Alumni Relations
Department lead: Elizabeth Bass (M.S.W.’03), associate vice president, Alumni Relations
Alumni Relations leads the university’s efforts to strengthen and promote an invested alumni community and inspire lifelong loyalty that advances VCU. The team tracks alumni engagement in four key delivery areas, aligning with CASE’s national standards: awareness/outreach, activity, volunteerism and philanthropy.
All alumni of VCU, the Medical College of Virginia and Richmond Professional Institute are members for life of VCU Alumni at no cost. Alumni engagement is achieved, in part, by the delivery of staff-driven programming and a volunteer-centric constituent organization model composed of academic, geographic, identity-based and shared-interest networks. Additional programming focused on lifelong learning and career and professional development provides further avenues for in-person and virtual engagement.
Programming is directed at the entire alumni population, connecting with alumni at all life stages, including the student to alumni transition. With staff focused on programmatic and needs assessment, Alumni Relations continually expands its reach to alumni and engages them in the way that makes the most sense for them individually. The team also offers an array of benefits to all alumni, such as discounts on goods and services, in coordination with internal and external affinity partners.
Teams in Alumni Relations
Team lead: Amy Gray Beck, Ph.D. (Ph.D.’19), executive director, Affinity Engagement and Philanthropy
- Affinity Engagement and Philanthropy jointly reports to Alumni Engagement and Primary Giving.
How does this team fulfill the DAR mission?
- AEP Mission: “Creates deep and meaningful engagement and volunteer opportunities to foster belonging among VCU communities, while connecting them with philanthropic opportunities, individual and collective, to transform lives.”
- AEP Purpose: Drives affinity-led philanthropy practices throughout DAR, to help modernize giving at VCU by offering new, additive avenues to support the institution Specifically, AEP’s contributions extend DAR’s core values to “champion inclusivity” and “demonstrate tenacity,” by providing collective means to change how constituents see themselves as VCU supporters.
What does this team do?
- Combines data, feedback from alumni and donors, and national research to inform modern stewardship practices.
- Supports and manages volunteer-led advisory organizations (e.g. VCU’s Women’s Impact Network)
- Provides training and resources on affinity-based alumni engagement and philanthropy best practices.
- Serves as DAR’s internal Appreciative Inquiry practitioners, offering guidance on strategically crafted community-driven work (e.g. focus groups, listening session, learning opportunities).
When should you contact this team?
- If you need assistance developing constituency-based programs or scholarships, or want guidance on implementing the Appreciative Inquiry methodological process.
- If you think you have a constituent interested in joining the VCU Black Alumni Council, VCU Military Veterans Alumni Association, Rams For Pride, the VCU Family Leadership Circle, or the VCU Women’s Impact Network
- If you have affinity engagement or philanthropy best practices to share.
Team lead: Ashley Burton, (M.S.’23) executive director, DAR Signature Events
- DAR Signature Events jointly reports to Alumni Engagement and Strategic Marketing and Engagement.
How does this team fulfill the DAR mission?
- Using constituent data and industry best practices, this team creates and implements strategic, meaningful in-person and virtual experiences for VCU constituencies that result in increased engagement and giving and foster an ongoing culture of philanthropy.
- Reports jointly to the AVP, Strategic Marketing and Engagement, and the AVP, Alumni Relations.
What does this team do?
- Sets a strategic vision and oversees, plans and measures events, including reunions, homecoming, alumni recognition programs, universitywide stewardship events and more.
- Produces events that showcase the achievements of alumni, donors, students, patients and employees; elevate the university’s national and international prominence; and inspire engagement and giving.
When should you contact this team?
- If you need advice, vision or assistance for major universitywide events or recognition programs.
- If you need assistance planning reunion, alumni award, investiture or scholarship events.