2025 Conference Schedule

1. Rocking the Roll: Leveraging Principal Gifts to Amplify Impact and Drive Success
Conference Room A-B

David Draper, Associate Vice President of University Advancement, University at Buffalo

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: At the heart of successful fundraising lies the ability to connect with and engage principal gift donors. Donors often seek more than a transactional relationship; they are looking for a deep connection to an organization’s vision, goals and impact. Understanding and leveraging their motivations is critical to unlocking their potential. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique role principal gifts play in accelerating growth, and strategies that can be employed to successfully engage and steward these donors over time. Attendees will learn best practices for identifying and approaching prospects, and how to research and segment donor pools to pinpoint individuals whose interests align with your organization’s work. We'll also outline how to craft compelling, personalized cases that resonate with those donors’ values, ensuring they feel understood and appreciated.

2. Calm in the Chaos: Mastering Mental Fitness & Leadership in Uncertain Times
Conference Room C

Scott Gibbs, Co-Founder & CEO, Acres of Diamonds
 
Discipline: Leadership & Professional Development
 
Session Summary: Scott Gibbs delivers a dynamic, high-energy and transformational workshop designed to equip leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs with life-changing techniques to SPOT, STOP, SWAP, and SURF the challenges of life and business in the modern world. This interactive experience provides immediate breakthroughs and practical tools for navigating uncertainty, making high-impact decisions, and leading with confidence.

This methodology is grounded in Positive Intelligence (PQ), Grit, Growth Mindset, and Leadership Neuroscience, giving attendees an unfair advantage in their careers and lives.

3. Prompts and Circumstance: Marching AI into Higher Ed Communications
Conference Room D

Jacqueline Ghosen, Assistant Dean/Director, Marketing & Communications
Kevin Manne, Associate Director of Communications
Alexandra Richter, Assistant Director of Communications
University at Buffalo School of Management

Discipline: MarCom & Design

Session Summary: In this interactive session, the UB School of Management’s MarCom team will facilitate a discussion where presenters and attendees will share their experiences with using AI for marketing and communications. Topics will include using AI to summarize faculty research; creating compelling alumni stories; prompt engineering to create impactful quotes; inspiration for social media posts, emails and media pitches; pitfalls to avoid; image generation and optimization; algorithmic bias and ethical concerns.

4. Playing Your First Gig: A Beginner's Guide to Rocking Your Fundraising
Conference Room E

Robert Baird, Associate Director of Advancement, University at Buffalo

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: This session is tailored specifically for new fundraisers who are looking to make a meaningful impact on their fundraising efforts. This hands-on, beginner-friendly session will ensure that participants leave with actionable insights and the confidence to start their own fundraising careers.

5.  Supercharging Your Leadership Giving Program
Cayuga Room

Amanda Glann, Director of the Fisher Fund
Brianna Maltese, Associate Director of the Spire Society
St. John Fisher University
Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: Leadership giving societies are at the core of sustainable fundraising strategies, but maintaining donor engagement while adapting to evolving philanthropic trends requires continuous innovation. This team will share the transformative journey of the Spire Society, St. John Fisher University’s leadership giving program, which recently underwent a strategic overhaul, resulting in significant growth and enhanced donor satisfaction. Recent enhancements, including the introduction of scaffolded giving options, tiered membership benefits, and streamlined stewardship practices, have not only fortified the major gift pipeline but also delivered a more personalized, mission-driven donor experience. Attendees will gain actionable insights on how to modernize their leadership giving programs by adopting flexible giving models, enhancing stewardship touchpoints, and leveraging data to drive donor engagement strategies.

6.  Different Story, Same Mission
Seneca Room

David Belsky, Founder & CEO, Good Rebellion
Discipline: Public, Media & Gov’t. Relations

Session Summary: Colleges and universities continue to face challenges providing opportunities for historically underserved populations in this new national dialogue. As an industry, higher education can reframe the narrative as an economic opportunity, not just a moral imperative. Solutions lie in connecting equity and growth, with actionable strategies to create compelling messaging that serves underrepresented students and benefits society. The session provides 10 ways to lift up student success efforts in a new political landscape.
 

7. Building and Retaining the Board You Need: Best Practices for Foundation Success
Conference Room A-B

Gretchen Wood, Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Monroe Community College
Executive Director, MCC Foundation

Discipline: Development & Fundraising / Leadership

Session Summary: A high-performing board is the cornerstone of a thriving college foundation, driving mission impact, resource development and strategic oversight. But how do you build and retain the board your foundation needs to achieve its goals? This session will offer actionable insights into the full board development lifecycle, from identifying and recruiting the right candidates to fostering a culture of engagement and retention. Attendees will learn strategies and proven practices for identifying, recruiting, onboarding, mentoring, engaging and assessing the board you need. Whether you’re expanding your current board or re-energizing your existing members, this session will provide the blueprint for success. Gretchen will be joined by a member of the MCC Foundation Board of Directors who will share their insights and experiences regarding board service.

8. In a World of Rising AI Use, Stand Out by Being Human
Conference Room C
 
Tim Nekritz, Director of Communications, SUNY Oswego
 
Discipline: MarCom & Design
 
Session Summary: You see a lot of conference presentations about artificial intelligence and how it can help you do your job. Which is cool and all, but...in a world where more people turn to these tools for communication, how can you stand out amid the rise of the machines? By being human and promoting human stories! This presentation will walk you through the ways where the basic PR/persuasion tactics (pathos, logos, ethos) have never gone out of style. Let’s make you stand out as more and more universities and organizations yield their communication activities to AI and start to sound more and more alike. We'll talk about great student stories, how to find them, how to tell them, how to let your audiences know about them -- and how they can make your institution better at meeting key goals like recruiting students, engaging alumni and cultivating donors. Let's take 45 minutes to remember the importance of our humanity.

9. Preparing, Navigating and Delivering During a Presidential Transition
Conference Room D

Matthew Colson, Vice President for Development & Alumni Engagement, Farmingdale State College

Discipline: Leadership & Professional Development

Session Summary: Navigating a presidential transition on campus as a leader involves actively facilitating communication, providing comprehensive information to the incoming president while supporting the current president who likely will be giving instruction until the final hour, maintaining stability within your department, and proactively aligning your team's goals with the new leadership's vision, while also ensuring a smooth handover of critical knowledge and ongoing projects.  Seems easy right?  But then they hit their stride about 3 months in and you feel a palpable shift. In this session we discuss some of the most exciting and challenging components related to the presidential search and transition, answer questions about the feat of the unknown and provide clear-headed, actionable advice to help you prepare, navigate, deliver and yes, even survive a campus president transition.

10. That’s What Friends Are For: Engaging Campus Stakeholders for Lasting Alumni Connections
Conference Room E

Janet Masini, Director of Alumni Programs, Stony Brook University

Discipline: Alumni & Events

Session Summary: Alumni engagement extends far beyond the efforts of a single office. It thrives when key campus community stakeholders are involved. This session explores how to cultivate meaningful partnerships with faculty, staff and campus organizations to create lasting alumni connections. We will discuss strategies for integrating alumni engagement into the broader university ecosystem, empowering campus stakeholders to play an active role in fostering alumni participation. Through case studies and best practices, attendees will learn how to leverage existing relationships, align institutional goals and build a culture of lifelong engagement while maximizing alumni participation. Whether you’re looking to enhance collaboration or launch new initiatives, this session will provide actionable insights to strengthen alumni networks and deepen their ties to your institution.

11.  Rockin' Your Content Strategy: Amplify Engagement and Hit the Right Notes
Cayuga Room

Barb Byers, Director of Alumni Communications
Erin Faxlanger, Assistant Director of Marketing
University at Buffalo

Discipline: MarCom & Design / Alumni

Session Summary: Just like a hit song, creating content that’s relevant, cohesive and timely can strike a chord with your audience, maximizing its potential for reach, impact and efficiency. University Advancement units – including communications, alumni engagement, annual giving, and donor relations – need to be in tune with each other to achieve harmony. That’s why we’ve developed a process to keep everyone rocking to the same beat. Enter the Theme Team — our all-star lineup of staff members from each unit, collaborating to lead quarterly content development around broad themes. With everyone working in sync, we amplify each unit’s input, creating a collaborative setlist that supports their unique goals while keeping the “content concert” going strong. Our session will walk you through the Theme Team’s formation and evolution, and how it creates a cohesive, high-impact strategy that lightens the load while reaching a broader audience. Attendees will leave with fresh ideas on how to rock their content game – and maybe even spark a little "communication revolution."

12.  Giving Vibes: Why People Give
Seneca Room

Holly Davis, Director, Council of Advancement & Support of Education (CASE)

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: In this session, we'll dive deep into the psychology behind donor motivations and the vibes that influence charitable giving. We’ll explore the differences in giving behaviors across generations and genders and examine recent trends in philanthropy. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of what drives individuals to donate and how these motivations can be harnessed to support fundraising efforts. Get ready to amp-up your knowledge and rock your fundraising strategies!
 

13. Vice Presidents Working Session
Conference Room A-B

Discipline: Leadership & Professional Development

Session Summary: A working session exclusively for VPs, foundation executive directors, or their designees.

14. Rock Star Rising: Mastering Your Role in Advancement
Conference Room C
 
Kerry Gotham, Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement, SUNY Cortland
Lisa English, Senior Associate Vice President – Operations, Rutgers University Foundation
 
Discipline: Leadership & Professional Development
 
Session Summary: Whether you're keeping the rhythm in advancement services, driving the beat in fundraising, or electrifying audiences in alumni engagement, every role plays a crucial part in an institution’s success. In this session, early-career professionals will learn how interdisciplinary collaboration can create a chart-topping experience in any size advancement shop. Join seasoned advancement "band members" as they share their best collaborative success stories and provide a blueprint for hitting all the right notes in your role. You'll walk away with strategies to fine-tune your skills, build dynamic partnerships, and set the stage for the next big step in your career. Get ready to make your next tour an instant classic!

15. Corporate Giving in Advancement-Strategies for Deeper Impact
Conference Room D

Adam Standish, Director of Giving, SUNY Brockport
Christyn Sanagursky, Director of Development, Monroe Community College

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: In today’s evolving philanthropic landscape, corporate giving is no longer just about writing checks. It’s about building strategic, mission-driven partnerships that create lasting impact. This session will dive into unique approaches to corporate philanthropy, exploring how institutions can cultivate meaningful relationships with corporate partners to drive mutual success. Join this opportunity to connect, learn and re-imagine corporate giving.

16. Beyond Crisis Comms: Takeaways from Trauma Research
Conference Room E

Michelle Ouellette, APR, Chair of Journalism and Public Relations, SUNY Plattsburgh

Discipline: Public, Media & Gov’t. Relations

Session Summary: We live in an era of crises, but do we truly understand the way people function under stress? Looking at current research on trauma and how it is stored in the body, this session will explore themes like the activation of the survival response, mental noise and how stress can reduce our ability to process information by 80% or more. We will discuss the impacts not just on the messages we craft, but also on the welfare of our teams and ourselves. We’ll also share some simple techniques to communicate impactfully during times of stress.

17.  Rocking the Strategy: How Events Amplify Advancement Goals
Cayuga Room

Nicole Tennant, Director for Advancement Events, Stony Brook University

Discipline: Alumni & Events

Session Summary: Join us for an exciting session that dives into the vital role events play in shaping the overall Advancement strategy. We'll explore how intentional event planning can elevate the entire constituent experience and why it’s essential for their success. The magic happens when all parts of Advancement work together, ensuring every event not only meets but exceeds its goals. Let’s make events more impactful, purposeful, and fun!

18. '24 Then and Now: How to Make Your Institutional History Come to Life
Seneca Room

Kevin Morgenstein Fuerst, Assistance Vice President, University of Vermont Foundation

Discipline: MarCom & Design

Session Summary: Just like every era of music tells the story of that time period, every institution has interesting stories to tell from its history – like this example from the University of Vermont. We found a dusty old scrapbook in our building’s basement from 1924 and spun it into a storytelling project (with a $0 budget) that traced important (and sometimes hilarious) themes over the last 100 years. We'll share how we planned the project. developed strategies for creating content, went about creating videos, and tied it to our alumni engagement and fundraising goals. If you want to break out of the same old communications strategies, then be like Bob Dylan and go electric at this session (hopefully with less booing).
 

19. Vice Presidents Working Session (continued)
Conference Room A-B

Discipline: Leadership & Professional Development

Session Summary: A working session exclusively for VPs, foundation executive directors, or their designees.

20. Louder! Refresh Your Brand and Turn It Up
Conference Room C
 
Hal Legg, Director of Public Relations and Event Management, SUNY Niagara
Zack Schneider, Founder, Agency 15
 
Discipline: MarCom & Design
 
Session Summary: When questions about Niagara County Community College’s image surfaced during planning for its 60th anniversary, the Public Relations office commissioned research seeking answers. What they found clarified the institutional identity based on strengths and drove the college’s most expansive promotional campaign ever, in the process fundamentally reshaping how the college approached marketing. This presentation is a case study detailing how a staff of four at a small campus collaborated with an external partner to define a new brand and implement it using modern tactics, contributing to an 18% increase in enrollment.

21. Leading and Working in an Intergenerational Team
Conference Room D

Lukas Perry, Associate Director of Digital Marketing and Web, Alfred State College
Caitlin Brown, Director of Communications and Outreach, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University

Discipline: Leadership & Professional Development

Session Summary: As the workforce continues to evolve and the higher education landscape shifts, professionals now collaborate across five distinct generations of employees, each bringing unique perspectives, work styles and expectations. This interactive session will explore some best practices for navigating and embracing generational diversity in the workplace. Through real-world scenarios and discussion, participants will gain insights into communication strategies, conflict resolution techniques, and leadership approaches that foster collaboration across different age groups. Whether you’re a manager looking to better understand younger team members or a new employee seeking to understand intergenerational dynamics, this round-table discussion will provide practical tools to enhance teamwork and workplace culture. Join us for a thoughtful conversation on bridging generational gaps and leveraging the strengths of an intergenerational workforce.

22. Enhancing Donor Experience Through Cadence-Based Fundraising: An Overview of Digital Connectivity 
Conference Room E

Emily Tucker, Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving 
Amy Harvey, Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving
University at Buffalo

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: Cadence-based outreach provides a powerful solution for enhancing donor engagement and stewardship. By combining digital tools with tailored personalized communication strategies, UB has been able to significantly expand its donor engagement, improve relationships, and increase fundraising outcomes. This approach, which is scalable and efficient, holds great promise for other institutions looking to build a pipeline to stronger, more engaged donors and ensure long-term philanthropic success.

23. Thanks a Billion! Celebrating impact and the Donor Experience
Cayuga Room

Katie Camm, Senior Director of Stewardship
Samantha General, Associate Director of Stewardship
University at Buffalo

Discipline: Advancement Services

Session Summary: Discover how UB celebrated its monumental $1 billion campaign by putting impact and donor experience in the forefront. This presentation will delve into the strategy behind the stewardship of the campaign close showcasing key events, impactful communications, and using what we already had to enhance the experience of our highest level donors and supporters across the university.

24. A Purposeful Approach to Cultivating Alumni Through Strategic Events
Seneca Room

Janet Rossbach, Director, Alumni Relations
Jennifer D'Andrea, Assistant Director, Alumni Relations
Lisa Sandick, Program Director, Special Events & Sponsorships
SUNY New Paltz

Discipline: Alumni & Events

Session Summary: Engaging and maintaining your alumni base is one of the largest and most rewarding challenges that alumni relations and advancement office teams face. What inspires alumni to return to campus for signature events or get involved to mentor students? When does cultivation begin and how can we convert current students and alumni into philanthropic donors at all levels? Three colleagues with over 50 years of collective alumni relations, event management and fundraising experience will share their visions and strategies for implementing purposeful institutional events such as the Women’s Leadership Summit, Forty Under 40, Reunion, the Distinguished Speaker Series, regional alumni events and more.
 

25. Beyond Generic Pillars: Crafting Donor-Centric Priorities That Transcend Traditional Campaign Themes
Conference Room A-B

Kathleen Heckman, Vice President for University Advancement, University at Buffalo
Joseph DiDomizio, Director of Digital Communications, University at Buffalo
Brian O’Leary, Senior Vice President, Graham-Pelton

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: Typical campaign priority building either starts "top-down," which inevitably alienates faculty and staff, or "bottom-up," which leads to a fragmented list of priorities. Discover how the University at Buffalo and Graham-Pelton found a "third way," by moving beyond overused tropes like "student support" and "faculty excellence". This session explores how we reimagined post-campaign positioning by replacing conventional pillars with interdisciplinary themes that resonated with modern donor passions. Drawing from UB's Ever Bold platform and insights from over 20 leadership visioning sessions, we'll demonstrate how to transform tired clichés into institutionally relevant, donor-aligned narratives; utilize cross-unit "grand challenges" to unify stakeholders and attract transformational gifts; and, apply behavioral insights from alumni surveys, donor interviews, and focus groups to align with donor passions.

26. The Business of Entertainment: Marketing Strategies from Venue Management & Hospitality Experts
Conference Room C
 
Chris Tuttle, General Manager
Heather Tuttle, Business Development & Hospitality Manager
CMAC (Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center)
 
Discipline: Alumni & Events / Public Relations
 
Session Summary: Join us for an engaging breakout session where industry leaders from the entertainment and hospitality sectors share their insights on marketing success. From booking talent and venue promotions to creating immersive hospitality experiences, this session will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how marketing, branding, and guest relations intersect in the live entertainment and hospitality industries. Whether you’re in event planning, tourism, or brand management, you’ll walk away with actionable tactics to elevate your marketing game. The speakers will discuss strategies for driving audience engagement, enhancing customer experiences, and leveraging partnerships to maximize revenue.

27. Duets: Private & Public Grants Management
Conference Room D

Christyn Sanagursky, Director of Development
Carolyn Hunt, Director of Strategic Resource Development & Grants
Monroe Community College

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: Collaboration is key when pursuing a variety of grant opportunities to support the mission of our institutions. In this presentation, Carolyn Hunt and Christyn Sanagursky will share how they work together to secure private and public funding for Monroe Community College's highest priorities and how those grants are managed post-award.

28. Creating Your Own Path
Conference Room E

Mike Andriatch, Vice President, Advancement & Communications
SUNY Brockport

Discipline: Leadership & Professional Development

Session Summary: Over 40 years of employment at SUNY Brockport, Mike Andriatch has gone from part-time sports information director to Vice President for Advancement & Communications. Hear about his career journey, and more importantly, pick his brain about opportunities in the fields of marketing, media relations, fundraising, alumni engagement and executive leadership. He’ll discuss how professionals can chart their own path... and share how that path can change in an instant.

29. Celebrating 75 Years: A Comprehensive Integrated Marketing & Communications Strategy
Cayuga Room

Kate Torok, Director of Marketing and Communications
Maherly Schaeffer, Assistant Director of Advancement Communications
St. John Fisher University

Discipline: MarCom & Design

Session Summary: St. John Fisher University celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023. The marketing and communications team developed a year-long integrated marketing and communications strategy that included a multifaceted approach. Learn more about the plan and how the team executed a robust mix of digital and traditional media campaigns, special events, and community engagement initiatives. Hear insights on how the team effectively coordinated efforts across various channels to enhance brand visibility, foster alumni and donor engagement, and highlight the University's rich history and impact. Attendees will gain valuable takeaways on strategic planning and execution. We will discuss the challenges we faced and the solutions we implemented to ensure the success of our initiatives. This session is a must-attend for marketing and communications professionals in the fundraising and development sectors, offering practical insights and inspiration for your own integrated campaigns that celebrate milestone moments in your organization.

30. Tiny But Mighty! Small Shop Fundraising and Alumni Engagement
Seneca Room

Angela Wambugu Cobb, Vice President for Advancement; Executive Director, College Foundation
Penny Chin, Director of Alumni Affairs
SUNY Old Westbury

Discipline: Alumni & Events

Session Summary: In this session the presenters will discuss the triumphs and challenges of managing fundraising and alumni engagement with a small team. A special emphasis will placed on infrastructure development, leveraging opportunities and engaging board members, retirees and alumni for success. 
 

31. Ten Ways to Get More Prospect Visits
Conference Room A-B

Brian Ibsen, Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, University at Buffalo

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: Visits are an important metric for fundraising success. This session will focus on 10 ways to get more of them. It will feature several development officers from UB sharing rich examples, including role plays where audience members pose as donors and fundraisers. Takeaways will include scripts for emails, social media posts, telephone calls and encounters that will lead to more successful attempts to schedule visits with prospects.

32. Storytelling for Impact: Elevating Engagement and Fundraising Through Authentic Narratives
Conference Room C
 
Kevin Flynn, FLCC Foundation Board Chair; retired partner of the Flynn Agency
 
Discipline: MarCom & Design
 
Session Summary: In a world saturated with content, effective storytelling is more important than ever, particularly in fundraising and alumni engagement. Seasoned communications expert Kevin Flynn will lead a dynamic and insightful session on the transformative power of storytelling. Having spent decades overseeing strategic communications and marketing campaigns for top-tier brands like Dick’s Sporting Goods and The Buffalo Bills, Kevin has seen firsthand the impact compelling narratives can have on audience engagement and response. As an avid adventurer and member of the Seven Summits Club, he brings a unique perspective to the table – one that blends professional expertise with personal experience, including his inspiring journey on Mount Everest. Kevin will share valuable insights into the art of storytelling, its role in creating authentic connections, and its potential to drive success in fundraising initiatives. Attendees will learn how to craft and present stories that resonate deeply with audiences and inspire them to act. He’ll also provide a case study from his pilot program at FLCC, where student stories are being captured through video to explore how they might outperform traditional fundraising appeals.

33. TBA 
Conference Room D
TBA

Discipline: TBA

Session Summary: TBA

34. No programmer? No problem! Unlocking Power BI for Fundraising Success
Conference Room E

Ben Wendrow, Director of Development, SUNY Oneonta

Discipline: Development & Fundraising / Advancement Services

Session Summary: This presentation will prove that you do not need to be a programmer or IT expert to harness the power of data and create visually appealing reports. Whether it's fundraising, engagement, marketing or any other type of data, Microsoft Power BI can be the answer to your data analytics and visualization woes. Best of all, you do not need to know how to write code, understand Python (whatever that is), or have a background as a software developer. Attendees will walk away with the tools and information they need to begin creating dynamic Power BI reports to inform internal decision-making or foster collaboration with campus colleagues while highlighting how the results of your work support institutional priorities in meaningful ways.

35. Lean on Me: Strategic Fundraising for a Campus Food Pantry & Clothing Closet
Cayuga Room

Cathy Abashian Williams, Executive Director
Lisa Schappert, Senior Director of Development & Alumni Relations
SUNY Broome

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: In 2017, the New York State Governor's "No Student Goes Hungry Initiative" mandated that all SUNY colleges and universities establish on-campus food pantries. The goal was to help students who experience food insecurity. This session will highlight the total transformation of SUNY Broome's once small and under-utilized food pantry into a vital campus resource center for our students. Presenters will share details on how the pantry evolved, the resources provided, how partnerships have formed, and the impressive student involvement in the staffing and supporting pantry operations. Presenters will also share concrete examples of how this project led to a six-figure gift and continues to provide sustainable funding opportunities.

36. Campus Residences Crisis Communications
Seneca Room

Margaret Wood-McGrath, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Antonia Berry, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Stony Brook University

Discipline: Public Relations / MarCom

Session Summary: Come and learn how Stony Brook’s Campus Residences Marketing and Communications effectively managed multiple crises, including housing overcapacity due to high enrollment and last-minute residence hall flooding. When the Housing Administration team strategically implemented a radius policy and relocated students, the Marketing and Communications team crafted clear, timely communications to mitigate panic and confusion. Key strategies included controlled information release, digital crisis response via web pages, and targeted messaging through email and social media. We will provide insights into proactive crisis planning, balancing transparency, and collaboration between housing administration and marketing teams to ensure student trust and institutional integrity.
 

37. Building a Sustainable Advancement Model: Ensuring Stability Through Leadership Transitions and Scalable Donor Programs
Conference Room A-B

Kim Nyoni, Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement & Campaign Co-Director, University at Buffalo
Jeff Grandy, Vice President, Catapult Fundraising

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: In the ever-changing landscape of higher education fundraising, maintaining stability and ensuring long-term success in advancement operations are critical. This presentation will address the challenges of staffing post-campaign, scaling up donor programs, and creating sustainable advancement teams prepared for leadership transitions. Whether transitioning Presidents, Vice Presidents of Advancement, or other senior staff, institutions need strategies to "future-proof" their development shops and maintain momentum.

38. Students Just Wanna Have Funds
Conference Room C
 
Katrina Culhane, Director of Annual Giving
Julianne Merz, Annual Giving Coordinator
Stony Brook University

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: Join us as we share insights from our Student Org Fundraising Pilot Program. Just as a rock band needs all its members to create a hit, this program brings together student organizations, Alumni Relations, Student Affairs and Advancement resources to achieve chart-topping fundraising. We'll explore the strategies we've used, from leveraging alumni affinity to utilizing digital platforms. Whether you're looking to boost engagement, streamline processes or cultivate new donors, this session will share practical tools and insights to enhance your fundraising calendar. You’ll walk away with ideas to apply these strategies on your own campus, engaging young alumni and cultivating new donors through innovative fundraising approaches as you amp up your fundraising and make student organizations the headliners they deserve to be!
 

39. The “Banned”
Conference Room D

Erin Boylan, Executive Director, Alumni Engagement, SUNY Cortland

Discipline: Alumni & Events

Session Summary: Do you have a campus group or organization that was disassociated from your campus on not-so-good terms? Are there members of your alumni community that were connected to the group decades before there were issues? Join this session to learn how SUNY Cortland navigated bringing back alumni from banned fraternities, from how the discussions started to hosting multiple reunions and fundraisers.

40. Building a Thriving Day of Giving
Conference Room E

Adam Standish, Director of Giving
Donnie Walters, Associate Director of Annual Giving
Molly Bojanek, Coordinator of Advancement Communications
SUNY Brockport

Discipline: Development & Fundraising

Session Summary: Whether you're thinking about starting a Day of Giving on your campus or looking for ideas to supercharge your current program, this session will share some of the structure, strategies and partnerships that have helped SUNY Brockport start and grow its program over the last three years. Adam, Donnie and Molly will discuss the key role that giving challenges play, the importance of partnerships with the Athletic Department and individual coaches, and the multichannel marketing strategy that has fueled this success.

41. Recruiting Gen Alpha: Do You Have a Winning Strategy?
Cayuga Room

Max Morgan, Author, End of Words; Principal, MHTN Strategies
Serena Tolar, Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives, MHTN Strategies

Discipline: Marketing & Communications

Session Summary: Higher ed is on the brink of its most disruptive era. Institutions that fail to evolve will struggle to attract students in a world where attention spans are measured in milliseconds and brand loyalty is built—or broken—before a prospect even clicks ‘Apply.’ Gen Alpha is coming: the most visually fluent, algorithm-trained and choice-saturated in history. This electrifying session will unveil the seismic shifts shaping enrollment marketing. It begins by exploring the radical transformation of Gen Alpha’s cognitive landscape—how their hyper-digital upbringing has rewired their brains, altered their decision-making and redefined what “engagement” even means. We’ll decode the science behind their visual-first instincts, breaking down how AI, short-form storytelling and immersive content experiences are redefining what captures (and holds) their attention. From there, we turn theory into action using real-world case studies, proprietary research and bold predictions to showcase the cutting-edge strategies institutions must adopt to stand out in an era of relentless digital noise. Learn how to craft recruitment campaigns that aren’t just seen but remembered, how to create messaging that transcends generations, and why your marketing strategy needs to look more like a TikTok algorithm than a traditional brochure. By the end, you’ll have a blueprint that speaks Gen Alpha’s language and converts their interest into action.

42. TBA
Seneca Room
TBA

Discipline: TBA

Session Summary: TBA