Kim Rich is Senior Director of Advancement Services and Operations at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., U.S. She says a love of data, relationship building, and mission are at the heart of her career in advancement.

Food and beverage often take center stage at events that bring education communities together. Advancement professionals are creatively planning wine tastings, ice cream socials, tailgate parties, cooking classes, and food security volunteer opportunities that whet the appetites of the constituents they serve.

After a successful fundraising career at Universidad de los Andes, Carolina Ángel founded Philanthropic Boutique to help her Latin American colleagues gain greater expertise in the advancement arena. She shares her thoughts on philanthropy in her region and the importance of food and culture, especially when it comes to fundraising. 

Temilade (Temi) Akin-Aina is Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. She joined the Western team in fall 2022, making the move from Concordia University, where she was Associate Director of Alumni Relations. She earned her bachelor's degree in history and political science at McGill University, which is where she began her career as an advancement professional 15 years ago.

Director of Development Joe Cheeseman came to the Nueva School in the Bay Area of Northern California, U.S., four years ago. In that time, he helped the school professionalize its advancement operation, and break campaign fundraising records along the way.

The Nueva School serves gifted students and, in the last decade, has grown from a pre-K-8 school to pre-K-12 school. The school collaborates with peer institutions nationally and globally to share its strategies to best serve gifted students.