“DON MARCO”
Before getting co-opted by organized crime, the word “mafia” (lowercase “m”) meant a “small, powerful, or influential group in an organization.” Capital “M” Mafia is the group of criminals. Both can be headed by a “don.”
Because I grew up in a town whose citizenry was 70 percent Italian (thus, my three years of Italian classes in high school), I learned early on the difference between “mafia” and “Mafia.” My Italian teacher used to call me “Marco.”
The NAWM has often—perhaps aptly, usually irreverently, and sometimes with a tinge of jealousy—been referred to as the “Wabash mafia.” For the reasons stated above, I’ve never viewed “Wabash mafia” as an insult.
Our mafia is indeed a small, powerful group exercising significant influence globally and nationally, in our states and local communities; we do so in boardrooms and courtrooms, in surgical wards and on dramatic stages, in concert halls and halls of academia, and on battlefields and in fields of gold. There is a reason we’re called the Little Giants! For a school our size, we certainly punch above our weight.
The mere association with Wabash is a gift and privilege we get to enjoy every day. To lead any part of this community is a blessing. As the 75th president of NAWM, the second African American ever (after the legendary and indefatigable Bob Wedgeworth ’59, who held this role 30 years ago) and the second (and successive) openly gay president, I am filled with pride and humility.
The theme of this edition of WM is “Second Acts.” From 1992, when I graduated from Wabash, to 2010, I hadn’t stepped foot on the Wabash campus. This service as NAWM president is a part of my “second act” with Wabash, and I intend to take full advantage of my renewed love affair with our College and its community.
As NAWM president, I follow in the footsteps of Little Giants: There are the Twin Towers of Jim (Dimos ’83 and Davlin ’85), the always assured but ever so quietly opinionated Gregs (Castanias ’87 and Estell ’85), and the big-hearted Rick Cavanaugh ’76.
But we as a community owe a huge debt of gratitude to my immediate predecessor, Rob Shook ’83. Rob continues to mentor students (as well as some faculty and staff), as he mentored me when I was a student. I wouldn’t have even started down this path but for Rob’s lifelong mentorship and friendship.
“Second Acts” also aptly describes our new NAWM Vice President Kip Chase ’03. A few years ago the NAWM board elected Kip vice president, but his employer asked him to take a senior role with the company in China. With his expat service in China completed, Kip has returned to Indiana, and the NAWM wisely asked him to rejoin the board. Kip’s and my respective paths in service to Wabash show that, yes, you can come home again.
The NAWM board and the College Advancement team are exploring ways to strengthen our regional associations, ensure we are as inclusive as we can be with the entire Wabash community, and determine how alumni can further engage with students on a broader basis, enhancing a tremendous asset of our community.
For the past few years, Wabash’s alumni network has been listed as the second-best association in the country. That’s a heady achievement, but with a couple of tweaks and some additional initiatives, hopefully Wabash’s “second act” on these lists will be at the top.
I welcome any thoughts or ideas you may have to achieve that goal. I hope to meet as many of you as I can over the next couple of years, in-person or virtually. You can connect with me via Facebook, LinkedIn, or both.
“Wabash Always Fights!”
MARC “DON MARCO” NICHOLS ’92
President, National Association of Wabash Men
marc.nichols@saabusa.com
Connect with the NAWM board at: alumni@wabash.edu