Alumni Engagement: Navigating the Changing Landscape with Chris Marshall
Sarah is joined by Chris Marshall on this episode of Alumni Podcasts. Chris is an alumni engagement expert and founder of Chris Marshall Advancement Consulting. Chris shares the best practices and strategies he has found to be effective in cultivating strong and engaged alumni communities over his many years of experience. He also talks the changing landscape of alumni relations post COVID, key engagement metrics, innovating alumni relations in the digital age with AI, and his work with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Team Alumni Association as we lead up to the 2028 Olympic Games in LA.
Creators and Guests
Host
Sarah Hillel
Hi, I’m Sarah, and I’m very grateful to be doing something I truly love: helping schools, universities, nonprofits, and businesses build better-connected communities through the power of podcasts. I lead a talented team creating compelling podcast series that bring alumni stories to life — strengthening engagement, deepening connection, and turning institutional pride into authentic storytelling. We work globally with educational institutions and mission-driven organizations to celebrate their people and purpose in new, creative ways. Before launching Alumni Podcasts, I spent 5 years organizing alumni relations conferences around the world, learning firsthand the challenges alumni professionals face in connecting generations, fostering engagement, and showcasing impact. I also spent over a decade leading large-scale events for the tech, education, and medical sectors with 1,000-person conferences that turned complex ideas into immersive experiences. Before that I owned and operated a marine research vessel for 10 years, and as a scuba instructor, I led dive teams exploring shipwrecks and diving with sharks in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Every chapter has taught me something about storytelling, collaboration, and community, and that’s exactly what drives the work we do today at Alumni Podcasts. Curious how a podcast could turn your alumni stories into your most powerful engagement tool? Let’s have a quick chat
Guest
Chris Marshall
Senior higher education advancement professional with 24 years of fundraising and alumni engagement experience. Twelve years of experience working with university leadership at two top ranked national research universities – Lehigh University and Cornell University. Five years of experience serving as an alumni engagement consultant for over 100 clients at one of the top alumni engagement and philanthropic consulting practices in the United States - Grenzebach Glier and Associates (GG+A). Possess strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills. Highly successful in engaging the buy-in and support of key stakeholders in executing new initiatives. Strategic planner, creative thinker, consensus builder with a strong work ethic. Proven success in building and leading large teams in complex organizations.
