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 on the challenges of competing for alumni attention, innovative strategies for engagement, and recommendations for effective teamwork.

Listen to full episodes of our podcast using your favorite podcast app.

Visit cmac.me for details and to learn more about our firm.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors for making Alumless possible:

Protopia makes providing scalable volunteer engagement solutions simple. Their AI platform enables all of your alumni to support students and fellow graduates with advice and networking. Connect with their team by visiting protopia.co/alumless

AlumnIQ is the only all-in-one alumni engagement platform built exclusively for higher education. Connect with them to learn more about how they help institutions manage everyday events and email outreach, to online giving, directories, membership management, and seamless integrations.

Givzey is a simple-to-use platform that streamlines and scales multi-year giving and one-time gifts at every level to accelerate your fundraising team and improve the donor experience. Learn more at givzey.com

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 school’s identity has evolved and what that means for its alumni and family engagement strategy. Chris G. shares how Bentley’s business-focused ethos presents both opportunities and challenges and how integrating the Pulsifer Career Center within advancement strengthens lifelong value for alumni.

In the bonus segment, the conversation turns to metrics, pipeline health, and the changing expectations of Bentley graduates. Chris offers candid insights on how to move from transactional to transformational engagement and what success looks like in today’s advancement environment. Plus, don’t miss the team’s Friday Cheers to wrap up the episode.

Thanks to Protopia, AlumniQ, and Version2.ai by Givzey for being amazing presenting sponsors.

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 alumni needs through surveys and the significance of incremental improvements in alumni relations. The conversation concludes with recommendations for resources that promote community engagement and data-driven strategies in alumni relations.

Listen to full episodes of our podcast using your favorite podcast app.

Visit cmac.me for details and to learn more about our firm.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors for making Alumless possible:

Protopia makes providing scalable volunteer engagement solutions simple. Their AI platform enables all of your alumni to support students and fellow graduates with advice and networking. Connect with their team by visiting protopia.co/alumless

AlumnIQ is the only all-in-one alumni engagement platform built exclusively for higher education. Connect with them to learn more about how they help institutions manage everyday events and email outreach, to online giving, directories, membership management, and seamless integrations.

Givezy is a simple-to-use platform that streamlines and scales multi-year giving and one-time gifts at every level to accelerate your fundraising team and improve the donor experience. Learn more at givzey.com