What happens when advancement communications is no longer a support function, but a central driver of alumni engagement? On this episode of Alumless, Lori Hurvitz, Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations at Tulane University, joins Ryan and Chris to explore what it means to align communications and engagement under one unified strategy.

Lori shares the thinking behind Tulane’s recent reorganization and how this shift is influencing everything from digital strategy to donor segmentation. The conversation explores the growing role of communications as a core engagement channel, how institutions can better capture alumni attention, and how this alignment supports campaign readiness for Tulane’s Only the Audacious campaign.

In the bonus segment, Lori reflects on how place, tradition, and storytelling shape engagement at Tulane, what she’s learned about what truly resonates with alumni, and how her team is thinking about channels like social media and print in a modern engagement strategy.

This episode of Alumless is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumnIQ, Givzey, and Richmond Associates.

In this episode of "Alumless Takes," Ryan Catherwood and Nick Kallail discuss the evolving role of regional engagement in alumni associations. They explore the effectiveness of formal versus informal volunteer-run organizations, with Nick emphasizing the importance of building flexible, community-driven networks that align with alumni interests. The conversation highlights the shift from traditional sports-focused events to diverse, service-oriented initiatives that foster meaningful connections among alumni. They also touch on the challenges and strategies of measuring success in alumni engagement and the impact of modern technology on traditional alumni activities.

This episode of Alumless is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey, with additional support from Richmond Associates.

What do alumni really think about their alma mater today, and what does that mean for the future of advancement?

On this super sized episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris sit down with Howard Heevner, Co-Founder of the The National Alumni Survey, Executive Director of Annual Programs at the University of California, Berkeley, and Vice President and Consultant with CMAC, to unpack insights from the 2026 National Alumni Survey. Howard explains why the survey was launched and what it reveals about the changing relationship between institutions and their alumni.

The conversation explores generational shifts in philanthropic behavior and why Howard believes trust has become the most important currency in alumni engagement. The conversation continues with a discussion of the sector’s toughest questions: what may be broken in the traditional annual giving pipeline and how advancement leaders may need to rethink qualification, messaging, and donor journeys in the years ahead.

This episode of Alumless is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey, with additional support from Richmond Associates.