What’s Up Trendsetters!

Today, I talk with Dr. Kevin Fleming, Co-Founder and CEO of Prosper, a consulting firm that provides guidance to nonprofit organizations to transform their engagement and philanthropic programs, specializing in fundraising practice, Board management, volunteer programs, event planning, and communications.
Today’s trend lines include:
– student experience is the strongest indicator of alumni involvement,
– pots of water framework for alumni engagement, and 
– trends in higher education.

Bio
Kevin has 20 years of expertise in alumni engagement and non-profit management, paired with exceptional knowledge and skills within the realms of college student development and teaching.  Through experiences at Mount Holyoke College, Emerson College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Bowling Green State University, the University of Connecticut, and James Madison University, he has led transformations of alumni boards of directors, overall alumni engagement and communications strategies, volunteer programs, signature events, staffing alignments, and cross-departmental collaborations at several institutions.  Kevin approaches organizational change through excellent listening skills, a positive and collaborative nature, collegiality, humor, and gratitude, providing the foundation through which he fosters unity and common purpose amongst community members and the accomplishment of shared successes.

An educator and researcher by nature, Kevin’s background in teaching makes him an excellent meeting facilitator. Additionally, he is a thought leader in the areas of alumni engagement and fundraising.  He authored his dissertation on “Examining the Influence of Graduate Student Experience on Graduate Alumni Giving,” and has published a ground-breaking theory of alumni engagement in the peer-reviewed Journal of Philanthropy and Education, entitled “The Pots of Water Framework for Alumni Engagement.” He also serves as a member of the Council and Support of Education (CASE) District I Board of Directors, and serves as the co-chair of the Horizon Issues Committee.

What’s Up Trendsetters!

Today, I talk with Alisha Hartley, CASE resident and Assistant Director of Leadership Giving at Penn State.
Today’s trend lines include:
– perspective of a new professional,
– self-care and grace,
– CASE residency program, and
– development in Covid times.

Bio

Alisha Hartley is a native of Monroe, NC. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise and African Studies from Wake Forest University in 2018. Following graduation, Alisha served her alma mater as the Campus Life Fellow, where she created workshops and programs to promote wellbeing across the Wake Forest Community. After her fellowship, Alisha decided to reconnect with her love of traveling the world by leading a group of high school students on a Leadership and Social Change program in South Africa and later, studying abroad and interning in Barcelona, Spain. Her love for people, serving others, and higher education has led her to join the Nittany Lion Family.

She is now an Assistant Director of Annual Leadership Gifts here at Penn State, where she reaches out to Penn Staters in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and Northeast, PA.

What’s Up Trendsetters!

Today, I talk with Mo Cotton Kelly, the Vice President for Alumni Relations and Communications at the UConn Foundation
Today’s trend lines include:
– COVID-19 engagement,
– UConn’s advancement model, and
– Leadership in Challenging Times.

Bio
MONTIQUE (MO) COTTON KELLY
Vice President, Alumni Relations and Communications

Mo Cotton Kelly leads the University of Connecticut Alumni Relations staff and hundreds of volunteers to connect UConn’s 255,000-plus alumni worldwide. With nearly 22 years in the higher education advancement field, she has a national reputation as a strategic and visionary leader in alumni relations. She joined UConn in 2014 and is a member of the Foundation’s Senior Management Team. Previously she was executive director of Bowling Green State University’s Alumni Association. Mo received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BGSU. She is active in the Council for Alumni Association Executives and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

What’s Up Trendsetters!

Today, I talk with Dr. Anthony McAdoo, the Executive Director of the WKU Alumni Association.
Today’s trend lines include:
– COVID-19 innovation,
– the new WKU diversity, equity and inclusion council, and
– his advice to new professionals.

Bio
Dr. Anthony McAdoo currently serves as the Executive Director of the WKU Alumni Association. He holds three degrees in agriculture and education from the University of Arkansas, including a doctorate in higher education leadership. 

As an 21-year professional in higher education, Anthony has spent the last 18 years in alumni relations in progressive leadership roles.  He served 10 years at the University of Arkansas Alumni Association where he oversaw all programming and engagement opportunities for alumni. After serving the University of Oregon as the Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Senior Director for the University of Oregon Alumni Association, Anthony moved to the Hill in June 2016.