Join other alumni relations professionals for networking and idea sharing in anticipation of what’s coming next for the industry.
Overview
Alumni relations professionals have experienced numerous significant changes in recent years. Faced with challenges such as communicating value to other areas of the shop, managing talent and volunteers in a hybrid work environment, interpreting new sources of data and metrics, and continuously adapting strategy to forge more meaningful connections with alumni, many need a space to step back, reflect, and exchange ideas with peers.
Join us for an online series to discuss hot topics facing alumni relations professionals just like you. You’ll have space to share pressing concerns, questions, and current practices with others in the field in anticipation of what’s next for the alumni relations profession.
Each session will be facilitated by our expert panel:
- Megan Stevens, Assistant Vice President for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement, Stevens Institute of Technology
- Nancy Merritt, Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations, University of Pittsburgh
- Lauren Villanueva, Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, Syracuse University
Collectively, they bring 30+ years of experience to the table as leaders/supervisors of alumni relations professionals.
How it Works
The series consists of six one-hour discussions. To get the discussion started, we will begin each session by identifying a hot topic facing this audience. We’ll then spend most of the session in conversation with other alumni relations professionals from across the country in exchanging ideas, sharing promising practices, and providing the space for asking questions.
You may choose to attend some or all these discussion sessions. To get the most out of the series, we encourage you to attend all six; however, if you can only attend one or two, you will still benefit from the information and collective dialogue involved.
Free for members. Not a member yet? Get a 10% discount if you register for all 6 sessions and use the promo code: ar-bundle-10 or learn more about membership here:
DISCUSSION 1
Alumni Engagement in an Integrated Advancement Model
Recorded October 26, 2023
How can alumni engagement teams partner with their colleagues in fundraising roles to drive shared institutional goals?
DISCUSSION 2
Staying Relevant
Recorded November 2, 2023
What are various non-programmatic strategies we are using to stay relevant in the eyes of our alumni? How are we adapting to forge meaningful connections with them?
DISCUSSION 3
Data Collection & Metrics
Recorded November 9, 2023
What happens next when you’re gathering and using data to measure success, especially now that the alumni participation rate in U.S. News & World Report is no longer reported?
DISCUSSION 4
Managing & Motivating Talent
Recorded November 16, 2023
What strategies are we using (and what’s working) to recruit, motivate, and retain staff in hybrid work environments?
*Please note we will not meet on Thursday, November 23, 2023, in observance of Thanksgiving Day.
DISCUSSION 5
Responding to Evolving Alumni Behavior
Recorded November 30, 2023
What are we learning about their behavior patterns? What are new program ideas we should be implementing in order to meet their needs, and what traditions might we need to sunset or refine?
DISCUSSION 6
Our Value Proposition
Recorded December 7, 2023
How do we continue to show the value of alumni engagement while making the case for the fair and equitable resources necessary for our area to succeed?
SPEAKERS
Nancy Merritt
Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations, University of Pittsburgh
Nancy joined the University of Pittsburgh in July 2019 as Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations—a new leadership position that was created to develop and drive a comprehensive, thoughtful, and goals-oriented engagement strategy for Pitt alumni, reflecting the diversity and interests of the alumni population.
Lauren Villanueva
Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, Syracuse University
In her current role, Lauren directs a comprehensive programming, volunteer, annual giving, and communications strategy designed to deepen meaningful engagement among Syracuse University’s 300,000+ alumni worldwide. She collaborates with the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board of Directors, campus stakeholders, and volunteer leaders to support philanthropic and engagement priorities associated with the Forever Orange campaign.
Megan Stevens
Assistant Vice President for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement, Stevens Institute of Technology
Megan Stevens is the Assistant Vice President for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, and the Executive Director and Executive Secretary of the Stevens Alumni Association. She and her team of seven direct the alumni engagement and annual giving opportunities for over 54,000 Stevens alumni.
Questions About the Event?
Rabia Khan Harvey
Senior Learning & Development Manager, Academic Impressions