Office Space: Social Connection
CURRENTS Article In this column, a young social media coordinator discusses the mistaken notion that age should be a factor when it comes to working in social media and offers advice to people working in the field and the people who manage them.

Academic Aspirations
CURRENTS Article Why does a chief advancement officer need an advanced degree? Having a firm foundation in the academy enables the CAO to better understand and articulate the needs of the institution and earns credibility with the faculty, writes Linda Durant of Widener University.

A Beautiful Friendship
CURRENTS Article Alumni relations and student affairs seems like the perfect partnership. Each has something the other wants. So why aren't the two offices working together more often?

Communication Runs Through It
CURRENTS Article In this article, Tom S. Landrum, the senior vice president for external affairs at The University of Georgia, traces his career path in advancement from his first job in public relations more than 35 years ago to his appointment to the top advancement job in 2008 and discusses how his background in communications has affected his views on how development, alumni relations, and communications work together.

Work in Progress: Lost in Translation
CURRENTS Article Like ethnic cultures, each gender culture has its own norms, customs, rituals--and ways of communicating. This article examines some common miscommunications that can cause misunderstandings and even havoc in the workplace. The author, an expert in gender communications at work, offers tips for avoiding these disconnects.

Do Unto Others
CURRENTS Article This article describes the DISC method of categorizing personality types according to: dominance, influence, steadiness, or compliance. Once you know yours and someone else’s personality type, the author argues, you can use the platinum rule in dealing with them: Treat others as they would like to be treated, rather than the Golden Rule (treat people as you would like to be treated).

Career Path: Open Mouth, Insert Foot
CURRENTS Article Advancement work is hard enough without having to sidestep the landmines your CEO puts in your path through his or her inappropriate words or actions. As columnist Betty H. Meehan rightly (and wryly) observes, learning how to prevent such situations not only makes advancement professionals more successful, it also keeps them sane. This column suggests strategies for making such success possible.