Message from the Chair

Welcome to the field of alumni relations! Our profession is one of higher education's most exciting, challenging and satisfying careers. Whether you're new to the profession or expanding the scope of your responsibilities, this institute is the premier professional development opportunity and offers everything you need to move your career forward. What you learn and the people you meet at the institute will stay with you for your entire career. 

Whether you are interested in developing these sorts of programs, or looking to take your current program to the next level, this conference will offer you the latest trends and best practices, and the opportunity to learn from the experiences of other institutions.

The institute covers the broad spectrum of alumni relations responsibilities. You'll have a chance to explore how your particular work relates to other areas within advancement and within your larger organization. You will also learn about new developments and emerging trends, so that you will be poised to be a key player in your organization as it moves forward.

Along with the intense learning and faculty expertise, you'll also have the opportunity to meet other alumni relations professionals from institutions like yours and around the world; spend time hanging out in beautiful Burlington, home to quaint shops and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream; and enjoy a cool summer getaway!

On behalf of CASE and the alumni relations faculty, I invite you to join us for the 2012 Summer Institute in Alumni Relations. You won't be disappointed.

Institute Chair

Harold Brown
Director of Alumni and Parent Relations
Phillips Exeter Academy

Harold Brown Jr., director of alumni and parent relations, was appointed by his alma mater, Phillips Exeter Academy, in 1991 after a 15-year career in banking. He currently directs a comprehensive alumni relations program that coordinates more than 130 events per year. The program includes: 13 pre-commencement reunions (over four weekends), more than 40 regional associations, including six international, an alumni travel program, alumni awards and continuing education for about 20,000 alumni.

In addition to serving as a presenter at many CASE conferences, Brown has served as a volunteer for CASE in a number of leadership roles, including secretary and trustee of CASE; member of the board of directors, CASE District I; and CASE-NAIS planning committee member. He is the author of the chapter "The Essentials of Alumni Relations" in Philanthropy at Independent Schools (Third Edition), a publication of the National Association of Independent Schools.

Faculty

Stephen Catlett
Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Affairs
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

Steve Catlett is the associate vice chancellor of alumni affairs at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, having assumed this position in July of 2006. Prior to that Steve had served as director of alumni programs at UT since 1992, heading up the 115-strong alumni chapter program as well as athletic programming. As the lead alumni relations officer for the flagship campus of The University of Tennessee, Steve heads of all aspects of alumni programming for an alumni base of over 200,000 and works closely with development as part of the advancement team.

He came to UT with a background in sales (Pfizer) and volunteer leadership with his alma mater (UT), having served as the alumni chapter president in the Raleigh/Durham UT alumni chapter for three years. Steve is a graduate of The University of Tennessee, with a bachelor's degree in Marketing and remains active with his fraternity, having served on the chapter's housing corporation and as a fundraiser for a new building project. In the community he is involved with the Knoxville Business Association, raising money for local children's charities and scholarships.

Paul J. Clifford
Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations President of the East Carolina Alumni Association
East Carolina University

Paul J. Clifford is the associate vice chancellor for alumni relations and the president of the East Carolina Alumni Association at East Carolina University (ECU). He is responsible for directing a program that offers programs, services and communications to 120,000 Pirate alumni worldwide.

Prior to taking the post at ECU, he was the director of outreach at the University of Connecticut Alumni Association, responsible for chapters, affinity groups, school and college societies, community service and volunteer management. He was director of alumni relations at SUNY-New Paltz, prior to joining the staff at UConn. He began his career as assistant director of alumni relations for communications and student programs at James Madison University.

Clifford has received peer recognition for both individual achievement and outstanding programming. He served as the adviser to the James Madison University Student Ambassadors, the 1998-1999 SAA/SF District III Most Outstanding Organization. His alumni program at New Paltz received the 1999-2000 State University of New York Council for University Affairs and Developments Excellence Award in Alumni Programming and he was the recipient of the 2001 CASE District I Rising Star Award. In 2005, his programs were recognized by CASE District III with Special Merit Awards in Electronic Communications and Overall Alumni Programs. Most recently, CASE District III deemed his programs award worthy with the 2007 and 2008 Grand Award of Excellence for Overall Alumni Program. In addition, his program earned their first international recognition with a CASE Circle of Excellence bronze medal in the category of collaborative programs in 2008.

An active member of CASE, Clifford has been a presenter, faculty member and faculty chairperson at numerous conferences sponsored by the professional organization. He has published a number of articles in the Development & Alumni Report and was the co-editor of Alumni Clubs and Chapters (CASE Books; 2002.) He has also served on CASE's Commission on Alumni Relations. In January of 2008, Clifford was named to the inaugural class of 20 that was selected to participate in the Chancellor's Leadership Institute. The Institute is the most prestigious leadership training program at ECU designed for faculty and staff that are poised for future leadership roles.

Clifford is a 1996 graduate of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania where he was named the 2005 Young Alumnus of the Year.

Kelly Redder
Assistant Vice President
Rochester Institute of Technology

Katherine "Kelly" Redder is the assistant vice president of alumni relations at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She has been in the higher education field for 20 years.

Graduating with degrees in anthropology, archaeology, mathematics and forestry, she made the leap to a communications career by working at the New York State Commission for Independent Colleges and Universities. She has worked in the alumni relations field since 1990, holding positions at College of Misericordia, Ithaca College, University of Rochester and RIT. She notes, not with little irony, that at the time of her tenure, each institution was gearing up for a milestone. Redder has participated in 75th, 100th and 150th anniversary celebrations and most recently, on RIT's 175th.

A former member of the CASE Commission on Alumni Relations and one of the founding members of the Association of Private College and University Alumni Directors (APCUAD), Redder enjoys interacting and benchmarking with other alumni relations officers across the country.

Bradford Crews
Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations
Florida Atlantic University

Brad Crews is the assistant vice president of alumni relations at Florida Atlantic University. He manages all aspects of the FAU National Alumni Association, including the board of directors, alumni programs, and events and operations of the Marleen and Harold Forkas Alumni Center.

Crews joined Florida Atlantic University in March 2011 with nearly 10 years of collegiate experience. Previously, he served as the director of alumni reunions and special events at the University of Florida for six years. From 2002 to 2005, he was the university events director at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He also served as an event manager at the Walt Disney World Resort for several years.

Crews is a graduate of Appalachian State University.

Adrienne A. Rulnick
Associate VP Alumni Relations and Development
George Washington University

Adrienne Rulnick joined George Washington University as associate vice president for alumni relations and development in 2007. At GW, she has expanded alumni programming to include international, career, athletic outreach and expanded regional chapter development, alumni communications and student-alumni interactions. Adrienne has also developed a highly successful annual Women and Philanthropy Forum and related webinars and been instrumental in initiating the GW Global Forums.

She has two decades of higher education experience, primarily in alumni relations and development. Adrienne came to GW from NYU where she served as executive director of alumni relations and development, overseeing alumni relations; the Fund for NYU; alumni, regional, reunion, leadership annual giving, and the NYU Parents Committee. At NYU, she expanded alumni communications; developed programs for young alumni, parent giving, reunions, and incoming freshmen; created an annual alumni job fair and lecture series; and grew annual gifts from $8M to $22M.

In 2010, she co-wrote "Benchmarking in Alumni Relations" for a CASE Publication, Alumni Relations: A Newcomer's Guide to Success. Rulnick has been appointed to the CASE Commission on Alumni Relations and is also serving her second term on the Executive Board of the Association for Private College and University Alumni Directors (PCUAD).

Adrienne A. Rulnick earned an EdD in higher education administration from the University of Massachusetts, an MA from the University of Albany, and a BA from Barnard College and also received certificates in The Management of Lifelong Education from Harvard University and in Teaching the Holocaust from Yeshiva University.

Kevin Wesley
Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations
University of Rochester

Kevin Wesley is the assistan vice president for advancement and alumni relations at the University of Rochester. Previously, he served as assistant vice president for advancement and as deputy director of alumni relations at Carnegie Mellon University, and as director of alumni relations at Bowdoin College.

Wesley's programs have won nine district and national CASE awards for program development and website design. He has served on the CASE Commission on Alumni Relations and on the faculty for the CASE Summer Institute in Alumni Relations, and has written for CURRENTS magazine. He is a frequent speaker at CASE conferences.

A graduate of Bowdoin College, Wesley completed a certification program in leadership coaching from the Warner Graduate School of Education at the University of Rochester.

CASE Crystal Apple award winner for excellence in teaching.