CMAC Podcasts

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Channel • 2 Shows

Education

Education

Updated Biweekly
Education

Education

Updated Semiweekly

4D AGO

Alumless Takes on Alumni Admissions with Meg Lysy

In this week's episode of Alumless Takes, Ryan interviews Meg Lysy, the Senior Director for Alumni Relations at Dartmouth College. They discuss the various alumni initiatives in the admissions process, including the long-standing alumni interviewing program and the Dartmouth Book Award. Meg shares insights on how alumni engagement enhances the admissions experience for applicants and the organizational changes within the Alumni Relations team to improve volunteer involvement. The conversation highlights the importance of alumni in shaping the admissions landscape and the challenges faced by institutions in maintaining these programs. This episode of Alumless Takes is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumniQ, and Givzey.

4d ago

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16 min
FEB 13

Merging alumni engagement and career services with John Jensen

As universities rethink how they support students and engage alumni, some have been experimenting with a bold structural shift: bringing alumni engagement and career services together under the advancement umbrella. On this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris sit down with John Jensen, Executive Director of Alumni and Career Services at Washington and Lee University, to explore what happens when these two functions are intentionally integrated. John shares the decision-making process that led to this merger at W&L and what has been hardest to align operationally and culturally. The conversation examines whether this model represents a growing trend or a structure that only works in select institutional environments. In the bonus segment, John discusses programs that demonstrate the power of integrated engagement and career development, including mentoring, internships, and experiential learning. He reflects on how this approach supports campaign priorities, shapes the student-to-alum transition, and redefines success within advancement. This episode of Alumless is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumniQ, and Givzey.

Feb 13

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1h 4m
JAN 16

Alumni identity and journey-based engagement with Jay Dillon

Alumni engagement strategies are evolving beyond events and programs toward something more profound: identity, psychology, and intentional journeys. In this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris are joined by Jay Le Roux Dillon, Ed.D., Chief Alumni Officer at the University of California, Berkeley, for a conversation on how institutions can design engagement experiences that reflect how alumni actually see themselves and choose to stay connected. Jay shares the origins of his Alumni Identity work and explains how social science, data, and human behavior shape his approach to alumni engagement at Cal. The discussion explores what it means to align teams around journeys rather than standalone programs and the role data and metrics play in validating this work. In the bonus segment, Jay reflects on lessons learned from innovation and the balance between tradition and experimentation. We explore the importance of the data layer in creating meaningful on-ramps to engagement, and where alumni engagement strategies are headed over the next five years. This episode of Alumless is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey.

Jan 16

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59 min
11/28/2025

Alumless Takes on Volunteer Engagement with Andrea Devine

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.

11/28/2025

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22 min
JAN 30

Evaluating the independent alumni association model with Janet Kinard

At a time when many universities are moving toward fully integrated advancement models, other successful structures exist, like the one at Georgia Tech. On this episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris are joined by Janet Kinard, Vice President for Engagement at the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, to explore how an independent, alumni-led association can thrive alongside a separate foundation and development office. Janet walks listeners through Georgia Tech’s distinctive engagement structure and the systems that keep multiple entities aligned around shared goals. The conversation examines common misconceptions about independent associations, how leadership teams manage inevitable tensions between engagement and fundraising, and why collaboration remains central to long-term success. In the bonus segment, Janet shares how the Alumni Association serves as a two-way door between alumni and campus and why Georgia Tech continues to outperform national averages in alumni engagement. She also reflects on how data and CASE AEM metrics guide planning and decision-making, and what other institutions should consider before moving toward a fully integrated model. This episode of Alumless is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumniQ, and Givzey.

Jan 30

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57 min
JAN 23

Alumless Takes on End of Year Giving with Ashley Watts

For this week's episode of Alumless Takes, Ryan is joined by Ashley Watts, the Director of Annual Giving at Georgia State University, who shares insights from the busy end-of-year giving season. She discusses the lessons learned from video appeals, the importance of intentional messaging, and the role of data in enhancing fundraising strategies. Ashley emphasizes the need for collaboration and adding value to colleagues across campus, while also recommending resources for professional growth.

Jan 23

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17 min
12/05/2025

Building community through traditions with Elise Betz

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.

12/05/2025

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1 hr
10/24/2025

Managing versus leading in advancement with Scott Greenwood

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.

10/24/2025

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59 min
09/19/2025

BONUS: Alumless Takes with Jillian Cole

In this bonus Alumless Takes episode, Ryan interviews Jillian Cole, the Chief of Staff of University Advancement at Colgate University. They discuss Jill's career journey, the importance of alumni engagement, and the recent merger of alumni engagement and annual giving at Colgate. Jill shares insights on successful events, the excitement surrounding leadership changes, and her recommendations for personal development and productivity.

09/19/2025

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15 min
02/16/2024

Philanthropy focused engagement strategies with Sarah Schutt

This week we're chatting with engagement strategist extraordinaire Sarah Schutt, Chief Alumni Officer at the Wisconsin Alumni Association and Foundation. We'll ask Sarah about the challenges of merging two independent organizations that become one. Chris and Ryan will also explore with Sarah what makes leading constituent engagement at the University of Wisconsin unique and how she works to keep programs fresh over time. Here's the recipe for Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies that Sarah mentioned during the show. Also, if you still need to check out Protopia's AI-powered technology designed to scale engagement and activate volunteers, you're missing out! Visit protopia.co/alumless to learn more.

02/16/2024

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59 min

The CMAC Podcasts channel is home to Alumless and Alumless World, our consulting practice's signature podcasts. On every edition of our podcasts, we explore global topics on alumni and donor engagement practices for advancement teams in support of educational organizations and non-profits.

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CMAC Podcasts

Top Shows

Alumless Takes on Alumni Admissions with Meg Lysy

Merging alumni engagement and career services with John Jensen

Alumni identity and journey-based engagement with Jay Dillon

Alumless Takes on Volunteer Engagement with Andrea Devine

Evaluating the independent alumni association model with Janet Kinard

Alumless Takes on End of Year Giving with Ashley Watts

Building community through traditions with Elise Betz

Managing versus leading in advancement with Scott Greenwood

BONUS: Alumless Takes with Jillian Cole

Philanthropy focused engagement strategies with Sarah Schutt

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