12:00 – 1:00 PM Local Time

Conference Registration   

Welcome to Los Angeles! Please stop by the registration desk starting at 12:00 p.m. to check in and pick up your conference materials. 

1:00 –1:30  

Welcome, Faculty Introductions and Conference Overview 

Speaker: Josh Harraman 

Join Conference Chair Josh Harraman and the conference faculty to kick off the program. 

1:30 – 2:30 

All A-Board: Developing an effective alumni board engagement strategy 

Speaker: Caryn Korman 

Are you looking to build an alumni board? Or do you currently have an alumni board but wish they were more effective? This session will break down the differences between task forces, committees and boards; outline processes for recruiting and retaining board volunteers; provide tactics to keep volunteers fully engaged; and offer strategies to demonstrate their impact. 

2:30 – 3:00 

Refreshment Break 

3:00 – 4:00 

Electives Sessions: Choose One 

• Young Alumni Engagement 
  
  Speakers: Erika Jordan and Terrance Smith 
  
  Ensuring alumni develop a lifelong affinity to your institution requires cultivating relationships throughout their time as students as they transition to young alumni. Historically, alumni programming has not always included segmented young alumni programming and messaging, certainly not as a priority. Now is the time to reconsider your institution’s approach to meet young alumni where they are, in spaces conducive to their evolving life stages. Come to this session to gain practical insights for strengthening your team’s young alumni engagement efforts.

• To Affinity and Beyond
  
  Speakers: Caryn Korman and Tricia Riveire Stumpf
  
  Considering starting an affinity group or special interest group program? Looking to grow your affinity group effectiveness? This session will cover strategies for starting an affinity or special interest group, best practices, and tackle some of the important nuances of working with our LGBTQ+, black, LatinX, and other alumni populations.

4:00 – 4:15 

Stretch Break 

4:15 – 5:15 

Digital Engagement 

Speaker: Virginia Halverson and Terrance Smith 

From social media to virtual events, digital engagement has rapidly emerged as an essential component of a successful Alumni Relations program. Technology offers powerful tools to connect with alumni no matter where they are in the world. But with limited time and resources, and a seemingly endless array of digital possibilities, how do you decide what is right for your institution? Come join a vibrant discussion to learn about the various types of digital engagement, emerging trends, and how to assess impact and measure success of your digital engagement strategies

5:15 – 6:15 

Networking Reception 

Join conference faculty and your colleagues to network and unwind after Day 1. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drink tickets will be provided. Don't forget your business cards!

6:00 

Conference Adjourns for the Day 

Dinner on your own OR optional small group dinners, sign-up at the registration desk 

8:30 – 9:30 AM 

Continental Breakfast / Faculty Led Roundtable Discussions 

9:30 – 10:30 

Designing A Strategic Roadmap

Speaker: Erika Jordan and Tricia Riveire Stumpf

In this session we will cover the ins and outs of strategic planning not just at the organization-wide level, but also at the program or department level. We will cover the why, approaches, managing up on outcomes, aligning resources, and have conversation with attendees on their experiences in developing meaningful roadmaps.

10:30 – 10:45 

Coffee Break 

10:45 – 11:45 

Elective Sessions: Choose One 

• The Future of Alumni Engagement 
  
  Speaker: Virginia Halverson and Jenny Cooke Smith
  
  We are in the midst of a true culture shift in the role and perception of alumni engagement.  Bring your crystal ball as we journey to the future to explore how these changes impact the profession, your work, and most importantly, the next generation of alumni.  Topics explored include pipeline and prospect management; alumni engagement as the strategic partner across the institution; and changing definitions of success. 
• Regional Engagement 
  
  Speaker: Josh Harraman 
  
  Alumni span the state, country, and world for our institutions. A regional engagement strategy is essential in determining how you will bring your institution to alumni outside of your immediate area. Meeting alumni where they live is critical to meaningful and authentic engagement and relationship-building. In this session, you will learn best practices in partnering with institutional colleagues, regional volunteers, and disengaged alumni to make it a win-win opportunity for both the institution and regional alumni. 

11:45 AM – 1:15 PM 

Lunch on your own 

1:15 – 2:15 

Telling Your Engagement Story Through Data 

Moderator: Jenny Cooke Smith, Faculty Panel: Virginia Halverson, Josh Harraman and Tricia Riveire Stumpf

Four years ago CASE launched a global framework for measuring engagement, resulting in quantitative measures that effectively demonstrate the value of strategically engaging alumni.   In this session, we will celebrate the benefits and discuss ways to capture, measure, and apply alumni engagement metrics in your own college, school, or institution.   Panelists will share tips for getting started, taking action on the results, and how to avoid analysis paralysis in the process!  Come prepared with your own questions and examples to share with fellow attendees.  You’ll leave with the skills to implement and tell your own engagement story through data.

2:15 – 2:45 

Refreshment Break 

2:45 – 3:45   

Elective Sessions (Redux) Select One: 

• Young Alumni Engagement 
  
  Speakers: Erika Jordan and Terrance Smith
  
  Ensuring alumni develop a lifelong affinity to your institution requires cultivating relationships throughout their time as students as they transition to young alumni. Historically, alumni programming has not always included segmented young alumni programming and messaging, certainly not as a priority. Now is the time to reconsider your institution’s approach to meet young alumni where they are, in spaces conducive to their evolving life stages. Come to this session to gain practical insights for strengthening your team’s young alumni engagement efforts.  
• To Affinity and Beyond 
  
  Speakers: Caryn Korman and Tricia Riveire Stumpf
  
  Considering starting an affinity group or special interest group program? Looking to grow your affinity group effectiveness? This session will cover strategies for starting an affinity or special interest group, best practices, and tackle some of the important nuances of working with our LGBTQ+, black, LatinX, and other alumni populations.

3:45 – 4:00 

Stretch Break 

4:00 – 5:00 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in Alumni Relations

Speaker: Shalonda Martin

Demographics in the US are rapidly changing with data indicating by 2055 we will be a minority-majority population. Strategies to promote diversity and inclusion – in hiring and talent management, alumni engagement and fundraising – are fundamental requirements in toolkits of advancement leaders. In this session, we will explore how alumni relations leaders effectively engage shifting populations as well as promote inclusive practices that produce and develop a strong alumni base.

5:00 

Conference Adjourns for the Day 

Dinner on your own OR optional small group dinners, sign-up at the registration desk.

8:30 – 9:30 AM 

Continental Breakfast / Faculty Led Roundtable Discussions 

9:30 – 10:30 

Elective Sessions: Choose One 

• Role of Events in a Post-Covid World 
  
  Speaker: Josh Harraman
  
  We have all heard that we are living in unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that we need to adapt and evolve our engagement efforts. Most notably, in-person events have had to shift to purely virtual or hybrid opportunities in order to keep alumni, faculty, and staff safe. The shift to virtual or hybrid events also helped our profession see how this type of engagement can be of great benefit as an engagement tactic for our institutions. During this session, attendees will learn about the role of events in a post-COVID world, how best to capture and report data for virtual events, trends in engagement strategies around events, and best practices from a variety of institutions.
• Career Paths in Alumni Engagement 
  
  Speakers: Tricia Riveire Stumpf and Virginia Halverson
  
  There’s no printed road map for building a career in Alumni Engagement, which can often mean you are the cartographer in your own journey. Attend this interactive session to learn about successful attributes of Alumni Engagement professionals, types of roles in the field, tips for transitioning from entry level to senior positions, how to be proactive in finding key partners and champions and navigating institutional change. Come away with your own list of action items to help you take tangible steps toward strengthening your personal career pathway.

10:30 – 10:45 

Coffee Break 

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM 

Collaboration Panel & Closing Q&A 

Faculty Panel, Moderator: Josh Harraman

“A rising tide lifts all boats” applies to work in alumni engagement as well. Alumni relations professionals are often tapped to build relationships across our institutions. As a result, shared values, beliefs, and goals help our institutions to thrive. Whether you are building collaborative partnerships with admissions, student affairs, fundraising, corporate engagement, or another partner at your institution, we are all successful when we work together. Learn from the Alumni Engagement Strategies faculty about their experience in building meaningful relationships across their institutions as we conclude our conference.

12:00 PM 

Conference Adjourns