Pam Russell
director of communications
CASE
+1-202-478-5680
russell@case.org

For Immediate Release
July 19, 2011

CASE to Establish Ongoing Presence in Latin America

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Council for Advancement and Support of Education will establish an ongoing presence in Latin America to expand and adapt CASE services to educational institutions throughout the region.

CASE is an international association that provides professional development, research, information and standards within the fields of educational advancement, which include fundraising, communications, marketing and alumni relations at schools, colleges and universities.

The CASE Board of Trustees voted July 9 to establish the new Latin American operation following the conclusion of a successful, two-year pilot program that increased professional development opportunities for advancement practitioners in Latin America and provided selected CASE resources in Spanish.

According to CASE President John Lippincott, "The creation of regional operations in Latin America is a natural next step as we grow our service to members in the region and around the world."

"CASE began offering programs in Latin America in 1999," he added. "The positive response to the recent pilot program tells us that institutions in the region are investing in their fundraising, alumni relations, communications and marketing programs and that there is a need and a thirst for the resources CASE offers."

"Given the increasingly global nature of education as institutions raise funds, serve alumni and recruit students internationally," Lippincott continued, "we are confident that an expanded presence in Latin America will benefit all of our members around the world."

Former CASE trustee German Campos, director of institutional development at Universidad Anahuac in Mexico, said the board's decision will help institutions in the region strengthen their advancement programs.

"CASE's training, resources and network of professionals have been of enormous value to educational institutions in Latin America." he said.  "By establishing a formal presence in the region, CASE will help member institutions strengthen their relationships with key external constituencies, including donors, alumni, prospective students, and community leaders."

During the two-year pilot, the CASE office in Mexico City has been generously hosted at the Universidad Anahuac, Lippincott said. He noted that logistical and legal details for the ongoing operations would be worked out in the coming months, based on the board's approval.  Ximena Gudiño, who has served as Latin America coordinator (coordinadora para Latinoamerica) during the pilot, will continue in her role.     

In addition to its headquarters in Washington, D.C., CASE has an office in London serving Europe and one in Singapore serving the Asia-Pacific region.

About CASE

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.

CASE was founded in 1974 and maintains headquarters in Washington, D.C., with offices in London (CASE Europe, 1994), Singapore (CASE Asia-Pacific, 2007) and Mexico City (CASE América Latina, 2011).

Today, CASE’s membership includes more than 3,600 colleges and universities, primary and secondary independent and international schools, and nonprofit organizations in 76 countries around the globe. This makes CASE one of the world’s largest nonprofit educational associations in terms of institutional membership. CASE serves more than 70,000 advancement professionals on the staffs of its member institutions and has more than 17,000 professional members on its roster.

To fulfill their missions and to meet both individual and societal needs, colleges, universities and independent schools rely on—and therefore must foster—the good will, active involvement, informed advocacy and enduring support of alumni, donors, prospective students, parents, government officials, community leaders, corporate executives, foundation officers and other external constituencies.

CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with all of these constituencies by providing relevant research, supporting growth in the profession and fostering support of education. CASE also offers a variety of advancement products and services, provides standards and an ethical framework for the profession and works with other organizations to respond to public issues of concern while promoting the importance of education worldwide.

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