The Inland Empire Alumni Network (IEAN) for the University of California, Riverside is a group of local UCR alumni who promote a sense of community throughout the Inland Empire. They host networking and programming events that enrich student experiences and also promote student-alumni interaction to establish relationships with other Highlanders.
 
The IEAN for UCR takes part in many volunteer leadership and service projects to represent the Highlander community’s proud and lifelong commitment. Samantha Jobelius, SOE’s enrollment manager, is the current president of the IEAN for UCR and also served in this position from 2016-2018. When asked why Jobelius chose to run for the executive leadership position, she shared, “I want to help the group achieve its mission and vision, and continue to develop my leadership skills. It also gives me a great opportunity to meet and connect with fellow alumni on a regular basis.”
 

The group started hosting street clean up events in 2018 when a fellow board member shared her  concerns with the trash and dirt she would see on her commute to campus. They partnered with  Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful (KRCB), a community program sponsored by the City of Riverside and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce (GRCC), to bring together volunteers and alumni on this venture about once per year. 
 
The group decided they wanted to take on more responsibility and adopt a street, and in 2021, KRCB reached out with an available street and offered it to IEAN. To celebrate the adoption “pandemic style,” the group held multiple outdoor, socially distanced events throughout the year.
 

IEAN was recently honored with The Spirit of Volunteerism Award by KRCB. The award recognizes an exemplary group of volunteers for their outstanding leadership and commitment to community beautification in the City of Riverside. Connie Librenjak, the Executive Director of KRCB, presented the group with their plaque at their January clean-up. Jobelius shared that they see this street as a gateway to campus, and they take great pride in taking care of it.
 
To find out more about the social, networking, and other events the IEAN hosts, visit their website and follow their social media accounts:
Facebook
Instagram 
Website