Alumless

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...

What does student engagement look like when your alumni are spread across 110 countries? In this episode of Alumless World, we speak with Nena Grceva, Director of Alumni Affairs at The Hertie School in Berlin. Nena brings a global lens to the student-to-alumni transition and shares how a mission-driven institution can build meaningful connections—starting before graduation. From award-winning prog...

Change is a constant in higher education advancement, but few have embraced it as boldly as Scott Biedermann, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of the Pacific. In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and guest co-host Patrick Auerbach sit down with Scott to unpack the intentional evolution of Pacific’s advancement strategy, including the redefinition of its alumni asso...

What happens when the heart of your alumni connection isn’t just the institution, but the place itself? In this episode of Alumless World, hosts Ryan and Nicole sit down with Courtney Stombock, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations at The American University of Paris (AUP), to explore what it takes to build meaningful alumni engagement and fundraising programs in an international, mul...

How can advancement leaders thrive — not just survive — in times of high stress, tight budgets, and shifting expectations? In this episode of Alumless World, Ryan and Nicole Kempton sit down with consultant, coach, and “serial interim fundraising leader” Tess Nixon Spiller to explore what real leadership looks like when times get tough. Tess offers practical insights for creating environments wher...

What happens when the mission is clear, the impact is measurable, and the stories are unforgettable? On this episode of Alumless, we sit down with Ted Probert, President and CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the nation’s oldest and largest provider of scholarships to military children. With a legacy grounded in honor, courage, and commitment, the Foundation has awarded more than 60,0...

What does it take to find the right advancement leader, especially when you're casting a global net? On this episode of Alumless World, we are joined by Jocelyn Kelty, Director of the Australia Office for Richmond Associates, an international executive search firm specializing in fundraising and engagement leadership. Jocelyn offers insights from years of experience helping institutions across sec...

How do you turn recent graduates into lifelong alumni supporters from day one? In this episode of Alumless, Ryan Catherwood and co-host Kim Infanti (filling in for Chris this week) sit down with Matt James, Vice President of Alumni Relations at The Marshall University Foundation, to explore how Marshall is transforming its approach to new grad engagement with fresh strategies and bold ideas. Matt...

Join us for our next episode of Alumless World. This week we’re featuring Holman Chin. As Executive Director of Development at INSEAD, he’s helping lead one of the world’s top global business schools into a new era where philanthropy is personal, yet experimental, and engagement is borderless and sits at the intersection of data, culture, and storytelling. We explore INSEAD’s approach to global ph...