Curious how values-driven strategies can enhance your engagement efforts but unsure where to start? Join us to explore how understanding identity-based data can strengthen alumni engagement. You'll learn how to use insights to design meaningful experiences, recognize and respond to the unique needs of different alumni groups, and ensure every interaction promotes connection and community.

Your head is full of everything you've learned about advancement. Now what? Where do you start? How do you pull together all the pieces for a successful program? How do you get the greenlight for a great new idea? We'll discuss ways to plan for success, whether you're managing an office, a program, a staff-or just yourself. We will cover the why, approaches for ensuring ROI, managing outcomes, aligning resources, and lead an interactive exercise to support the development of meaningful roadmaps.

As newcomers, you may have heard or will hear the phrase "because we've always done it this way" in response to your questions about programs, events, processes, and activities at your institution. You have an opportunity to open the discussion for innovation and change. We will share tools you can use to assess a program or initiative, evaluate effectiveness, and define goals. Learn how to approach a change-resistant team, create a dialogue, potentially sunset a program, and creating new program buy-in.

Alumni relations work encourages alumni to engage with their alma mater for a lifetime. By creating meaningful engagement, alumni professionals can drive increased giving and participation rates. In this session, we will explore the role of alumni relations within institutional advancement and its overall impact. Join our discussion to learn how alumni relations professionals can effectively support fundraising and understand the crucial role they play in the giving cycle.

Now more than ever, alumni are looking at the value their institutions are providing for them today and ways in which they can serve and give back to support the university’s mission. A major opportunity to stay relevant and remain a resource for alumni is through career services and mentoring programs. This presentation will help you explore programs that meet and support alumni in their professional development journey.

Professional development is essential to finding fulfillment in one’s career. With intentional actions and steps, you can chart a path to sharpen and expand your skills, talents, and network. In this session, you will learn how to benchmark your current position and explore next steps for your career, discover how to identify what alumni leaders expect from mid-level and senior-level professionals, and glean insights on how to make connections with professional mentors and potential sponsors for your career growth.

Participate in this moderated conversation with leaders in Alumni Relations as they share their thoughts on the future of alumni relations, advice for new professionals, and thoughts on what it means to be a leader during turbulent times. Opportunities for Q&A will be provided so please bring your questions. The faculty leadership will then wrap-up the Institute with some closing observations and remarks and provide a “last call” for any remaining topics or questions you want to address before the Institute concludes.

Attendees will meet daily with curated advisory small groups led by expert faculty members to debrief from the day’s learning and problem solve in real time.

• William Pierce: Multicultural Greek Council Room (4th floor), Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
• Joycelyn Blizzard: National Panhellenic Council (2nd floor), Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
• Reggie Bustinza: Tripp Commons (2nd floor), Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
• Josh Harraman: Park View (4th floor), Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
• Erika Jordan: Beefeater (3rd floor), Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
• Caryn Schultz Korman: Great Hall (4th floor), Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
• Terrance Smith: Langdon (4th floor), Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
• Katie Young: Capitol View (4th floor), Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.