Alumni relationships are often treated as transactional, a newsletter, a donation ask, a quiet fade after graduation. But as higher education faces enrollment pressure, rising costs, and shifting expectations, the deeper question is how institutions build alumni relationships that are genuinely sustaining and long-term. 

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Ellen Helms, Jana Johnston, and Saajan Bhakta about what meaningful alumni connection actually looks like over time. Drawing from their experiences as trustees, researchers, faculty leaders, and practitioners, they explore why personal outreach matters more than mass communication, how institutions without traditional campuses or sports can reimagine “homecoming,” and why trust and belonging must be cultivated well before students graduate.

In this episode:

• Why personalized alumni engagement outperforms generic outreach
• How institutions can redefine “homecoming” beyond sports and campuses
• The long-term value of alumni relationships for students and institutions
• Ways alumni can support students through mentorship, access, and advocacy
• Why trust and belonging must begin during the student experience