From my first psychology class in college, I’ve always been deeply curious about how some experiences we have move us from affinity (I wear my college sweatshirt.) to loyalty (I advocate for, volunteer with, or donate to the school.).

I used to joke with my parents that I never left college. Over the next two decades, I worked on five different campuses in undergraduate student affairs, supporting college students through their own successes and challenges. In these roles, I saw firsthand how engagement and mentorship can help students develop deep, authentic connections with their alma mater. I wanted students to be different at commencement than they were at convocation: more sophisticated, and deeply aware of the role that college played in their lives. I got to put these perspectives on engagement to work when, later in my career, I assumed the role of Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations at the University of Washington.

In moving from student affairs to advancement, I was introduced to CASE and its universe of trainings, conferences, networking, and professional standards. As a participant and volunteer with CASE, I strengthened my professional network and gained appreciation for integrated advancement. To put it simply, my own CASE experience became significantly richer at precisely the same moment I rolled up my sleeves and started helping out—something that I continue to recommend to new members as CASE’s Executive Director for the U.S. and Canada.