Conference Chair

Paul Rucker
Executive Director and Associate Vice President, Alumni and Constituent Relations
University of Washington Alumni Association

Paul Rucker has been active in higher education administration for the past 17 years. Prior to joining the senior leadership team at University of Washington Advancement in 2004, he developed and led a broad range of international and global advancement initiatives in the Washington State Community Colleges, including opportunities for underrepresented U.S. students, staff and faculty to travel and study abroad in developing-world countries.

In 2009, Rucker became executive director of the UW Alumni Association and associate vice president of alumni relations. Over the years, he has served on a variety of professional and community advisory boards in support of advancing educational opportunities, diversity education and public/private partnerships. He serves on the CASE Commission for Alumni Relations.

Faculty

Steven Hall
Vice President of Alumni Relations
Boston University

Steve Hall currently serves as the vice president of alumni relations at Boston University, one of the world's largest private research universitites. Hall has responsibility for alumni relations, annual giving, and development and alumni communications with 292,000 BU alumni worldwide. Previously he served as BU's associate vice president for alumni relations and annual giving.

Prior to joining BU in 2007, he served for 12 years as CEO and president of the Houston Alumni Organization of the University of Houston, the 2006 recipient of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's (CASE) Grand Gold Medal in alumni relations. His previous experience includes serving as vice president for major gifts at the Washington State University Foundation and in numerous roles in development and alumni relations at the University of Houston.

A CASE member for 30 years, Hall is a frequent faculty member at conferences and is a frequent contributor to CASE publications. He currently serves as a member of the Commission on Alumni Relations and the 2011 CASE Summit Planning Committee. He served for three years on the CASE Commission on Philanthropy. He served as president of the Council of Alumni Association Executives in 2007-2008 and in 2005 and 2007 chaired the Alumni Professionals of Texas conference. In January he was elected to a three-year term on the board of District I of CASE.

Nicole LeDuc Meehan
Director, Alumni Association
Loyola University Chicago

Nicole LeDuc Meehan has been director of the Loyola University Chicago Alumni Association since January 2007. She is responsible for overseeing a team of seven who create and manage an array of programs that engage Loyola's 135,000+ alumni. She is a past presenter at the Jesuit Advancement Association (JAA) annual conference and a member of the Executive Board for the Association of Private College and University Alumni Directors (PCUAD). Recently, she began a three-year term with the CASE Commission on Alumni Relations.

Nicole holds her bachelor's degree and master's degree in business administration from Loyola University Chicago.

Greg Sheridan
Associate Vice President, University Advancement
University of Washington

Greg Sheridan has over 34 years of advancement experience in higher education. During this span, he has been a key leadership professional in the implementation of four capital campaigns. All were successfully concluded and exceeded their identified goals. His comprehensive background in all areas of advancement (fundraising, alumni relations, marketing and communications, and fund management) make him an exceptional resource for his colleagues and other professional organizations in the nonprofit community.

Sheridan has worked at Montana Tech, University of California, Davis, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, and the University of Washington. At UW he is currently the associate vice president for constituency programs overseeing the advancement programs of over 23 colleges, schools and units. Recently, the University of Washington concluded one of the largest campaigns for a public university by raising over $2.6 billion.

Anita B. Walton
Director of Alumni Relations
North Carolina Central University

Anita B. Walton serves as director of alumni relations at North Carolina Central University. Most recently, Walton was the homecoming and affinity reunion manager for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she has had a successful 18-year career. There, Walton budgeted and supervised the delivery of more than 500 programs, first in student affairs and then alumni relations.

At Chapel Hill, Walton has effectively managed a broad range of activities involving students, alumni and volunteers. She has served on teams recognized by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2007. She also has been the recipient of the CASE Affiliated Student Advancement Programs (CASE ASAP) District III Outstanding Adviser Award and currently serves on the district's board as the Opportunity and Equity chair.

Walton received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a master's degree in higher-education administration with a concentration in student development from North Carolina State University.