Cultivating Lifelong Connections: Innovative Strategies for Alumni Engagement

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Zoom

Event Details

Join us for a 60-minute webinar designed for independent school leaders seeking to enhance their alumni engagement efforts. This session brings together a panel of experienced school professionals who are at the forefront of alumni relations. Our panelists will share their knowledge, best practices, and innovative approaches to building and maintaining strong connections with alumni.

Topics covered will include:
• Leveraging technology to foster alumni networks
• Creating meaningful volunteer opportunities for alumni
• Developing effective communication strategies across generations
• Designing events that resonate with diverse alumni groups
• Integrating alumni into current student programs and mentorship initiatives

Participants will have the opportunity to engage with our panelists during a Q&A session, allowing for personalized insights and to address challenges faced by your school. Whether you're looking to revitalize an existing alumni program or build a new one from the ground up, this webinar will provide you with actionable strategies to strengthen your school community and cultivate lifelong connections with your graduates.

Speakers:

Rachael Gallagher
Annual Giving & Alumni Programs Coordinator, Montgomery Academy

A 2003 graduate of Montgomery Academy (MA)< Rachael joined the Academy staff in April 2013. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The University of Alabama earning her bachelor's degree magna cum laude in biology. Rachael's community involvement includes serving a board member for the Montgomery Area Zoological Society, Samaritan Counseling Center, Britton YMCA, and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts JEB. Rachael is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery's Torchbearer's Class VI.

A 2003 graduate of Montgomery Academy (MA), Rachael joined the Academy staff in April 2013. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The University of Alabama earning her bachelor's degree magna cum laude in biology. Rachael's community involvement includes serving as a board member for the Montgomery Area Zoological Society, Samaritan Counseling Center, Britton YMCA, and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts JEB. She is also active on the Jimmy Hitchcock Award committee and the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic committee. Rachael is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Torchbearer’s Class VI.

Julie Lucas
Chief Advancement Officer, Darlington School

Julie (’97) joined Darlington’s Advancement Office in 2007 and was named chief advancement officer in 2016. Previously, she has served as director of development, director of giving programs and campaign director for Darlington’s Second Century Campaign. Julie holds a B.A. in Communication from Loyola University New Orleans.

Caitlin Lopez Rogers
Alumni and Advancement Services Manager, The Altamont School

Caitlin Lopez Rogers is serves as the alumni and advancement services manager at Altamont, where she manages alumni programs and oversees database systems, supporting development and engagement efforts through data-informed strategy and relationship building. An active leader in the information literacy field, she has chaired the Youth Services and School Library Division of the Alabama Library Association and served on the Junior Board of The Literacy Council of Central Alabama. Caitlin is passionate about community connection and lifelong learning and is a graduate of the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama

Vicki Vincent
Director of Alumni Relations/Advancement, Darlington School

Vicki first joined the Advancement Office in 1995. Since then, she has held a variety of different roles including class agent officer and director of alumni relations. She and her husband, Jim, are the parents of Dottie (’07) and Abby (’09) and Jamie (’10).