Our brand new Director of Schools, Crickett Kasper, started at CASE in August. We are delighted to have her at the helm of this important community, along with Ann Snyder and the rest of our Volunteer Engagement team. To get to know her better, we asked her to share how she came to advancement work and what aspects of the profession she’s most looking forward to exploring or contributing to from the national association perspective. As always, we invite you to reach out to either Crickett or Ann at ckasper@case.org or asnyder@case.org.

What drew you to working with schools?

As for most people, school has been a big part of my life. It is where I found my voice, made my life-long friends, and discovered my talents. Returning to school for my career felt natural. I love the rhythm of the school year and the traditions that schools build their identity and community around. Being part of organizations that are focused on students and growth has always given me energy. I am grateful to have spent the majority of my career (and life) as part of schools.

Why did you decide to come to CASE from your institution?

CASE has always been at the hub of my professional network. The friends I have made through CASE over the years are the group that I turn to for support and expertise time and time again. I always took my team to CASE events, so they could be inspired by what other institutions are doing and learn from the best in the field, while also sharing their own experiences and expertise. Teaching and supporting other advancement professionals strengthens your own skills and gets you excited to return to our work. 

What are critical aspects of our advancement work that you hope to explore or contribute to during your time at CASE?

I am continually impressed with the advancement leaders I meet and believe they have an increasingly important role to play in supporting their school communities. I hope to help more schools appreciate the importance of weaving advancement into all aspects of school life. If they do not have a seat at the table, advancement cannot tell the story, cannot raise the funds, cannot enhance the school experience, and cannot bring the stakeholders together to make the school mission a reality. 

If you could give advice to any advancement team right now, what would it be?

Invest in your team and continue to look for opportunities for advancement to collaborate with all parts of your institution. The better you understand your school and all the people that make up the community, the better. Encourage your team members to advise students and to get to know their colleagues outside your group. I would also highly recommend using CASE as a resource for your team to get to know teams at other schools. It will make your team stronger and build your network beyond your campus.