Conference Co-Chairs

Steve Hall
Vice President for Alumni Relations
Boston University

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

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 CASE Circle of Excellence 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 more than 30 years, Hall is a frequent faculty member at conferences, including the Summer Institute in Alumni Relations, District I and District IV conferences, the Summit for Leaders in Advancement, and is a frequent contributor to CASE publications. He currently serves as a member of the Commission on Philanthropy 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 2012, he was elected to a three year term on the board of District I of CASE.

Lisa R. Lewis
Executive Director
University of Connecticut Alumni Association

Lisa Lewis has served as the executive director of the University of Connecticut Alumni Association since 2007. During that time, she has led the organization through a new strategic planning process, a renewed focus on campus partnerships and an expanded scope of online service that reach alumni worldwide.

An association professional with experience in managing higher education organizations, Lewis served as the assistant vice president of communications for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and previously, for seven years, as president of the University of South Florida Alumni Association.

Lewis is an honors graduate of the University of South Florida (USF), with degrees in both marketing and public relations. She held a variety of positions with the USF Alumni Association before being named president in 1999, with the concurrent title of associate vice president of alumni affairs.

She serves on the Board of Directors for the CASE District I, and is a member of the Council of Alumni Association Executives, the American Society of Association Executives and Board Source.

Faculty

Donna Arbide
Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund and Executive Director of the University of Miami Alumni Association
University of Miami

Donna Arbide has worked at the University of Miami since 1986 in various capacities. She joined the Office of Alumni Relations in 1993, and is the Executive Director of the Alumni Association since 2001. In 2004 she became the Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund.

Under her leadership, the UM Alumni Association has made great strides including an increase in the alumni participation rate from 12% in 2001 to 19%, which is the University's highest.

With Donna's supervision, the Alumni Association has completed two strategic planning processes, and is now entering its third. She has expanded national alumni programming; enhanced the alumni education program; and expanded membership to include more than 160,000 members.

She is the driving force behind the vision of the new on-campus alumni facility: the Robert and Judi Prokop Newman Alumni Center. Thanks to her, and the efforts of our dedicated alumni, the Alumni Association raised more than $25 million dollars to build the long awaited-home away from home-the Newman Alumni Center, which celebrated its grand opening on October 8, 2010.

Donna earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama, Huntsville, in 1984, and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Miami in 1995.

Special Guest

John Lippincott
President
Council for Advancement and Support of Education

In 2004, John Lippincott became president of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the professional association for alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing officials at colleges, universities and independent schools around the globe.

As president, he provides strategic and operational leadership for one of the largest associations of education-related institutions in the world. During his tenure he has overseen creation of principles of practice in each of the advancement disciplines, development of ongoing operations in the Asia Pacific region, strengthening of the organization's financial position, and enhancement of CASE's relationships with members, districts and other associations.

Lippincott joined the CASE staff in 1999 as vice president for communications and marketing, with management responsibility for CURRENTS magazine, CASE Books, organizational communications, integrated marketing, government relations and special projects.

Prior to his arrival at CASE, he served for 12 years as associate vice chancellor for advancement at the University System of Maryland. In that capacity, he provided public relations counsel to the leadership of the 13-institution system, created an award-winning public television series, played a key role in state relations and provided communications support for two system-wide fundraising campaigns.

Lippincott has also held public relations posts at Ithaca College in New York and at the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C. He began his career teaching humanities courses at community colleges in Connecticut, New York and Oregon. Both his bachelor's and master's degrees are from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.
He has served on the board of the American Council on Education, the major coordinating body for U.S. higher education, as well as on Independent Sector's ethics and accountability committee and the Washington Higher Education Secretariat's steering committee.

Commissioners

Matthew Borowick
Associate Vice President for Alumni and Government Relations
Seton Hall University

Matthew Borowick is the associate vice president for alumni and govenment relations at Seton Hall University.

Joining Seton Hall in 1999, Borowick established the university's first department of government relations. He is responsible for developing effective relationships with local, state and federal government officials; monitoring and responding to legislation; and securing funding for university programs and initiatives, having secured more than $27 million for Seton Hall through appropriations and grants.

In 2004, he was assigned responsibility for the university's alumni relations program, which serves 80,000 graduates. In that time, he has led his four-person team to greater achievements in several areas. In particular, attendance at the annual alumni awards gala, Many Are One, increased by over 60 percent and raised over $500,000 for student scholarships. In 2008, he added community relations to his duties, where his team works to build stronger town-university partnerships.

Borowick continues to be an energetic advocate for alumni programming at Seton Hall and has recently been elected to serve as the presiding officer for the Association of Private College and University Alumni Directors.

Michele A Nota
Executive Director, Alumni Relations
University of Rhode Island

Gary Olsen
Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the Alumni Association
Villanova University

Since 1993 Gary Olsen has headed the alumni relations program at Villanova University. He is just the fourth person to serve in this capacity and the longest serving alumni director in the university's history. As associate vice president he is a member of the senior management team in the University Advancement division of Villanova University.

Since his appointment, Gary has led the university's alumni relations program through an unprecedented period of growth and change. He founded the alumni association's Board of Directors and the Volunteer Leadership Institute to provide training and orientation for alumni leaders. He has developed strategic business partnerships that have generated more than $7 million to support alumni association and university programs. Gary is recognized for his expertise in the areas of strategic planning, board development, and strategic partnerships.

Prior to his appointment at Villanova, he spent almost twenty years as an executive in the private nonprofit sector, primarily engaged in the prevention and treatment of addictive diseases. His work was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and by the Better Business Bureau of Southeastern Pennsylvania. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at Penn State University, Chestnut Hill College, and Alvernia College, and has hosted and produced a public affairs radio program.

He is a member of the Association of Private College and University Alumni Directors (PCUAD), and serves on the CASE Commission on Alumni Relations. Gary was been a member of the faculty for the CASE Summer Institute on Alumni Relations from 2005-2010, chairing it in 2009 and 2010. He has authored several articles for CASE Currents and serves as a consultant to universities and nonprofit organizations.

Christopher J. Vlahos
Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations
Case Western Reserve University

Christopher J. Vlahos is the associate vice president of alumni relations at Case Western Reserve University. He works with the Office of Alumni Relations' board of directors to develop and implement a strategic plan, and oversees the office's operations and fundraising. He ensures collaboration with the university to engage and support its alumni, positioning the Alumni Relations office as a viable and important gateway to the university.

Prior to joining Case Western Reserve, Vlahos served as president and executive director of the University of Arizona Alumni Association. In this capacity, Chris was a member of the President's Cabinet and the board of directors of the University of Arizona Foundation.

Vlahos is also a member of the Council of Alumni Association Executives (CAAE) and the Association of Private College and University Alumni Directors (PCUAD).

Formerly the vice president of membership and marketing at The Ohio State University Alumni Association, he was responsible for developing and executing the association's marketing plans and membership campaigns, managing revenue-generating programs and overseeing its brand positioning.

His 30-year professional career, devoted to the field of marketing and strategic communications, is highlighted by nearly two decades of corporate administration, staff training and business development for organizations in Columbus, St. Louis, Cleveland and New York.

Vlahos holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in public policy from The Ohio State University.

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

Anita B. Walton serves as the 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 CASE 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.