Volunteer Spotlight: Yulun Li ’14

Although Yulun Li ’14 lives in California, two thousand miles away from campus, he finds that Macalester often feels a lot closer. “The Macalester alumni community in San Francisco is vast and well-connected,” Li says. “It’s almost a running joke how often you’ll be in a conversation with someone and discover they’re also a Mac grad.”

As a regional alumni chapter leader, the software engineer wants to foster even more of those links: with alumni, current students, and incoming students and their families every year through Summer Send-Off events in the city. In addition to helping expand internship opportunities for international students, he has facilitated Bay Area connections for the college’s annual Mac Explore career exploration program—one of Li’s favorite ways to engage. “There’s a unique energy when you bring current students and professors into a professional, off-campus environment,” he says. “It sparks fresh discussions and new perspectives, and you can really see the power of a liberal arts education in action as students apply critical thinking to real-world corporate challenges.”

What do you want students to understand about career engagement in the alumni network?

It’s a truly reciprocal relationship. While the job market can indeed be challenging, companies are perpetually searching for the distinctive talent cultivated by a Macalester liberal arts education. The alumni network values your skills and perspectives just as much as you might value a connection for a job or internship. Don’t hesitate to initiate contact; that first step is often just sending a brief message to an alum in a field or company. Introduce yourself, note your Mac connection, and yes, feel empowered to ask for a referral.

What do you carry with you from your own college experience?

The most formative part is the profound sense of care and genuine curiosity within the community. It was in countless conversations where I consistently felt that people were truly interested in understanding different perspectives. This environment—where individuals are eager to learn from you as much as share with you—was incredibly enriching.

What keeps you volunteering with Macalester?

The enduring spirit and “vibe” of the Macalester community travels with you, wherever you go. I volunteer with Mac because I genuinely enjoy it. There’s a unique fulfillment in reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and having the opportunity to support current students as they navigate their own paths.

Learn more about volunteering at Mac: macalester.edu/alumni/volunteer