Alum-Less

On this week's Alumless, Chris and Ryan welcome Jeff Williams, Assistant Vice President for People and Engagement at the University of Maryland, for a conversation focused on the internal dynamics of advancement work. With a role that blends talent development, team culture, and stakeholder engagement, Jeff offers a unique perspective on how investing in people directly influences external engagement success. The conversation explores Jeff's first year in the role and strategies for building a high-performing culture. Jeff also discusses how internal partnerships and professional development can help advancement shops retain top talent and create more integrated approaches to alumni and donor engagement. Subscribe to Alumless for the extended podcast conversation, including our 30-minute bonus segment with Jeff, and special thanks to Protopia for sponsoring this episode. Visit protopia.co/alumless for more details about the technology that helped LSE and Northwestern win CASE awards in 2024.

In this episode of Alumless, hosts Ryan and Chris are joined by Sean Devendorf, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Tufts University, for a conversation on aligning alumni engagement and annual giving teams to drive more efficient and effective advancement outcomes. Sean shares his experience leading this integration at Tufts, reflecting on the early challenges, lessons learned, and the tangible benefits of uniting two traditionally siloed areas under a common strategy. The conversation explores how restructuring, goal-setting, and shared metrics have helped his team work more collaboratively. This episode offers insights for advancement leaders looking to build a more integrated model and reimagine how engagement and philanthropy can work hand in hand. Subscribe to the Alumless podcast for the extended bonus segment with Sean, and special thanks to AlumniQ for sponsoring this episode. Visit alumniq.com.

In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris are joined by Gina Yazzolino, Assistant Vice President for Constituent Engagement at the University of Portland, for a conversation about how engagement strategy is evolving to include more than just alumni. Gina shares insights from her work building a constituent engagement team that casts a broader net. Our conversation explores how Gina and her team are working to align engagement with fundraising and integrate engagement into a unified advancement model. Gina also discusses the challenges of cultural change, the role of strategic communications, and how institutions can bridge long-standing gaps between engagement and development work. Subscribe to Alumless for the extended podcast conversation, and thanks to Protopia for sponsoring this episode. Visit protopia.co/alumless for more details about their unique technology that helps alumni teams scale volunteerism. 

In this episode of Alumless, Chris Marshall and Nicole Kempton explore the growing intersection of innovation and university advancement with Dr. Davy Norris, Senior Vice President for Innovation and Advancement and CEO of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation. Louisiana Tech recently made a bold move by merging its Innovation Enterprise with University Advancement, a strategic shift that positions alumni, research, and economic development at the heart of institutional growth. Davy shares what prompted this integration, how it aligns with Louisiana Tech's mission, and what it means for philanthropy, industry partnerships, and alumni engagement. The conversation dives into the future of alumni participation in innovation, the role of advancement in supporting research commercialization, and how this model could reshape regional economic development. This episode provides key insights for institutions rethinking how advancement and innovation can work together to create new opportunities for students, faculty, and alumni. Subscribe to Alumless to hear the extended podcast conversation, and special thanks to AlumniQ for sponsoring this episode. Visit alumniq.com for details on their events-and-all technology.

In our next episode of Alumless, we welcome Sarah Kathryn Ricci, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Baylor University, for a conversation on management and leadership in university advancement. In this episode, "Managing Up, Down, All-Around," we explore the challenges of leading teams, collaborating across departments, and engaging alumni volunteers. Sarah Kathryn shares strategies for balancing engagement and fundraising, navigating internal partnerships, and motivating staff and volunteers. Whether you're an aspiring leader or a seasoned manager, this episode offers practical insights into what it takes to succeed in advanced leadership. A big thanks to our presenting sponsor, Protopia, for their continued support. Find out more about the technology that's turning heads and winning CASE awards! Visit protopia.co/alumless for details. ____________ Friday Cheers: Ryan: 10 Proven Methods for Real Learning

In this episode of Alumless, Ryan Catherwood and Chris Marshall explore how alumni associations can generate new revenue streams while continuing to build strong engagement. With traditional revenue sources like affinity partnerships and membership dues fading, alumni professionals are being challenged to innovate and adapt in ways that align with their mission. Joining the conversation is Paul Clifford, CMAC's newest Senior Consultant and former CEO of the Penn State Alumni Association. Paul shares his insights from decades of experience leading alumni engagement efforts at major institutions, reflecting on the balance between revenue generation and relationship-building. The discussion covers creative funding models, the shifting priorities of alumni leaders, and strategies for testing new ideas without compromising engagement goals. Tune in for an in-depth look at how institutions can navigate this new era of advancement, ensuring alumni engagement efforts remain impactful while also being financially sustainable. Subscribe to Alumless to catch the full conversation, including our exclusive podcast-only bonus segment with Paul. A special thanks to AlumniQ for supporting Alumless as our presenting sponsor. Check out the events and the technology everyone is talking about at alumniq.com.   Ryan's Friday Cheers - Alumni Sign Letter of Complaint After Vought Controversy (Wheaton College)

Subscribe to Alumless World on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.  In this episode of Alumless World, hosts Ryan Catherwood and Nicole Kempton explore the evolving landscape of alumni engagement and advancement with Mandy McFarland, Executive Officer at Educate Plus. Mandy shares how Educate Plus is expanding its membership across Australasia, providing vital resources for institutions looking to strengthen their advancement strategies. She also discusses the importance of advocacy, highlighting how the organization educates institutional leaders about the value of alumni relations, fundraising, and marketing teams. Listeners will hear how international and boarding schools navigate the challenges of transient student populations, ensuring long-term alumni engagement and successful philanthropy programs. Mandy will reflect on her own journey in advancement, from her early career in South Africa to leadership roles in Australia, emphasizing the impact of professional networks and mentorship in the industry. This episode offers a global perspective on alumni engagement, with actionable insights for advancement professionals worldwide. Alumless World airs every other Friday at 11:30 a.m. GMT, alternating weeks with Alumless. Subscribe to the podcast to hear the entire conversation, including an extended segment with Mandy.  Special thanks to AlumniQ for sponsoring this episode! Show notes & Friday Cheers The Generations Defined - McCrindle A June of Ordinary Murders by Conor Brady Holly Ransom on LinkedIn Inga Peterson, GRIT coach on LinkedIn

On this episode of Alumless, Cindy Fredrick, Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement at the University of Virginia, joins us to discuss the crucial role that volunteers play in engagement and philanthropy. With over 5,000 volunteers involved in UVA Advancement's efforts, Cindy brings her expertise in scaling volunteer programs, stewarding alumni, and maximizing their impact on the conversation. We dive into how volunteerism in advancement has evolved over the years and discuss best practices for engaging and stewarding alumni, faculty, and parent-family volunteers. Cindy shares insights on innovative engagement strategies beyond event-based participation and explains how institutions can cultivate a volunteer pipeline that moves supporters from small commitments to high-impact leadership roles. Thanks to Protopia for supporting Alumless. For more information about their AI-powered technology that's helped schools like LSE and Northwestern win CASE awards in 2024, visit protopia.co/alumless.

We're excited to announce that our newest CMAC Podcast, Alumless World, is now live! Hosted by Ryan Catherwood and Nicole Kempton, Alumless World explores alumni engagement strategies from an international perspective, highlighting best practices, challenges, and innovations worldwide. In this first episode, we welcome Dr. Maria Gallo, Founder of KITE-Keep in Touch Education and Research Fellow at Trinity Business School. Maria shares insights from her research and experience in alumni relations as we discuss the concept of ‘alumni potential' and how institutions foster lifelong connections with their graduates. We also dive into global trends, cultural differences in engagement, and key takeaways from her book The Alumni Way. Tune in every other Friday at 11:30 a.m. GMT on LinkedIn and Youtube for more conversations with experts shaping the future of alumni engagement worldwide. We alternate weeks between Alumless and Alumless World. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Protopia, for supporting Alumless World. Don't forget to subscribe and join us on this exciting new journey! Visit protopia.co/alumless.

Join us as we explore email as a critical metric for alumni engagement. Chris and Ryan welcome special guest Ashley Budd, Senior Director for Advancement Marketing at Cornell University and co-author of Mailed It!: A Guide to Crafting Emails that Build Relationships and Get Results. We discuss with Ashley why email remains essential and the metrics that truly matter, and also chat about the challenges advancement teams face in optimizing deliverability and consider email as a key aspect of the donor journey. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a top expert in advancement marketing. Thanks to AlumniQ for being a presenting sponsor of Alumless! Visit https://alumniq.com/ for more info on their events and everything else platform built exclusively for higher education.

We're wrapping up the year on Alumless with a special holiday episode inspired by A Christmas Carol! This festive edition explores the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—alumni engagement style. Joining us are six special guests to help us reflect on our field, where we've come from, and where we're headed in 2025 and beyond. On this episode, we're reflecting on:

Hey, Alumless community! Join Chris and Ryan this week for our latest edition. We will explore how institutions can prioritize alumni engagement over the long term and what it takes to bring a campus together around the endeavor. Our special guest on this episode is Amy Layman, Associate Vice President for External Engagement at Franklin & Marshall College. On the show, Amy will share insights from a transformative three-year initiative to raise alumni involvement across campus.  Amy will also discuss the project's origins, milestones, lessons learned, faculty collaboration, and success metrics.  Thanks to our newest presenting partner, AlumniQ for supporting Alumless. Find out more about AlumniQ's events plus everything else platform by visiting https://alumniq.com/

In this episode of Alumless, Chris and Ryan chat with Lauren Villanueva, Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Syracuse University, to explore the transformative work behind Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University. Lauren shares insights into the ambitious engagement goals set for the campaign and the strategies her team used to bring them to life. We also discuss her journey as a doctoral student studying engagement and how her research informs her approach to leading Syracuse's recently merged Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving teams. We chat with Lauren about the challenges and opportunities of integrating alumni engagement with annual giving and how this unified model creates meaningful connections and inspires philanthropy. Thanks to Protopia for being our presenting sponsor. Protopia is all the buzz in the engagement space. Find out how their unique AI-powered technology helps schools scale volunteerism and make it easy for alumni to help.

Join us for a thought-provoking episode featuring our newest colleague, Shane Dunn, Vice President and Senior Consultant at CMAC and founder of Shane Dunn Social Sector Strategies. We dive deep into the evolving world of alumni and philanthropic engagement across various nonprofit sectors. We explore why “alumni-ness” is becoming a crucial focus for organizations beyond higher education. Our discussion includes proven strategies for engagement and fundraising success across various social sectors.  Shane shares how his volunteer leadership experience with GLAD Law gives him a unique perspective that influences his approach to consulting. We also explore the art and science behind successful fundraising campaigns, including lessons learned from building impactful donor relationships. If you're thinking about a new event management and volunteer engagement solution, visit alumnIQ.com for details and to schedule a demo. 

This episode is all about reorganizing constituent engagement for the future. We'll explore how The Ohio State University is working to redefine its approach and build a modern, holistic engagement strategy. Join Chris and Ryan as we welcome special guest Samantha Frost, Assistant Vice President for Constituent Experiences at Ohio State University, who shares insights on leading one of the most unique realignments of engagement in the world. Huge shoutout to Protopia for their continued support of the show. Visit www.protopia.co/alumless for more details about their unique AI-powered technology designed for scaling volunteerism.

On the show, we welcome Steve Rittler, Founder and CEO of AlumnIQ, as our special guest! Steve shares his expertise in producing high-quality alumni events and we discuss technology's role in shaping alumni engagement's future. A big thanks to Steve and the team at AlumnIQ for supporting Alumless as our newest presenting sponsor! Listen to take advantage of this chance to elevate your alumni engagement strategies with insights from the best in the events business. Get ready to elevate your event operations game!

Originally published on September 13, 2024. In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris are joined by Lauren Simione, Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement at the University of Delaware, to discuss strategic planning in alumni engagement. From Lauren's partnership with CMAC to developing alumni surveys and engagement metrics, this episode dives deep into assembling a strategy that works. Tune in to learn key takeaways from the University of Delaware's strategic planning process and how alumni surveys helped shape their engagement efforts. Join us as we explore the challenges, successes, and future goals of building a robust alumni engagement strategy. Thanks to Protopia for being our presenting sponsor. Check out their AI-powered technology, helping advancement teams scale alumni and donor engagement like never before. Visit protopia.co/alumless

In this episode of Alumless, we dive into strategic engagement in university advancement with special guest Heather Junod, Associate VP for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at the University of Central Florida. We explore the challenges and opportunities schools face when crafting next-generation engagement strategies. Join us for a great conversation as Heather shares insights from her 16-year career at UCF, including how her team has leveraged dashboards to measure activity and target strategies that account for the breadth and depth of engagement. We also chat with Heather about the impact of UCF's rapid growth. Pick up this week's episode to hear valuable takeaways on scaling alumni engagement efforts while targeting key segments—and what the future holds for UCF's alumni engagement. A big thanks to our presenting sponsor, Protopia. Learn more about their AI-powered technology that enables scalable volunteerism. Visit protopia.co/alumless.

What should alumni leaders focus on as summer winds down and the new academic year approaches? How do the roles differ between decentralized college positions and central alumni association roles?In this edition of Alumless we dive deep into these critical questions! This week's special guest is Renée Hirschberg, Chief Alumni Relations Officer at Stanford Alumni Association. We discuss with Renée her transition from Stanford Graduate School of Business to the Stanford Alumni Association, insights into the Association's strengths, and exciting innovations on the horizon. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Protopia! Be sure to check out Protopia's AI-powered technology that helped two universities win CASE awards this year. Visit protopia.co/alumless

We're grateful to be back with a new episode of Alumless this week featuring Matt Brandon, Associate VP for Alumni Engagement and CEO of the W&M Alumni Association. We discuss Matt's work at William & Mary, and his team's efforts to redefine and expand on concepts of alumni involvement, and ask for his insights into W&M's unique qualities, future program visions, and successful alumni volunteer strategies. Have you checked out Protopia yet? Find out the AI-powered solution to scaling engagement that everyone is talking about. Visit protopia.co/alumless

Thanks to our friends and CASE Summit sponsors Washburn & McGoldrick, LLC, we took the conference stage on Monday, July 22 for a live, hour-long episode of Alumless. Check out our conversation with Bonnie Devlin and Carla Willis our colleagues and co-owners and Managing Principals at W&McG, along with special guests: - Amy Yancey, President and CEO of the University of Connecticut Foundation - Matthew Lambert, Senior VP for University Advancement at William & Mary - Josh Harraman, Director of Constituent Experiences- Strategy at The Ohio State University - Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of Council for Advancement and Support of Education (subscribe to the Alumless podcast to hear this special bonus segment!) Thanks to Protopia and Givzey (and Washburn & McGoldrick, of course) for supporting this special show. Learn more about Protopia's AI-powered technology by visiting protopia.co/alumless and Givzey's digital fundraising solutions by visiting https://givzey.com/.

Listen to our latest episode of Alumless from Friday, July 19th, 2024, where we dive into annual giving strategies. We're thrilled to feature Howard Heevner, Executive Director of Annual Programs at UC Berkeley. We'll discuss systemic challenges in annual giving, innovative approaches to connecting with rising generations, and the findings from a major alumni giving study. Plus, hear about Howard's insights on what a healthy donor pipeline looks like. We also have a special announcement to share in this episode! Thanks to Protopia for supporting the show! Learn more about Protopia's AI-powered technology by visiting protopia.co/alumless.

We've got a great show for our Alumless community this week. Check out our conversation with Charlie Melichar, Principal at Foster Avenue. In this episode, we discuss best practices for campaign communications and how advancement leaders connect mar/com work with engagement. We also ask Charlie about the organizational models for advancement communications, what works, and where friction is often found.  If you haven't already, check out Protopia's AI-powered technology that makes scaling engagement easy. Visit protopia.co/alumless to set up a demo and mention what Ryan and Chris sent you. 

We've got a great Alumless this week. Join us and special guest John Feudo, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at UMass Lowell and author of seven books, including Alumni Relations: A Newcomer's Guide to Success, and I'd Rather Eat Live Spiders: A Definitive Guide to Becoming a Successful Speaker. We chat with John about his career in advancement and discuss his observations on volunteer engagement, communications, and how our field has changed and evolved into what it is today. See the technology everyone is discussing with Protopia's AI-powered solution to scaling engagement. Visit protopia.co/alumless to set up a demo.

Join us for a special edition of Alumless, where we delve into the world of alumni and donor engagement metrics. Our esteemed guests, Jenny Cooke Smith, Senior Director, CASE Insights Solutions, and Melissa Schipke, Founder and CEO of Tassl, bring their extensive expertise to the table. On the show, we'll explore what the CASE Insights survey on Alumni engagement has taught us about the field and what we've learned about metrics. We'll also chat with Melissa and Jenny about the challenges schools face in tracking and scoring engagement activity and what to do about it. We have a special announcement for this show! Be sure to tune-in or listen to the end of the first half hour. Thanks to Protopia for supporting Alumless! We strongly encourage all alumni engagement professionals to put exploring Protopia's AI-based technology on their FY24-25 to-do list. Visit protopia.co/alumless

On this episode of Alumless, we're featuring special guest Sallie Sistare, Executive Director for Alumni and Family Engagement at Denison University. We chat with Sallie about the school's unique value proposition and how they've worked to develop and strengthen approaches to providing students and alumni involvement opportunities in the career space. We also chat with Sallie about her 20-year alumni engagement career and some of the lessons learned along the way. Join us for these topics and more on the next edition of Alumless. Thanks to Protopia for sponsoring the show! Denison is a Protopia partner, and we asked Sallie for details on what they've done in their first year that's resulted in such success. Visit protopia.co/alumless for details and to schedule a demo.

This episode of Alumless we're featuring special guest Andrew Gossen, Executive Director for Communications, Marketing, and Participation in the Office of Alumni Affairs & Development at Cornell University. We discuss with Andrew how digital advancement strategies have evolved over the last decade and the essential techniques, tools, and tactics for today's high-performing advancement shop. We also take a deep dive with Andrew on social media, email marketing, and what makes great content. Join us for this discussion and more! If you still need to check out Protopia's AI-powered technology for scaling digital engagement and activating volunteers, you're missing out! Visit protopia.co/alumless for details and to arrange a demo.

On the next Alumless, we're going to tackle organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, and talent management with special guest Sue Ballard from Rensselaer Polytechnic University (RPI). We've got a great conversation planned for listeners, where we'll discuss the nuances of ensuring our advancement organizations are high-performing.  We'll discuss with Sue where things are situated in the hunt for hiring and retaining the best fundraisers and engagement pros in the business. Join us for these topics and more on the next Alumless. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Protopia, for supporting Alumless. Visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more about their unique AI-powered technology that makes scaling engagement simple and accessible.

This week, our special guest on Alumless is our colleague Nicole Kempton. Nicole joined CMAC in November as Vice President and Senior Consultant. We chat with Nicole about her experiences working for her alma mater, Duke University, as the Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Alumni Affairs and development. During the show, we focus on the idea of becoming more constituent-centered, what it means, and what the characteristics of organizations doing it well are. We also ask Nicole about her global travels. Nicole is based in the U.K., just outside of London, after a recent move from South Korea.  If you still haven't checked out Protopia, you're missing out! We've partnered with Protopia because they have the most innovative technology in our space. Visit protopia.co/alumless.

On this edition of Alumless, we're featuring special guest Cheryl Harrelson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni, Annual Giving, & Pipeline Development. We asked Cheryl about her remarkable tenure at UCSD, leading a unique combined engagement model that includes career services. We also chat with Cheryl about what she thinks about the transition to Vice President of University Advancement at Georgia State University beginning May 1. We spend time with Cheryl on DEIB and why the "B" for belonging has been a north star while developing accessible engagement programs at UC San Diego. Thanks to Protopia for supporting the show! Visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more about their AI-powered technology.

This week we're chatting with engagement strategist extraordinaire Sarah Schutt, Chief Alumni Officer at the Wisconsin Alumni Association and Foundation. We'll ask Sarah about the challenges of merging two independent organizations that become one. Chris and Ryan will also explore with Sarah what makes leading constituent engagement at the University of Wisconsin unique and how she works to keep programs fresh over time.   Here's the recipe for Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies that Sarah mentioned during the show.  Also, if you still need to check out Protopia's AI-powered technology designed to scale engagement and activate volunteers, you're missing out! Visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more.

Join us for our conversation with special guest Laurence Bolotin, Assistant Vice President for Constituent Engagement at Loyola University Chicago. We discuss with Laurence the opportunities to intertwine faith-based narratives into engagement strategies. Chris and Ryan will explore with Laurence how his prior experiences working with different types of association organizations have informed his approach at Loyola University Chicago. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Protopia! Check out their unique AI-powered technology for scaling engagement and activating volunteers. Protopia.co/alumless

This week on Alumless, we're excited to feature a conversation with special guest JT Forbes, President and CEO of the Indiana University Foundation. Before taking over the reins at the IUF, JT led the Indiana University Alumni Association as the CEO for almost 12 years. During that time, JT established himself as one of the top leaders in the field. We'll discuss his work at the IUF with JT, whether his philosophy around alumni engagement has changed, and how he's worked to help bring together two separate organizations and create a united approach to philanthropy. We'll discuss these topics and more, including JT's thoughts on how the field has changed over recent years and what we should look for next. Thank you to Protopia for being our presenting sponsor! Visit protopia.co/alumless for more information about Protopia's AI-powered technology designed to scale engagement like never before.

We're psyched to bring you a great Alumless as we kick off 2024. We chat with special guest Scott Mory, Vice President for University Advancement at Carnegie Mellon University and discuss how Scott's background leading alumni engagement teams informs his approach at Carnegie Mellon. We also chat about the field's progress in measuring alumni engagement and assessing ROI. Thanks to Protopia for being our presenting sponsor. Visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more about their AI-based technology designed to scale engagement and activate more volunteers.

Happy holidays, Alumless community. We've got a great episode to kick off the winter break. Join us for our conversation with special guest Monica Keith, Vice President for Advancement at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Monica brings over 20 years of experience leading advancement operations teams to the VP role. We chat with Monica about how her experience leading "back of the house" teams has helped inform her approach to fundraising and how she's tackled the challenges of leading frontline fundraisers and engagement professionals in her role as VP. Our presenting sponsor is Protopia! Be sure to visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more about their AI-powered solution to driving scalable engagement.

Hey, Alumless listeners! We've got a great show for you with special guest Rod Grabowski, Senior Vice President for Advancement & Partnerships at the University of Central Florida. We chat with Rod about the nuances of building successful engagement and fundraising strategies at huge, complex universities. We spent some time with Rod chatting about his leadership style and how to develop the proper dynamic working with college deans. We also discuss creating the right balance between centralized vs. decentralized approaches. Join us for this wide-ranging conversation. Thanks also to our sponsoring partner, Protopia, for supporting the show.

We've got a BONUS episode this week! Join us for a conversation with the incomparable Kim Infanti, Executive Director for Digital Engagement in the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Syracuse University. On the show, we get into the weeds on all things digital and make predictions for the future.  During our conversation, we dive into how digital plays a crucial role in bringing together the work of alumni and annual giving teams while activating and retaining donors. We discuss how teams should think about tools like social media email and what the future looks like regarding AI.  Join us at our regular time this Friday at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Subscribe to the podcast edition of Alumless for our bonus segment with Kim.  Thanks to Max Leisten and the team at Protopia for being our presenting sponsor. Visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more about their AI-driven technology designed to scale engagement like never before. 

In this week's episode of Alumless, we sat down with Carla Willis, Principal at Washburn & McGoldrick LLC. We discussed with Carla what it takes to be successful at consulting in educational advancement. Carla also shared her thoughts on campaigns and why it feels like colleges and universities are always in campaign mode. Carla detailed her perspective on HBCUs and how their history has shaped approaches to advancement. Enjoy this wide-ranging convo and more with our colleague, Carla Willis. Thanks to our sponsoring partner, Protopia, for their support. Listeners should check out their AI-driven solution to scaling engagement at protopia.co/alumless.

Hey, Alumless community, we have a great show for you this week. Join us for our conversation with Kris Davitt, Senior Vice President for Philanthropic & Alumni Engagement at the University of Pittsburgh. Kris is also the Chief Development Officer for Pitt's academic medical partner, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.  We chat with Kris about her prior experiences leading development at Penn and Brown and how those operations share similarities with her current work at Pitt. We also ask Kris how she developed new alignments and dealt with an unexpected leadership change.  Join us for these topics and more on this episode of Alumless.  Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Protopia, for supporting the show. Visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more about their AI-powered solution to scaling engagement with alumni and donors. 

Hey, Alumless community, this week's special guest is Mark Davis, Vice Chancellor for University Relations and President of the UC Santa Cruz Foundation. Mark's advancement origin story begins on the alumni side of the shop. We'll ask him what that meant to approach advancement with his set of experiences that includes a lens on engagement. We'll have a wide-ranging conversation with Mark about the unique school he serves, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and how he approaches building a philanthropy-focused engagement strategy. Thanks to Protopia for being our presenting sponsor. Visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more about their unique AI technology that helps scale engagement without another app or platform to sign up for

On this episode of Alumless, we're featuring special guest Lyndsey Crum, Assistant Vice President for Alumni & Community Relations at the University of Northern Colorado. We discuss with Lyndsey how she's remained focused on strengthening key relationships with campus partners in the colleges, schools, and units. We'll also discuss with Lyndsey some of the changes her team has gone through introducing engagement portfolios to team members and the new dynamics that's created. Join us for this wide-ranging conversation. Thanks to our presenting sponsor Protopia for supporting the show.

On this episode of Alumless, Chris and Ryan chat with Rob Shoss, President and Managing Consultant at PEG Ltd. and the Alumni Attitude Study. We discuss with Rob the idea of value perception and some of the unique findings he's observed conducting alumni surveys over the last twenty years. We also discuss what it takes to execute a great alumni survey project, and how important it is to involve everyone on campus from the onset. Thanks to the team at Protopia for sponsoring for being our first presenting sponsor.

On this episode of Alum-Less, we're featuring special guest Annie Quade, Associate Vice President, Advancement, at the University of Texas at El Paso. Annie's team at UTEP is working on merging alumni and donor engagement strategies, which include advancement marketing and annual giving. In addition, Annie leads talent and recruitment for the Institutional Advancement division. We discuss with Annie the challenges and opportunities of working at the leading Hispanic-serving institution in the U.S.

We've got a special edition of Alum-less this week! We're featuring special guest Max Leisten, Founder and CEO of Protopia. On the show, we'll have a wide-ranging conversation with Max about AI's impact on advancement. Max and his team at Protopia have been helping universities use machine learning to stimulate and scale engagement. We'll discuss with Max the challenges universities are having adopting AI-based technology and how Protopia may have cracked the code with a more "human-centered" approach. Be sure to visit protopia.co/alum-less to learn more. 

On this episode of Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan catch up with Brandon Buzbee, Vice President for Advancement at the University of North Texas. In his role at UNT for a year, Brandon previously led the Global Networks unit at the University of Denver, which included career services as part of advancement. We discuss with Brandon the challenges of working for two completely different institutions and how he's sizing up opportunities to enhance and rebuild various aspects of the advancement shop at UNT. We will also ask Brandon how he prepared for his role as VP of Advancement and what other engagement pros can do if they hope to take on the leadership role. Check out our first ever "Friday Cheers" segment now at the end of each show in the bonus section.  Also! We're excited to announce our first presenting sponsor — Protopia. There's much to share about our partnership with Protopia, but visit protopia.co to get a sense of the company's unique, AI-powered technology.

Join us for our first Alum-Less post-CASE Summit in NYC. This week, we feature Temi Akin-Aina, Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations at Western University in London, Ontario. Temi is our first guest from Canada and rising star in the higher ed engagement space. We're excited to discuss with Temi some of the challenges facing advancement teams that might differ slightly in Canada versus the U.S. We will also break down some of our takeaways from CASE Summit and share our thoughts on what advancement are discussing.

Hey Alum-Less listeners, we've got a great show this week. Join Chris and me for a chat with Erica Arroyo, Associate Vice President for Engagement at the University of Miami. We'll chat with Erica about her team's fully integrated approach to philanthropy-focused engagement. All advancement teams need help with the degree to which alumni engagement strategies should be designed and resourced to play a role in cultivating donors and qualifying new prospects. We'll ask Erica about her team's unique approach that connects engagement and philanthropy more closely.

On this week's episode of Alum-Less, we chat with Christine Fairchild, Direct of Alumni Relations at the University of Oxford. We'll discuss some of the challenges and opportunities that come with leading a centralized alumni team within Oxford's college system. Also, last week Christine announced that she's departing Oxford after twelve years. Chris and I will ask Christine to reflect on her tenure and what's next along her professional journey. Be sure to hear our bonus segment with Christine on the podcast edition of Alum-Less!

In this edition of Alum-Less, we explore where the conversation is today regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in educational advancement. Our special guest this week is an expert on the topic. Join us for a conversation with Dr. Angelique Grant - Senior Consultant + Principal at The Inclusion Firm. We explore with Angelique what some advancement teams out there are doing to build momentum, assess whether goals and objectives have been reached, and how teams are thinking about measuring the success of DEIB initiatives.

Hey listeners! We have a great show for you with special guest Thomas McArthur, Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving, at the University of Buffalo. We chat with Thomas about the challenges of ushering in a new framework for alumni engagement at a large, complex, state university like UB. On the show we also discuss with Thomas what it's been like working to create a culture shift and develop a new set of priorities. In particular, we will ask Thomas about his efforts to establish a more robust integration between the Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving teams. Join us for these topics and more on this edition of Alum-Less — from Friday, May 12 at 11:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe to the podcast edition of Alum-Less for the 30-minute bonus segment with each of our special guests.

We've got an excellent show for Alum-Less listeners this week! Chris and Ryan explore all things annual giving with special guest, Adam Compton, Executive Director of Annual Giving at NC State University. They discuss annual giving trends with Adam and review the recent and successful NC State Day of Giving. On the show, listeners will hear a discussion on how universities should consider increasing their alumni participation rate and how to design a more holistic approach to annual giving that realizes potential across stakeholder groups and audience segments.