Introducing our new recognition for club officers: Club Officer of the Month!

Jonathan Graves ’02, president, New York Auburn Club

Jonathan Graves ’02, president of the New York Auburn Club, has been actively involved in his club for eight years, serving as vice president before taking the top position.

“Being a member of the New York Auburn Club has allowed me the opportunity to keep connected with Auburn University and local alumni, create some great friendships and expand my career through professional connections,” Jonathan said.

In addition to his commitment to the club, Jonathan is the principal architect with Imagine Architecture in New York City. He also volunteers time with a community tree-planting campaign each year and, in 2012, he involved the entire club in a tree planting as its Auburn Alumni in Action project. Jonathan has coordinated the Auburn Alumni in Action project for the club since the inception of the program in 2010.

“My main goal for the NYAC is to help enhance the club’s value to its alumni of all ages and interests by connecting them through the club events, gatherings and services,” Jonathan said. “We would like to personify that this club will provide more than just a watch party for games; we can become a service-oriented group that will provide a connection to local Auburn alumni and Auburn University.

“We have recently developed a new website to help gather any and all information that will help connect the local alumni and friends and provide them with resources they may need. Slowly but surely, the New York Auburn Club will expand beyond its bounds, and I want to be a vital part of setting those wheels into motion.”

Jonathan is originally from Mountain Brook and is the first of his family to attend Auburn. His road to New York City took a turn. Literally.

“I was offered a job (in NYC) via one of my best friends, who was offered the same position with another company. We switched the offers and both successfully got the jobs we wanted,” Jonathan said. “I have now been in New York for 12 years practicing as a registered architect. Over the past three years, I started my own firm doing high-end residential projects and so far it has been a successful beginning. I look forward to keeping it going for many years to come.”

Photo: Pictured are LuAnne ‘80 and Charlie Hart ‘78 and their children Will ‘10 and Rebecca ’12.