Alumless

Alumni engagement strategies are evolving beyond events and programs toward something more profound: identity, psychology, and intentional journeys. In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris are joined by Jay Le Roux Dillon, Ed. D., Chief Alumni Officer at the University of California, Berkeley, for a conversation on how institutions can design engagement experiences that reflect how alumni actu...

As 2025 comes to a close, Alumless is considering alumni engagement technology for 2026 and beyond. On our special holiday edition, Chris Marshall and Kim Infanti are joined by Max Leisten from Protopia, Renee Quinn of Givzey, and Steve Rittler of AlumnIQ to reflect on where ed tech for advancement stands today and where it is headed next. The group explores how engagement teams are thinking about...

For two decades, Penn Traditions has been shaping the way students at the University of Pennsylvania learn about philanthropy and discover what it means to be part of a community that lasts long after graduation. On this week's episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris sat down with Elise Betz , Senior Executive Director for Alumni Relations, to look back at how the program began and how it grew in...

In this week's episode of Alumless Takes, Ryan chats with Andrea Devine, Senior Director of Volunteer Engagement at the University of Virginia. They share reflections and advice on how to create meaningful alumni volunteer engagement. She also shares challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to a new CRM system at UVA. She emphasizes the need for data standardization and the importa...

How do you hold the attention of alumni and donors in a world that never stops scrolling? In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris talk with Josh Harraman, Director of Constituent Experiences – Strategy at The Ohio State University, about what it means to build alumni engagement in the attention economy. Josh shares how his team studies audience behavior, experiments with content, and uses both...

In this episode, Ryan interviews Pat Fligge, the Director of Alumni Career Engagement at Temple University. They discuss the current hot topics in alumni career services, focusing on the impact of AI and the challenging job market. Pat emphasizes the importance of adapting to AI as a tool to augment career coaching and the need for expanded alumni career services to help graduates navigate the evo...

Can an interim advancement leader make lasting change, or are they just keeping the lights on? In this episode of Alumless, Chris sits down with Dale Wright, Interim Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Senior Vice President of the University of Illinois Foundation. Dale shares how his early work in student and alumni engagement shaped his approach to leadership, and what it really takes to step in...

In this engaging conversation, Ryan interviews Kira Mudd, the Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Foundation. They discuss the evolution and significance of homecoming at URI, highlighting the innovative approaches taken to enhance alumni engagement and school spirit. Kira shares insights into the planning and execution of homecoming events, emphasizing the import...

What’s the difference between leading and managing — and why does it matter so much in advancement? In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris are joined by colleague Scott Greenwood, Vice President at CMAC and Executive Coach, for a candid conversation about the art and science of leadership in higher education advancement. Drawing on decades of experience leading teams across colleges and unive...

In this episode, Ryan interviews Craig Swinyard, the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement at Oregon Health and Science University Foundation. They discuss a recent $2 billion donation from Phil and Penny Knight to support cancer research at OHSU, the importance of alumni engagement, and how Craig has restructured his team to enhance relationships with alumni. The conversation also touches...

Every institution goes through distinct eras marked by changes in leadership, campus growth, athletic transitions, and evolving academic priorities. But how do these shifts shape the way alumni see their alma mater and engage with it over time? In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris sit down with Chris Grugan, Vice President for University Advancement at Bentley University, to unpack how the...

In this bonus Alumless Takes episode, Ryan speaks with Kelly Holdcraft, the Executive Director of Alumni Success at William & Mary. They discuss the evolution of alumni engagement into a two-way investment in alumni success, strategies for engaging young alumni and students, and the importance of customer journey mapping in understanding alumni experiences. Kelly shares insights on validating...

Apologies for the late posting of this episode! We had some technical difficulties but are glad to finally get this out to you all. What happens when a university shifts from a decentralized to a centralized model of alumni engagement? In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris sit down with Elizabeth Bass, Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), t...

In this bonus Alumless Takes episode, Ryan interviews Jillian Cole, the Chief of Staff of University Advancement at Colgate University. They discuss Jill's career journey, the importance of alumni engagement, and the recent merger of alumni engagement and annual giving at Colgate. Jill shares insights on successful events, the excitement surrounding leadership changes, and her recommendations for...

What happens when a university decides to go all-in on alumni engagement? In this episode of Alumless, we’re kicking off our 4th season with a great guest. Chris and Ryan are joined by Sam Gordon, Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Association at Pace University, to talk about what it means to maximize a significant institutional investment in alumni engagement. Sam walks us through the tr...

In this premiere episode of our new series, Alumless Takes, Ryan and Max Leisten discuss the evolving landscape of digital engagement, particularly in the context of alumni and donor relations. They explore the importance of simplicity in engagement strategies, the role of AI in enhancing connections, and the need for collaboration among university stakeholders to scale volunteerism effectively. M...

We're pleased to share with you this final "summer replay" episode of Alumless World with you. Stay tuned for a new episode of Alumless this Friday! Not all universities are built on centuries of alumni tradition. In this episode, Ryan and Nicole sit down with Cheng Feng, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Duke Kunshan University (DKU), to explore what it takes to build an adva...

We're pleased to share with you this wonderful "summer replay" episode of Alumless World with you. Stay tuned for a new episode of Alumless this Friday! For this episode, Ryan and Nicole are joined by Hannah Fox, Director of Alumni Community, Careers and Network Development at Regent’s University, and Marie-Rose Delauzun, Head of Alumni Engagement at The Sutton Trust, for a conversation about fail...

We're pleased to share with you this wonderful "summer replay" episode of Alumless World with you. Stay tuned for a new episode of Alumless on August 29th! On this episode, hosts Nicole and Ryan sit down with Dr. Serge Sych, Senior Lecturer and Pro-Rector for Stakeholder Engagement at the International Business School in Budapest, for a conversation about leading alumni engagement and institutiona...

We're pleased to share with you this wonderful "summer replay" episode of Alumless World with you. Stay tuned for a new episode of Alumless on August 29th! In this episode, Ryan and Nicole welcome Emily Robin, Associate Dean for Advancement at London Business School, for a conversation about leading advancement in a global context. With experience spanning the U.S., France, and the UK, Emily share...

We're pleased to share with you this wonderful "summer replay" episode of Alumless World with you. Stay tuned for a new episode of Alumless on August 29th! In this episode, hosts Ryan and Nicole welcome Prince Louis Omolayo Adekola, Founder and CEO of Edvant Edge Africa, for a conversation about the evolving landscape of alumni engagement in West Africa. As a leader in international education and...

Philanthropy has never been one-size-fits-all, and few understand that better than Carme Williams, Senior Consultant at Washburn McGoldrick. In this week's episode of Alumless, Carme joins Ryan and Chris to explore the history, strategy, and future of programs designed to engage and inspire women donors. From her leadership at NC State to advising institutions nationwide, Carme shares why these in...

We're pleased to share with you this wonderful "summer replay" episode of Alumless World with you. Stay tuned for a new episode of Alumless this Friday! In this episode, Ryan and Nicole welcome Jo Gardner, Director of Alumni Engagement at Imperial College London, for a conversation about how global universities can effectively engage their alumni in institutional priorities. Our discussion explore...

We're pleased to share with you this wonderful "summer replay" episode of Alumless World with you this week. Stay tuned for a new episode of Alumless next Friday! In this episode, hosts Ryan and Nicole welcome Fadi Ghosn and Loreen Bahour from RCSI Medical University of Bahrain to explore the power of alumni ambassador programs to strengthen alumni engagement across borders. Fadi, the Head of Reco...

Think you know what your alumni really want? The National Alumni Survey is challenging long-held assumptions and forcing advancement professionals to confront some uncomfortable truths. On this supersized special episode of Alumless, we’re digging into one of the most talked-about projects in advancement today: The National Alumni Survey. Ryan and Chris are joined by three powerhouse leaders behin...