Connecting Alumni and Donors with the Student Experience-Connecting Alumni and Donors with the Student Experience

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) hosted an online webinar titled "Connecting Alumni and Donors with the Student Experience." The speakers for the webinar were Marissa Dienstag and Bri Ross. Marissa, an advisor at Colorado State University, spoke about her experience working in student affairs and university advancement. She emphasized the importance of student development and the positive impact of private giving through student engagement. Bri, the director of Alumni and Student Philanthropy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, shared her passion for creating a culture of philanthropy and supporting alumni relations.<br /><br />Marissa discussed the role of the Colorado State University Presidential Ambassadors, a group of students who interact with donors, alumni, and friends of the university. She highlighted the benefits of connecting students with alumni and donors, including career exploration, networking, and building a culture of philanthropy. Bri talked about the Student Alumni Society at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and its role in keeping alumni connected to the university.<br /><br />The speakers also discussed various ways to engage alumni and students, both in-person and virtually. They shared examples of events such as donor visits, alumni panels, homecoming celebrations, and virtual engagement opportunities like alumni career connections and virtual film festivals. They emphasized the importance of collaboration and building relationships with various departments and offices on campus to create meaningful engagement opportunities.<br /><br />Overall, the webinar provided insights into the importance of connecting alumni and donors with the student experience and shared practical examples of how to achieve this. The speakers highlighted the impact of such connections on building a strong alumni network and fostering a culture of philanthropy within institutions.

Keywords

alumni engagement

donor relations

student experience

philanthropy

university advancement

student affairs

career networking

alumni relations

higher education webinar