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

Apologies for the late posting of this episode! We had some technical difficulties but are glad to finally get this out to you all.

What happens when a university shifts from a decentralized to a centralized model of alumni engagement?

In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris sit down with Elizabeth Bass, Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), to explore the shifting alignments impacting college and school engagement. Elizabeth shares the catalysts behind the change, the challenges of building trust, and the strategies she’s used to reassure unit leaders while strengthening collaboration. From staffing models to new technologies and the challenge of delivering metrics and setting goals, Elizabeth provides a candid look at how VCU is reimagining engagement across colleges and units.

She also reflects on what’s worked, what’s surprised her, and where she sees alumni engagement headed in the next five years. Plus, don’t miss the Friday Cheers segment on the podcast edition as the hosts and Elizabeth share what they’re celebrating this week.

Thanks to our presenting sponsors, Protopia, AlumniQ, and Givzey, for supporting Alumless.

In this bonus Alumless Takes episode, Ryan interviews Jillian Cole, the Chief of Staff of University Advancement at Colgate University. They discuss Jill's career journey, the importance of alumni engagement, and the recent merger of alumni engagement and annual giving at Colgate. Jill shares insights on successful events, the excitement surrounding leadership changes, and her recommendations for personal development and productivity.

What happens when a university decides to go all-in on alumni engagement? In this episode of Alumless, we’re kicking off our 4th season with a great guest.

Chris and Ryan are joined by Sam Gordon, Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Association at Pace University, to talk about what it means to maximize a significant institutional investment in alumni engagement. Sam walks us through the transformation at Pace, from launching an alumni survey and reshaping her team to rethinking programs and priorities for a geographically diverse alumni base. We’ll discuss with Sam what worked, what didn’t, and how she balanced the unique needs of an urban/suburban university with ambitious engagement goals.

In the bonus segment, we dig deeper into her strategy for navigating campus politics, building cross-functional partnerships, and leveraging Pace’s NYC location to fuel professional programming.

Thanks to our partners and presenting sponsors at Protopia and AlumniQ for supporting the show in our 4th year!

In this premiere episode of our new series, Alumless Takes, Ryan and Max Leisten discuss the evolving landscape of digital engagement, particularly in the context of alumni and donor relations. They explore the importance of simplicity in engagement strategies, the role of AI in enhancing connections, and the need for collaboration among university stakeholders to scale volunteerism effectively. Max emphasizes the significance of redefining volunteering and being open to change in advancement teams to better serve their constituents.

We're pleased to share with you this final "summer replay" episode of Alumless World with you. Stay tuned for a new episode of Alumless this Friday!

Not all universities are built on centuries of alumni tradition. In this episode, Ryan and Nicole sit down with Cheng Feng, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Duke Kunshan University (DKU), to explore what it takes to build an advancement program from the ground up at one of China’s most innovative higher education partnerships. Cheng shares the origin story of DKU, a collaboration between Duke University, Wuhan University and the city of Kunshan, and reflects on what it means to operate in start-up mode.

The conversation explores the complexities of governance, the challenges of engaging a young alumni base and how DKU has built affinity and philanthropic support without long-standing traditions. Cheng also discusses how DKU serves as a kind of innovation lab for higher education in Asia and why entrepreneurial donors are drawn to the university’s liberal arts mission.

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor Protopia for supporting this episode. Find out more about their award-winning technology designed to make scaling engagement simple. Visit protopia.co/alumless for more details.

This episode was originally released on May 16, 2025.