As 2025 comes to a close, Alumless is considering alumni engagement technology for 2026 and beyond. On our special holiday edition, Chris Marshall and Kim Infanti are joined by Max Leisten from Protopia, Renee Quinn of Givzey, and Steve Rittler of AlumnIQ to reflect on where ed tech for advancement stands today and where it is headed next.

The group explores how engagement teams are thinking about their tech stacks, why integration remains such a persistent challenge, and whether engagement data is finally influencing fundraising strategy in meaningful ways. They discuss the real-world impact of AI right now, the evolving role of engagement scores, and how institutions can balance personalization at scale with the human connection alumni expect from their alma mater.

Looking ahead to 2026, the conversation turns to changing alumni digital behaviors, the future of social media in advancement, and what it truly means to be a digital-first engagement organization. The episode wraps with a holiday edition of Friday Cheers, featuring technology-inspired recommendations to carry into the new year.

For two decades, Penn Traditions has been shaping the way students at the University of Pennsylvania learn about philanthropy and discover what it means to be part of a community that lasts long after graduation.

On this week's episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris sat down with Elise Betz, Senior Executive Director for Alumni Relations, to look back at how the program began and how it grew into one of the most influential engagement engines in higher education.

Elise reflects on the early days of convincing campus leaders that student philanthropy mattered, the moment she knew the program had become part of Penn’s identity, and the innovations that have kept it relevant over 20 years. She shares how Penn Traditions now shapes everything from New Student Orientation to university-wide collaborations, and how alumni support continues to expand its impact.

In the bonus segment, the conversation turns to Penn’s recent fundraising campaign for its Cultural Resource Centers and what the future holds for student engagement at Penn.

You can check out the virtual fitness class Elise mentions in her Friday cheers here (passcode *%b2u+if).

Season 4 of Alumless is presented by Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey.

In this week's episode of Alumless Takes, Ryan chats with Andrea Devine, Senior Director of Volunteer Engagement at the University of Virginia.They share reflections and advice on how to create meaningful alumni volunteer engagement. She also shares challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to a new CRM system at UVA. She emphasizes the need for data standardization and the importance of establishing policies for data entry to improve overall data management.

This episode is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey.

How do you hold the attention of alumni and donors in a world that never stops scrolling?

In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris talk with Josh Harraman, Director of Constituent Experiences – Strategy at The Ohio State University, about what it means to build alumni engagement in the attention economy. Josh shares how his team studies audience behavior, experiments with content, and uses both data and emotion to keep the Ohio State community connected.

They explore what’s competing most for alumni attention today, how digital tools are reshaping engagement, and whether higher education is adapting fast enough to compete with global brands and influencers. Josh also reflects on the role of storytelling, volunteerism, and campus partnerships in creating meaningful moments that cut through the noise.

In the bonus segment, he talks about the platforms and content formats that hold alumni attention longest, how to define meaningful engagement when you have only seconds, and what advice he’d give advancement leaders trying to win the attention game.

This episode is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey.

In this episode, Ryan interviews Pat Fligge, the Director of Alumni Career Engagement at Temple University. They discuss the current hot topics in alumni career services, focusing on the impact of AI and the challenging job market. Pat emphasizes the importance of adapting to AI as a tool to augment career coaching and the need for expanded alumni career services to help graduates navigate the evolving job landscape. They also explore the role of alumni in providing experiential learning opportunities and the strategic approach of Temple University in supporting alumni engagement programs.

Can an interim advancement leader make lasting change, or are they just keeping the lights on?

In this episode of Alumless, Chris sits down with Dale Wright, Interim Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Senior Vice President of the University of Illinois Foundation. Dale shares how his early work in student and alumni engagement shaped his approach to leadership, and what it really takes to step into the top advancement role on an interim basis while still managing his ongoing responsibilities.

On the show, they unpack how to set priorities when time is limited, why credibility and internal relationships matter more than titles, and how the advancement and alumni engagement structure at Illinois operates. Dale also offers practical advice for anyone preparing to step into an interim leadership role.

In the bonus segment, he reflects on receiving the 2025 CASE Frank L. Ashmore Distinguished Service Award, what modern engagement should look like, and which traditional approaches may no longer serve the work.

FYI - Ryan had some technical difficulties during the livestream, so Chris went solo and took point for the first portion of this episode!

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

This episode is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey.

In this engaging conversation, Ryan interviews Kira Mudd, the Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Foundation. They discuss the evolution and significance of homecoming at URI, highlighting the innovative approaches taken to enhance alumni engagement and school spirit. Kira shares insights into the planning and execution of homecoming events, emphasizing the importance of creating memorable experiences that foster a sense of pride and connection among alumni. The discussion also touches on the strategic partnerships with athletics and the introduction of new traditions, such as the "Keeney Blueout" game, to strengthen alumni ties and celebrate the university's achievements.

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Visit cmac.me to learn more about our firm.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors for making Alumless possible:

Protopia makes providing scalable volunteer engagement solutions simple. Their AI platform enables all of your alumni to support students and fellow graduates with advice and networking. Connect with their team by visiting protopia.co/alumless

AlumnIQ is the only all-in-one alumni engagement platform built exclusively for higher education. Connect with them to learn more about how they help institutions manage everyday events and email outreach, to online giving, directories, membership management, and seamless integrations.

Givzey is a simple-to-use platform that streamlines and scales multi-year giving and one-time gifts at every level to accelerate your fundraising team and improve the donor experience. Learn more at givzey.com

What’s the difference between leading and managing — and why does it matter so much in advancement?

In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris are joined by colleague Scott Greenwood, Vice President at CMAC and Executive Coach, for a candid conversation about the art and science of leadership in higher education advancement. Drawing on decades of experience leading teams across colleges and universities, Scott breaks down what it takes to bring out the best in others — from balancing positive and negative reinforcement to avoiding favoritism and communicating with clarity. The conversation explores what separates high-performing advancement leaders from managers who simply maintain operations.

In the bonus segment, Scott dives deeper into self-reflection, managing up, setting expectations, and understanding your own motivations. He also shares actionable coaching insights on visibility, delegation, and performance conversations that drive growth and trust. Plus, don’t miss the team’s Friday Cheers to wrap up the episode.

Thanks to Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Version2.ai by Givzey for being amazing presenting sponsors.