Alumless

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...

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 c...

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 increasi...

For our one year anniversary episode, we have a unique and exciting guest on Alum-Less! This week we're featuring Caryn Davies, three-time medal winner (two golds and a silver) on the U.S. Rowing team, and current President of the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association. On the show this week, we discuss with Caryn Davies the challenges of leading the USOPA, and what it means to be an alum in...

Hey, Alum-Less fans! This week, we've got a great episode featuring special guest Dan Olds, Vice President for Alumni Relations and Information Systems at Bowdoin College. Our focus this week is on volunteer pipeline development. We'll discuss everything from managing and motivating alumni boards to micro-volunteer strategies.  Dan and Chris also share how the strategic planning project they’...

A new episode of Alum-Less is here featuring our first overseas guest. Join Chris Marshall and me for a conversation with Chris Kendrick, Deputy Director of Alumni and Supporter Engagement at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). We discuss the changing landscape for engagement and what that means for building strong international alumni networks. We’ll also hear from Chris K...

This episode of Alum-Less features special guest Dori Sonntag, Associate Vice President for Organizational Effectiveness in University Advancement from Gonzaga University. With the NCAA College Basketball Tournament almost upon us, we explore alumni engagement around athletics. The men's and women's basketball program at Gonzaga are both perennial favorites to make the tournament. We'll discuss wi...

Our special guest on Alum-Less this week is Todd McCubbin, Executive Director of the Mizzou Alumni Association. Hear our conversation on the evolution of engagement programs. Chris and I discuss with Todd how leaders should be thinking about the digital vs. in-person components of alumni engagement strategies and the challenges that exist when considering pathways for activating more alumni. We di...

This week on Alum-Less Ryan we got into the weeds with a legend in the alumni biz. Checkout our conversation with special guest, Howard Wolf, Vice President for Alumni Affairs at Stanford University, on the purpose of alumni engagement. We discussed with Howard how he thinks about engaging alumni at Stanford, and why their approach might be different or contrasting to the views of leaders at other...

In this episode of Alum-Less, we chat with special guest Patrick Auerbach, Associate Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations at the University of Southern California. Although our conversation was be wide-ranging, we discussed with Patrick the challenges of developing a more inclusive, accessible approach to engaging alumni, including reimagining regional engagement. We'll also discussed the pl...

Happy 2023 Alum-Less Listeners! We are back this week with special guest Sue Cunningham, President & CEO of CASE. We're psyched to start the New Year with a bang and a convo with a true global leader in advancement. We explore with Sue many of the themes from her new book, "Global Exchange: Dialogues to Advance Education." In particular, we'll focus our conversation on how alumni engagement is...

On this edition of Alum-Less, Ryan and Chris connect with Tricia Riveire Stumpf, CEO of the Indiana University Alumni Association. Tricia shares how her team at the IUAA have worked to strengthen their connectivity with the Indiana University Foundation to create a more integrated advancement model over the last year. In particular, the IUAA and IUF have worked to bring together marketing resource...

On this episode of Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan chat with Matthew Lambert, Vice President for University Advancement, about William & Mary's recent decision to realign career services underneath advancement. They discuss with Matthew how this alignment reflects a crucial element to increasing alumni participation in the future. Listen and hear from Matthew on how William & Mary developed thei...

This week's Alum-Less - Episode 13 is all about goal setting. Chris and Ryan chat with Duane Wiles, Chief Alumni Officer at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. On the episode, Duane shares his approach to goal setting for across their engagement programs and initiatives. In addition, Duane shares more about the new UT Strategic Vision for the whole UT System and what it means for alumni engage...

On this episode of Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan chat with Julie Sina, Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Affairs at UCLA. They discuss the new strategic plan for campus-wide alumni engagement at UCLA, and how it's built around a life stage model. During the podcast, Julie, Chris and Ryan also dive into the process of launching a new strategic plan and ensuring stakeholders from around campus are pa...

In this edition of Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan explore strategies for working with alumni volunteers with Teresa Trombetta, Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Constituent Engagement at Carnegie Mellon University. Specifically, we discuss the challenges of working with alumni boards within an integrated advancement model.  On the show, we explore how CMU is thinking about building its regio...

On this episode of Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan discuss campaign readiness with Bonnie Devlin and Karin George, co-owners and Managing Principals of Washburn & McGoldrick LLC, and how engagement should be factored into the plans and goals.  During the show, the group explores explores what it means to be prepared for a fundraising campaign at an educational institution, and what are the dyna...

This week on Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan interview Nancy Merritt, Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations at the University of Pittsburgh. Nancy shares insights into her work modernizing some of the components of on-campus traditions at Pitt and the thought process that went into reshaping these signature programs.  On the episode, Nancy and Chris reminisce about their time working together at the...

This week our featured guest on Alum-Less is Jennifer Cunningham, AVP of Alumni Relations at Lehigh University — Chris's alma mater! We discuss alumni engagement metrics, Maria Gallo's book The Alumni Way , and how to go about guiding alumni volunteers so they have impactful and positive experiences on our boards. 

Alum-Less is back this week after a break for the 4th of July holiday and some vacation! This week Chris and Ryan talk donor experience design and the changing nature of constituent engagement teams within advancement with special guest, Matthew Ewing, Vice President for University Advancement at Boise State University. Ryan and Chris also discuss the big takeaways from the CASE Summit for Leaders...

On Episode 6, Chris and Ryan connect with Brian Sischo, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at NC State University. Brian shares his thoughts on the successful completion of The Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign now that it's in the rear view mirror. Brian also shares why their focus at NC State has turned to engaging alumni and donors.  Thanks for listening to the Alum-Less podc...

Perhaps the most significant university advancement trend in the United States is the merging of alumni associations and foundations in order to maximize effectiveness in engaging alumni and donors. On this week's episode, Ryan and Chris discuss this important trend that will likely reshape the way in which alumni and donor engagement teams work together. This week's episode contains a 30-min...

On this episode of Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan explore what it's like to lead a state-wide alumni engagement program with Patricia Châu Nguyễn. Patricia is the Director, Statewide Alumni Engagement for the University of California Office of the President. Our conversation expands to include how Patricia is working to build robust affinity-based networks and work with campus partners throughout the U...

On this edition of Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan discuss building stronger communities of color and difference and executing DEI initiatives with Matt Winston, the new Executive Director, Alumni Engagement at Binghamton University. We discuss Matt's new role and the challenges of getting started at a new college or university. Plus, Chris has been on the road a lot recently and we discuss many of the...

In the second episode of Alum-Less, Chris and Ryan explore strategic planning for alumni engagement and the challenges of talent recruitment and retention with special guest, John Pine, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Alumni Engagement at UC Santa Cruz.  This episode of Alum-Less aired on LinkedIn Live on 5/29/22 and does not contain the bonus segment.