RAISE Podcast

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Betsy Chapin Taylor, CEO of Accordant. Betsy shares her journey from aspiring journalist and healthcare professional to becoming one of the leading voices in healthcare philanthropy. She reflects on building fundraising programs across community hospitals and academic medical centers, launching Accordant, and helping healthcare leaders recognize ph...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Shana Hocking, founder and CEO of Hocking Leadership. Shana shares her journey from discovering fundraising during her first month at Columbia University to building a career in higher education advancement at institutions like The University of Alabama, The Wharton School, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She reflects on being rejected fro...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Sally Bryant, CEO of Bryant Group. Sally shares her journey from growing up in a small farming community in Eastern Washington to discovering advancement work through a senior-year internship at Washington State University. She reflects on how that experience sparked a lifelong career in philanthropy, leading her into early development roles and ul...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Luigi Amendola, Vice President for University Advancement at Loyola University Chicago. Luigi shares his story as a first generation American and first generation college student whose parents immigrated from southern Italy to Illinois by different routes. He talks about feeling out of place in high school, finding his voice and identity at Lewis U...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Chip Edmonds, president of Lycoming College and a longtime advancement and enrollment leader at his alma mater. Chip reflects on how a positive high school experience, a nudge from his soccer coach, and a visit to campus led him to Lycoming. He shares why he pursued a rare trio of majors in history, music, and business administration, and how livin...

In this episode, Brent welcomes Eric Holderness, Senior Vice President of Development at the Kansas State University Foundation, whose path into advancement began when he was a student-athlete learning to thrive under pressure. Eric shares how competitive drive, curiosity, and early mentoring shaped his approach to major gifts and leadership. Eric walks through the building blocks of effective fun...

In this episode, Brent sits down with Amanda Hopkins, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development at the University of Colorado Boulder, whose journey begins far from the Rockies—on a family farm in Trinidad and Tobago. Amanda shares how early mornings, hard work, and a first-generation path into college shaped her belief in mentorship, access, and the transformative power of higher education. After...

In this episode, Brent sits down with Matt Bethea, Vice President for University Advancement at Sam Houston State University, whose path to fundraising started in an unexpected place: a Dallas metal band. Matt shares how dreams of becoming a fighter pilot and years on the road as a musician led him to sales—until a chance conversation at church introduced him to advancement work at the University...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Karl Miller Lugo, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Karl shares his journey from Puerto Rico to rural Kentucky, where he was a Breckenridge County High School Tiger, class president, and deeply involved student who later followed a family path to Western Kentucky University. There, an ei...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Bill Kavan, Vice President of Engagement and Outreach at the Arizona State University Foundation. Bill traces his journey from a ten-year-old in Westhampton Beach, New York, pulling a lawnmower behind his bike, to an Arizona State University student looking for community on a campus where his first class was larger than his entire high school. He s...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Christine Pena, Chief Advancement Officer at Miss Porter’s School. Christine shares how a childhood fascination with The Facts of Life led her from a small dinner table in West Falmouth on Cape Cod to a snowy visit at St. Paul’s School, where she instantly knew, “This is where I want to be.” As a heavily aided, first-generation student from a worki...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent welcomes Patrick Hewett, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Endicott College—and one of the first advancement professionals to give EverTrue feedback, way back in 2011. Patrick traces his path from Portsmouth Abbey School to Saint Anselm College, from a short-lived stint in insurance to his first advancement job developing a young alumni pro...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent welcomes Peter Wilch, Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Loyola Marymount University. Peter shares his journey from growing up as the youngest of nine in Mount Vernon, Iowa, to finding purpose in higher education fundraising. As a first-generation college graduate, Peter reflects on the transformative experience he had at Cornell College...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Marie Schultz, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Texas at Arlington. Marie reflects on her journey from a first-gen student in Riverside, California to leading a 70+ person advancement team in one of the country’s most dynamic public universities. She shares the moment a friend’s brother told her she was “UC m...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Richard P. Virgin, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of San Diego. Richard dives into the intricacies of leading advancement at a Catholic institution, sharing insights on how mission and identity shape fundraising strategies and donor engagement. Drawing on his tenure at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and o...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Richard P. Virgin, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of San Diego. Richard dives into the intricacies of leading advancement at a Catholic institution, sharing insights on how mission and identity shape fundraising strategies and donor engagement. Richard reflects on building high-performing teams and the unique challenges...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent chats with Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University and co-author of Mailed It! Ashley shares her journey from student ambassador at RIT to leading digital marketing efforts in higher education, and offers insights on launching social media platforms and scaling strategies at Cornell. They discuss the importance of authenticity, empat...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Thomas Chaves, Vice President for Advancement at Albright College. Thomas shares his journey in advancement, reflecting on his career in higher ed, Albright's approach to financial sustainability, and his passion for long-distance running.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Michael Bor, co-founder and CEO of the Endowment Project. Michael shares how grassroots fundraising and community engagement are revolutionizing public education, emphasizing that even modest contributions can yield significant benefits for students and teachers alike.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent speaks with Rita Walters, Vice President of Development and Alumni Engagement at Montclair State University. Rita discusses her journey in fundraising, the transformative role of AI in enhancing personalization, and the critical importance of authentic relationships in driving alumni engagement.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent sits down with Wesley Stewart, Senior Associate Vice President of Development at the University of Oregon. Wesley discusses innovative strategies for fundraising in challenging markets, the power of mentorship, and her commitment to creating safe and supportive work environments in the advancement field.

Matthew J. Ter Molen has more than 30 years of expertise in development and fundraising. Prior to joining the RPI team in early 2023, he was the Chief Advancement Officer and Senior Vice President at Syracuse University, where he served for more than eight years. In this role, he oversaw all alumni relations and development activities, including the planning, launch, and execution of the $1.5 bill...

At the Rugers University Foundation, Mark Antonucci leads a division comprising alumni engagement, institutional giving and resource development, annual giving and stakeholder engagement, donor relations and stewardship, events, communications, systems and technology, records and research, human resources and training, and board management.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Derek Dictson, Vice President for University Advancement at Colorado State University. Derek shares his inspiring journey from the dot-com boom and bust in Seattle to leading major advancement initiatives at top institutions like Texas A&M and Auburn University. He delves into how his experiences in the tech industry have influenced his innovat...