that strengthen the future of Boise State.
Through outreach and partnership, we keep alumni and friends informed and involved, encouraging them to invest their time, energy and resources in support of the university.
Contact Us
The Boise State Alumni Association is located in the Alumni and Friends Center, a welcoming space where Boise State’s proud traditions continue to grow.
We’d love to hear from you!
- Stop by and say hello at 1173 University Drive, Boise, ID 83706
- Email us at bsualumni@boisestate.edu
Our Guiding Values
Our guiding values shape everything we do.
We aim to:
- Connect alumni and friends strategically back to Boise State, linking their interests with the university’s priorities.
- Support students through scholarships and programs that inspire a lifelong commitment to the university.
- Advocate for Boise State and higher education in Idaho by promoting its value and educating the public on its importance.
Our History
In early 1967, Boise College prepared to graduate its first four-year class. That March, student leaders, led by student body president Jim Cockrell, gathered with a small group of faculty and alumni in the old Student Union Building (now the Communication Building) to form the Boise College Alumni Association.
The new organization began with just 12 founding members, most of them Boise Junior College graduates, as the first class of four-year alumni had yet to graduate. Cockrell and Frank Illett, an adjunct accounting instructor, served as interim co-chairmen. Membership dues were set at $2 per year, or $3 per family. Thomas L. Rhodes was elected the association’s first president.
Over the years, the association has championed many university milestones, from the construction of the Pavilion (now ExtraMile Arena) to the founding of the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band. Its commitment to Boise State has remained steady.
Much has changed since that first meeting in 1967: a new identity as Boise State University, the opening of an alumni center in 2001, and a growing membership base. Still, the association’s core goals remain the same—connecting alumni, supporting the university, and advocating on its behalf.