EPISODE · Feb 4, 2026 · 35 MIN
What Keeps Alumni Coming Back
from Radical Cooperation · host Radical Cooperation
Alumni relationships are often treated as transactional, a newsletter, a donation ask, a quiet fade after graduation. But as higher education faces enrollment pressure, rising costs, and shifting expectations, the deeper question is how institutions build alumni relationships that are genuinely sustaining and long-term. In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Ellen Helms, Jana Johnston, and Saajan Bhakta about what meaningful alumni connection actually looks like over time. Drawing from their experiences as trustees, researchers, faculty leaders, and practitioners, they explore why personal outreach matters more than mass communication, how institutions without traditional campuses or sports can reimagine “homecoming,” and why trust and belonging must be cultivated well before students graduate.In this episode:Why personalized alumni engagement outperforms generic outreachHow institutions can redefine “homecoming” beyond sports and campusesThe long-term value of alumni relationships for students and institutionsWays alumni can support students through mentorship, access, and advocacyWhy trust and belonging must begin during the student experience
What this episode covers
Alumni relationships are often treated as transactional, a newsletter, a donation ask, a quiet fade after graduation. But as higher education faces enrollment pressure, rising costs, and shifting expectations, the deeper question is how institutions build alumni relationships that are genuinely sustaining and long-term. In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Ellen Helms, Jana Johnston, and Saajan Bhakta about what meaningful alumni connection actually looks like over time. Drawing from their experiences as trustees, researchers, faculty leaders, and practitioners, they explore why personal outreach matters more than mass communication, how institutions without traditional campuses or sports can reimagine “homecoming,” and why trust and belonging must be cultivated well before students graduate.In this episode:Why personalized alumni engagement outperforms generic outreachHow institutions can redefine “homecoming” beyond sports and campusesThe long-term value of alumni relationships for students and institutionsWays alumni can support students through mentorship, access, and advocacyWhy trust and belonging must begin during the student experience
NOW PLAYING
What Keeps Alumni Coming Back
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.