Join us for our next episode of Alumless World. This week we’re featuring Holman Chin. As Executive Director of Development at INSEAD, he’s helping lead one of the world’s top global business schools into a new era where philanthropy is personal, yet experimental, and engagement is borderless and sits at the intersection of data, culture, and storytelling. We explore INSEAD’s approach to global philanthropy, how alumni engagement differs across cultures, and why the future of fundraising may rely on both AI and NFTs. From transforming alumni identity across campuses to launching crypto gifts and a Founders Pledge, Holman shares his reflections on innovation, adaptability, and staying human in a tech-driven era. Subscribe to the podcast edition of 30 additional minutes of Alumless World, including our signature Friday Cheers segment. Thanks to AlumniQ for being our presenting sponsor. Visit alumniq.com for more details about the technology that’s making events infinitely easier.

If you’re leading marketing, communications, or alumni engagement at a small institution, this next episode is for you. Pete Brumbaugh is Executive Director of University Communications & Alumni Engagement at MidAmerica Nazarene University, where he and his team are tasked with delivering meaningful connections and value without the luxury of large budgets or big staff. Hear our conversation with Pete on the next edition of the show. Also on the episode, Pete shares his approach to prioritizing programs, building internal partnerships, and activating volunteers in ways that extend reach without overextending the team. The conversation touches on what to let go of, what to double down on, and how to maintain team culture and momentum in a lean environment. If you’re part of a small shop looking for clarity and inspiration, this episode offers practical takeaways and a grounded sense of what’s possible. Subscribe to the podcast edition of Alumless to catch the bonus segment with Pete, and special thanks to our presenting sponsor Protopia. Visit protopia.co/alumless for more details about the technology everyone is talking about.

What happens when a long-time alumni board volunteer steps into their alma mater's top alumni engagement role? In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris welcome Heather Stanley, Senior Director for Alumni Experience at Western Michigan University, to talk about her transition from volunteer to staff leader—and what that shift has taught her about the work of alumni engagement. Heather shares insights from her first six months on the job, including the experience of leading through a national championship moment in college hockey and navigating leadership transitions at the university. She also reflects on the value of board service as a pathway into the advancement profession and how her background in education is shaping her approach to building community and team culture. Subscribe to Alumless to hear the extended podcast conversation, including our bonus segment with Heather. Special thanks to our sponsor AlumniQ for making the show possible. Visit alumniq.com for more details about their events-and-all technology.

Sorry listeners! Uploading this one from two weeks ago. Chris and Ryan welcome Jeff Williams, Assistant Vice President for People and Engagement at the University of Maryland, for a conversation focused on the internal dynamics of advancement work. With a role that blends talent development, team culture, and stakeholder engagement, Jeff offers a unique perspective on how investing in people directly influences external engagement success. The conversation explores Jeff’s first year in the role and strategies for building a high-performing culture. Jeff also discusses how internal partnerships and professional development can help advancement shops retain top talent and create more integrated approaches to alumni and donor engagement. Subscribe to Alumless for the extended podcast conversation, including our 30-minute bonus segment with Jeff, and special thanks to Protopia for sponsoring this episode. Visit protopia.co/alumless for more details about the technology that helped LSE and Northwestern win CASE awards in 2024.

On this week’s Alumless, Chris and Ryan welcome Jeff Williams, Assistant Vice President for People and Engagement at the University of Maryland, for a conversation focused on the internal dynamics of advancement work. With a role that blends talent development, team culture, and stakeholder engagement, Jeff offers a unique perspective on how investing in people directly influences external engagement success.

In this episode of Alumless, hosts Ryan and Chris are joined by Sean Devendorf, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Tufts University, for a conversation on aligning alumni engagement and annual giving teams to drive more efficient and effective advancement outcomes.

In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris are joined by Gina Yazzolino, Assistant Vice President for Constituent Engagement at the University of Portland, for a conversation about how engagement strategy is evolving to include more than just alumni. Gina shares insights from her work building a constituent engagement team that casts a broader net.

Our conversation explores how Gina and her team are working to align engagement with fundraising and integrate engagement into a unified advancement model. Gina also discusses the challenges of cultural change, the role of strategic communications, and how institutions can bridge long-standing gaps between engagement and development work.

Subscribe to Alumless for the extended podcast conversation, and thanks to Protopia for sponsoring this episode. Visit protopia.co/alumless for more details about their unique technology that helps alumni teams scale volunteerism. 

In this episode of Alumless, Chris Marshall and Nicole Kempton explore the growing intersection of innovation and university advancement with Dr. Davy Norris, Senior Vice President for Innovation and Advancement and CEO of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation. Louisiana Tech recently made a bold move by merging its Innovation Enterprise with University Advancement, a strategic shift that positions alumni, research, and economic development at the heart of institutional growth.

Davy shares what prompted this integration, how it aligns with Louisiana Tech’s mission, and what it means for philanthropy, industry partnerships, and alumni engagement. The conversation dives into the future of alumni participation in innovation, the role of advancement in supporting research commercialization, and how this model could reshape regional economic development.

This episode provides key insights for institutions rethinking how advancement and innovation can work together to create new opportunities for students, faculty, and alumni.

Subscribe to Alumless to hear the extended podcast conversation, and special thanks to AlumniQ for sponsoring this episode. Visit alumniq.com for details on their events-and-all technology.

In our next episode of Alumless, we welcome Sarah Kathryn Ricci, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Baylor University, for a conversation on management and leadership in university advancement. In this episode, "Managing Up, Down, All-Around," we explore the challenges of leading teams, collaborating across departments, and engaging alumni volunteers.

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Friday Cheers:

Ryan: 10 Proven Methods for Real Learning

In this episode of Alumless, Ryan Catherwood and Chris Marshall explore how alumni associations can generate new revenue streams while continuing to build strong engagement. With traditional revenue sources like affinity partnerships and membership dues fading, alumni professionals are being challenged to innovate and adapt in ways that align with their mission.

Ryan's Friday Cheers - Alumni Sign Letter of Complaint After Vought Controversy (Wheaton College)