In this episode, Ryan interviews Pat Fligge, the Director of Alumni Career Engagement at Temple University. They discuss the current hot topics in alumni career services, focusing on the impact of AI and the challenging job market. Pat emphasizes the importance of adapting to AI as a tool to augment career coaching and the need for expanded alumni career services to help graduates navigate the evolving job landscape. They also explore the role of alumni in providing experiential learning opportunities and the strategic approach of Temple University in supporting alumni engagement programs.

Can an interim advancement leader make lasting change, or are they just keeping the lights on?

In this episode of Alumless, Chris sits down with Dale Wright, Interim Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Senior Vice President of the University of Illinois Foundation. Dale shares how his early work in student and alumni engagement shaped his approach to leadership, and what it really takes to step into the top advancement role on an interim basis while still managing his ongoing responsibilities.

On the show, they unpack how to set priorities when time is limited, why credibility and internal relationships matter more than titles, and how the advancement and alumni engagement structure at Illinois operates. Dale also offers practical advice for anyone preparing to step into an interim leadership role.

In the bonus segment, he reflects on receiving the 2025 CASE Frank L. Ashmore Distinguished Service Award, what modern engagement should look like, and which traditional approaches may no longer serve the work.

FYI - Ryan had some technical difficulties during the livestream, so Chris went solo and took point for the first portion of this episode!

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

This episode is made possible by our season sponsors Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey.

In this engaging conversation, Ryan interviews Kira Mudd, the Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Foundation. They discuss the evolution and significance of homecoming at URI, highlighting the innovative approaches taken to enhance alumni engagement and school spirit. Kira shares insights into the planning and execution of homecoming events, emphasizing the importance of creating memorable experiences that foster a sense of pride and connection among alumni. The discussion also touches on the strategic partnerships with athletics and the introduction of new traditions, such as the "Keeney Blueout" game, to strengthen alumni ties and celebrate the university's achievements.

Listen to full episodes of our podcast using your favorite podcast app.

Visit cmac.me to learn more about our firm.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors for making Alumless possible:

Protopia makes providing scalable volunteer engagement solutions simple. Their AI platform enables all of your alumni to support students and fellow graduates with advice and networking. Connect with their team by visiting protopia.co/alumless

AlumnIQ is the only all-in-one alumni engagement platform built exclusively for higher education. Connect with them to learn more about how they help institutions manage everyday events and email outreach, to online giving, directories, membership management, and seamless integrations.

Givzey is a simple-to-use platform that streamlines and scales multi-year giving and one-time gifts at every level to accelerate your fundraising team and improve the donor experience. Learn more at givzey.com