Rewind, Reconnect, Relive: Why Attend Tufts Alumni Reunions 2025
Robert Joseph, A15, Co-Chair of the 10th Reunion Committee for Class of 2015
Senior Transportation Planner at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
“There's a part of your heart and soul that is yearning to chat with your classmates again, and this is the opportunity to come and see them. And I have no doubt that you'll feel fulfilled at the end of the weekend.”
The Tufts Time Machine—Robert’s Journey Back to Where It All Began
If you could step into a time machine and return to your college years for one day, what would you do? For Tufts alum Robert Joseph, A15, a sci-fi enthusiast, traveling back to his college days is something he has thought about more than once. From painting the cannon to running a campaign for student government, he misses every moment of the Tufts experience that has shaped his journey.
With the 10th alumni reunion on the horizon, Robert doesn’t need a time machine to relive those memorable moments. This May, he is excited to return to campus, reconnect with classmates, and celebrate the purpose of alumni reunions—to honor shared stories, personal growth, and the lasting impact of a Tufts education.
Exploring His Path and Passion at Tufts University
As Robert eagerly anticipates Tufts Reunions 2025, he reflects on how his Tufts experience influenced his academic and career choices. His connection with Tufts started long before he set foot on campus. Growing up in New York, he was already familiar with Tufts through family and friends who attended. A campus visit in high school reinforced his decision—he immediately felt welcomed. “I felt like I fit in with everyone I met at Tufts even before I went there,” Robert shares. “I could really see myself having a great college experience at Tufts.”
Through Tufts' interdisciplinary academic approach, Robert explored a wide range of areas of study. Even though he quickly realized that his passion lay in urban studies and political science, Robert took courses in computer science and drama. He also had the opportunity to experience the urban and environmental planning master’s program as an undergraduate student.
“I was lucky enough to be able to take a couple of classes there. And I knew I wanted to head in the direction of urban planning,” Robert reflects. “It helped me focus my studies in a way that I don't know … would have been possible at other schools.”
As a Political Science major with a minor in Urban Studies, Robert strengthened his understanding of how policy and city design can impact everyday life. “I really like transportation and cities. [I like to learn about] how everything comes together in a cohesive way.“ This journey of discovery at Tufts empowered him to pursue a career in transportation planning, allowing him to blend his analytical skills with his passion for creating better urban environments for the public.
Celebrating a Decade of Career Success—Improving Society Through Urban Planning
For alumni, the reunion event is also a great opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate their professional accomplishments shaped by a Tufts education. After graduating in 2015, Robert embarked on his urban planning career at a small consulting firm in New York while working toward his master’s degree at NYU. He later advanced his career in a nonprofit advocacy organization, the Municipal Art Society of New York, where he explored different areas of urban planning more deeply, from parks and jails to zoning and housing.
“It was interesting getting to work on all those different things, but I wanted to have a bit more of a tangible impact on the work I was doing,” Robert says. “I got the opportunity to work at the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) planning bus service, and I was there for nearly four years.”
Devoting his expertise to improving people’s lives through transportation planning, Robert accomplished a lot during his time at the MTA. One of the projects that he is most proud of is the Bronx bus network redesign. “That was an absolutely amazing project to work on. We got to reconfigure 15% of the bus service in the Bronx, [and it] had an enormous impact on hundreds of thousands of people.”
A brief pivot into finance helped him realize one crucial thing: genuine fulfillment came from aligning work with his passions. That realization brought him back to urban planning, where he now works with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, focusing on long-range transportation strategy.
As he prepares for the upcoming reunion, Robert appreciates how reconnecting with Tufts classmates allows for meaningful discussions about shared career paths, lessons learned, and how their education continues to shape their lives today.
Honoring the Impact of the Tufts Connection and Education
Throughout his career, Robert found that the connection and the learning experience at Tufts played a pivotal role in his professional growth. “It's everything from the hard skills like learning about how to use statistical software, even Excel and some mapping software like GIS, and the soft skills, just knowing how to meet people and work with people,” Robert says. Serving as the student government president at Tufts introduced him to the role of an urban planner—representing people's interests.
“[In] my senior year, I was the student government president. I worked with lots of different administrators all the time. It was a lot of time management and prioritization, learning how to take a project and show the value of it to an administrator and make sure that I was representing the needs of students.”
The impact of Tufts has extended beyond just skills—Robert has unexpectedly crossed paths with fellow Jumbos in his professional journey. One particularly memorable moment was during a job interview when he discovered that the hiring manager was also a Tufts alum. That shared connection reinforced the strength of the Tufts network and demonstrated how the university’s community continues to provide opportunities long after graduation.
“There are a lot of Tufts people who are in adjacent fields, and I know if I ever need to look in a slightly different field [for my career], I've got tons of connections there.” The Tufts network is a lifelong resource that fosters personal and professional connections—and is exactly why so many alumni return for reunions year after year.
Serving as a Committee Member for the Alumni Reunion
Seeing how the Tufts experience has influenced his success—through unexpected networking and career opportunities—Robert knows that some bonds transcend time. Since graduation, he has been an active participant in alumni events, including alumni reunions. For Robert, the purpose of being involved in alumni reunions and other events is to deepen his connections to the community he cherishes.
Robert attended the first and fifth reunions for the class of 2015. And this year, he became a member of the 10th reunion committee, making this milestone gathering one to remember.
“Recognizing that the 10-year reunion was coming up, I said [to myself] ‘We didn't have a five-year reunion in person [due to the pandemic]. We had one on Zoom, which was obviously not the same,’ and I wanted to make sure that we have a good 10-year reunion.”
So what is he most looking forward to at the reunion? The class gathering before the soiree, where he and his fellow alumni will have the chance to reconnect in an unstructured, relaxed setting. “I constantly miss the kinds of deep, spontaneous conversations I had with classmates … I miss that kind of diversity of interactions with people,” Robert shares. “This reunion is an opportunity to step back into that world—even just for a weekend.”
5 Reasons Why You Should Attend the Alumni Reunion
The Tufts University Alumni Reunions are special because they provide a rare opportunity to press pause on busy lives and step back into a world filled with familiar faces and meaningful conversations. For Robert, reconnecting with classmates is more than just nostalgia; it’s a chance to re-engage with the vibrant, intellectually stimulating community.
Whether you’re eager to reminisce, network, or simply soak in the energy of campus once again, here are Robert’s reasons why you won’t want to miss the reunion:
- Catch Up With Old Friends
Did you lose touch with some of your good friends from college because of distance or busy schedules? The reunion weekend is a perfect time to see them again all in one place and rekindle those connections.
“It's a very limited opportunity to get to see so many of your classmates, so many people you didn't even [realize] that you missed.”
- Rediscover Your Favorite Spots on or Near Campus
Go back to campus and hang out with your friends at your favorite places.
“There are a bunch of places I want to go back to … I used to hang out a lot on the upper level of the campus center. I want to go to the library roof and the patio by the library.”
- Celebrate Milestones and Life Changes
Since graduation, your career has evolved, your family has grown, and perspectives have shifted. Reunite with your class over the weekend to discuss your achievements and your plan for the future.
- Stay in Dorms and Relive Your College Days
The alumni reunion also offers a unique opportunity to stay on campus over the weekend and immerse yourself in college life.
“There's no better way to feel like you're in [college] than to really go back to living in it, which we'll get to do for one weekend.”
- Create New Memories and Connections
The reunion isn’t just about looking back.
“[It’s about] making some new memories with classmates and getting this feeling of connection to both my classmates and to the school.”
The Tufts Connection Is Timeless: Join the 2025 Alumni Reunions
“Tufts is one of those experiences that's very connecting. Anytime you meet another alum, you automatically feel like you have a kinship with them, even if you didn't overlap at Tufts.”
- Robert Joseph, A15
If Robert really had a time machine, he knows exactly what he’d use it: a perfect day back to Tufts as a college student. He’d start the morning with breakfast at the Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center, catching up with friends at the “N+1” table. He’d go to all the student clubs and wander through campus to strike up spontaneous conversations, just like he used to do.
Luckily, the 2025 Tufts University Alumni Reunions make this all possible—no time machine required. Ready to bring back those unforgettable experiences?