RAISE Podcast

In this episode Brent talks with Amy Yancey. Amy joined Boston College in October 2019 as vice president for development where she oversees a team of 120 professionals dedicated to advancing BC’s mission through philanthropy. Amy has more than twenty years’ experience in higher education fundraising. Prior to joining Boston College, she served as associate vice president for development at UVA whe...

On this episode of the RAISE podcast, Brent breaks it down with Dan Allen, Senior Vice President of Advancement and External Relations at DePaul University in Chicago. Dan will be a Loras College Duhawk for life but is currently thriving as a DePaul Blue Demon after making a few pit stops on the journey in between. Dan and Brent dig into some really important questions during this conversation. Is...

On this episode of the podcast, Brent chats with Phil Castleberry, Vice President for University Advancement at the Rochester Institute of Technology. They cover topics like the compounding impact of building strong personal and professional relationships; how being from a military family and moving with regularity shaped Phil to be adaptable to almost any new environment; and what it’s been like...

On this episode of the RAISE podcast, Brent sits down with an Advancement Great. Jim Langley is the President of Langley Innovations, a title he earned after 30 years in the higher ed advancement space. Jim has so much to share with our podcast listeners, including the difference between a crying need and offering help, schmoozing prospects versus developing partnerships, and soliciting round numb...

On this episode of the podcast, Brent gets a Planned Giving crash course from Greg Knott, Senior Director of Principal and Planned Gifts at the University of Connecticut. Greg is our first Planned Giving podcast guest, and he’s also the first guest with expertise in Germanic languages and a law degree. Brent and Greg talk tax optimization, annuities, and deductions. (But, like, in a fun way.) They...

On this episode of the RAISE podcast, Brent catches up with Amanda Trabue, Vice President of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at Western Kentucky University. Amanda reflects on how the persistence, grit, and thick skin she built as a student caller in the Phonathon program at WKU launched her into an uber-successful advancement career. Amanda also shares some really useful insights including her...

On this episode of the RAISE podcast, Brent connects with Diane MacGillivray, Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Northeastern University. Diane has worked in her actual office at Northeastern every day since June 1st of last year, and she explains to our listeners why she despises WFH. (Spoiler alert: she is the ultimate people-person.) Diane submitted one sole college application...

On this episode of the RAISE podcast, Brent connects with Brandon Busteed, President of University Partnerships and Global Head of Learn-Work Innovation at Kaplan. As you might guess, this episode is all about the critical need for innovation in higher ed, and Brandon’s broad and deep industry knowledge makes his calls to action for advancement folks all the more urgent. A few of his key suggestio...

On this episode of the RAISE podcast, Brent gets the scoop from Jessica Jones Wilson, Associate Vice President for College Advancement at Dickinson College. Jessica got hooked on fundraising when she secured her first $1K gift as a student telefund caller at Albright College. Since then she’s had experience in just about every facet of development work, and it shows. Jessica and her team of prospe...

About Megan Megan served in an analogous role at Amherst College, under the title Chief Advancement Officer since 2007. Prior to that she worked at Williams from 2000-2007, first as Senior Development Officer and then as Director of Leadership Giving. Megan began her career in development at her alma mater, then progressed through positions of increasing responsibility at Denison University, Barto...

About Marc Marc Anthony Barnes has served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Dillard University since February 2013. This is not his first stint with the university, having worked in Dillard’s Development Department in various positions from 2000-2009. Before his return to Dillard, Marc served as Director of Development at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent sits down with Joanna Curtis, CFRE, the Chief Advancement Officer at the University of Memphis. About Joanna With more than 20 years of fundraising experience, including 12 years at the UofM, she originally joined the university’s development staff as Director of Development for the College of Education and subsequently served as director of major gifts,...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast Brent sits down with Brooks Hull. Brooks brings over two decades of leadership experience in the advancement field to his position as Vice President for University Advancement at Louisiana Tech University. If you’re passionate about innovation in advancement, you’ll love this conversation. About Brooks Brooks joined Louisiana Tech in 2015, and leads the Louisia...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent sits down with Kris Gulick Schaefer. Kris spent the last 10 years serving as Senior Associate Dean of External Relations and Global Programs at MIT Sloan. She received her crash course in all things Higher Ed as the daughter of a college Professor turned Dean, and finally President. She shared her journey with us, which took her across 12 different campu...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast Brent caught up with Andy Shaindlin, Vice President for Alumni Relations at Brown University. Andy has led an impressive career as a leader in strategic alumni engagement with extensive experience at major research universities. When speaking with Advancement professionals, Brent has often said “all roads lead to Andy”. About Andy Andy Shaindlin serves as Vice...

On Giving Tuesday 2020 Brent sat down with Beth Crigler, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Beth shared some highlights from her long and successful career in development, including closing a major gift with Michael Jordan. She shares how getting to the donors interests is critical and how it can sometimes be found in unlikely places. About Bet...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent is joined by CEO, DeAnna Carlson Zink, and VP of Operations & Engagement, Bob Knutson. DeAnna and Bob have been deeply connected to the University of North Dakota for most of their lives. Their conversation goes from growing up on the farm, to being first-generation college students, and ends on how they are taking their Moon Shot with EverTrue. Abou...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent is joined by Melissa Korn, reporter for The Wall Street Journal covering business education, workplace issues and the college-to-career pathway. Melissa was one of the journalists covering Operation Varsity Blues for The Wall Street Journal. She co-authored “UNACCEPTABLE: Privilege, Deceit and the Making of the College Admissions Scandal," which gave lif...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast Brent comes in live from Newport Beach California to chat with Ray Earl-Jackson, Executive Director of College Based Advancement at Northern Illinois University. This Thanksgiving episode and will leave you with plenty of Giving Tuesday inspiration. About Ray Ray Earl-Jackson is the Executive Director of College Based Advancement at Northern Illinois University...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast Brent welcomes fellow Iowan, Nick Linde, Assistant Vice President of Central Development at the University of Nebraska Foundation. Nick's advancement journey began in alumni relations at his Alma mater, University of Northern Iowa. Tune in and hear how he made the transition to the fundraising side, where all the guitars fit in, and everything in between. Read...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast Brent is joined by VCU's Jay Davenport. Jay’s background as an undergraduate working in the admissions office of his Alma Mater, Xavier University, sparked a passion that would launch his impressive career in Higher Ed. If you're a VP leading a younger advancement program, you will not want to miss this one! About Jay Jay Davenport serves as Vice President of D...

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent catches up with Jake Lemon, Senior Vice President for Development at the UConn Foundation. Jake shares his team's strategy for using incentive compensation for gift officers and how it's helping them break records. About Jake As Vice President for Development, Jake oversees planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, constituent, health, and athl...

About Angela Angela Wimmer serves as vice chancellor of Institutional Advancement for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), a standalone health sciences university. She has responsibility for managing all advancement programs, including principal, major and annual gifts, comprehensive and capital campaigns, alumni and constituent relations, all gift processing and database servic...

About Megan Megan Doud serves as the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Resource Development in the Office of University Development at the University of Michigan. In this role, she is responsible for strategic planning and resource management, finance and administration, talent management, leading the development of new digital fundraising strategies, and overseeing annual giving and pipeline...

About Carrie Carrie Bhada has spent more than 20 years working to advance the goals of national non-profits, healthcare organizations and institutes of higher education. She has comprehensive fundraising and management experience and has raised millions of dollars on behalf of these organizations over the years. Her efforts and those of her teams have resulted in the establishment of scholarships...