Alumni Engagement: Realities and Opportunities Ahead
Jeff Minhas, Executive Director, Alumni Relations, University of California, Irvine
Megan Frisque, Associate Vice President for Alumni and Parent Relations, Southwestern University
Lisa Vacarelli, Senior Partner, Plus Delta Partners
Susan deMuth, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations, Johns Hopkins University
Key Takeaways:
Demonstrating Value: The change accelerated in this moment for alumni relations has been in demonstrating the value that the work provides to institutions. This is particularly true of the social connections that alumni associations traditionally focused on. A more critical lens is now focused on alumni relations and “the question of what our value both to the institution and to our constituents has become even more prominent.”
Campus Partners: So much of the work of alumni relations is about building relationships among our constituents. Our panelists encouraged us to model that relationship building with our own teams and partners. “Talk about your team and your students and the way the partners are coming together. That builds community. That builds team, and that's going to really be a foundation to grow on as we move into the future.”
There is no Going Back: In these times, there can be a tendency to simply try to get through it and then go back to normal. Our panel encouraged attendees to use this time to evaluate their work and drive lasting meaningful change. What are aspects of your work that might be ready for innovation in this new student journey?
Be Nimble: While higher ed may not be known for agility, now is the time to create a culture of adaptability. “I think it's more critical now than ever that we be creative and innovative at leveraging technology, leveraging expertise of others on campus and maybe off-campus, our alumni, and really lean into our partnerships across campus to figure out how we can be as nimble as possible.”
“Going forward means you got to bring some of the past with you, absolutely, but you’ve got to take these new challenges on. But you’ve got to be your best cheerleader. You’ve got to do it.”
Alumni are unique in that they are both supporters and often in need of support themselves. It’s on us to call in the cavalry, build partnerships, and bring to life a community where they can get the help they themselves need and pay it forward to students at the same time.
Learn more about how this community engages and inspires alumni by visiting our website.
