RAISE Podcast

52:12

215: Tara Jones, The University of Memphis.

RAISE Podcast ·

2026/09/25

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Tara Jones, senior vice president for advancement at the University of Memphis and president of the University of Memphis Foundation.Tara shares her journey in higher education fundraising, from getting her start at Auburn University to leading advancement at the University of Memphis. She reflects on the role philanthropy can play in helping universities meet the needs of their students, strengthen their communities, and create opportunities that

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37:57

214: Betsy Chapin Taylor, Accordant.

RAISE Podcast ·

2026/06/15

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Betsy Chapin Taylor, CEO of Accordant.Betsy shares her journey from aspiring journalist and healthcare professional to becoming one of the leading voices in healthcare philanthropy. She reflects on building fundraising programs across community hospitals and academic medical centers, launching Accordant, and helping healthcare leaders recognize philanthropy as a strategic source of revenue and impact.The conversation explores healthcare fundraising,

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46:02

213: Shanna Hocking, Hocking Leadership

RAISE Podcast ·

2026/05/29

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Shana Hocking, founder and CEO of Hocking Leadership.Shana shares her journey from discovering fundraising during her first month at Columbia University to building a career in higher education advancement at institutions like The University of Alabama, The Wharton School, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She reflects on being rejected from more than 100 jobs early in her career, developing innovative donor engagement programs like Wharton

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45:32

212: Sally Bryant, The Bryant Group

RAISE Podcast ·

2026/05/29

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Sally Bryant, CEO of Bryant Group.Sally shares her journey from growing up in a small farming community in Eastern Washington to discovering advancement work through a senior-year internship at Washington State University. She reflects on how that experience sparked a lifelong career in philanthropy, leading her into early development roles and ultimately becoming a chief advancement officer in her twenties at Marymount California University.She

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43:31

211: Luigi Amendola, Loyola University Chicago

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/11/24

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Luigi Amendola, Vice President for University Advancement at Loyola University Chicago.Luigi shares his story as a first generation American and first generation college student whose parents immigrated from southern Italy to Illinois by different routes. He talks about feeling out of place in high school, finding his voice and identity at Lewis University, and how living in a Christian Brothers residence hall with international students and eating

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38:13

210: Chip Edmonds, Lycoming College

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/11/24

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Chip Edmonds, president of Lycoming College and a longtime advancement and enrollment leader at his alma mater.Chip reflects on how a positive high school experience, a nudge from his soccer coach, and a visit to campus led him to Lycoming. He shares why he pursued a rare trio of majors in history, music, and business administration, and how living in multiple communities – the classroom, choir tours in Europe, and the athletic field – shaped his

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59:38

209: Eric Holderness, KSU Foundation

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/11/20

In this episode, Brent welcomes Eric Holderness, Senior Vice President of Development at the Kansas State University Foundation, whose path into advancement began when he was a student-athlete learning to thrive under pressure. Eric shares how competitive drive, curiosity, and early mentoring shaped his approach to major gifts and leadership.Eric walks through the building blocks of effective fundraising: qualification, listening, preparation, and being willing to “go there” when donors bring up

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50:07

208: Amanda Hopkins, University of Colorado Boulder

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/11/20

In this episode, Brent sits down with Amanda Hopkins, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development at the University of Colorado Boulder, whose journey begins far from the Rockies—on a family farm in Trinidad and Tobago. Amanda shares how early mornings, hard work, and a first-generation path into college shaped her belief in mentorship, access, and the transformative power of higher education.After attending Rollins College and later earning her law degree from the University of Florida, Amanda

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53:27

207: Matt Bethea, Sam Houston State University

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/11/20

In this episode, Brent sits down with Matt Bethea, Vice President for University Advancement at Sam Houston State University, whose path to fundraising started in an unexpected place: a Dallas metal band. Matt shares how dreams of becoming a fighter pilot and years on the road as a musician led him to sales—until a chance conversation at church introduced him to advancement work at the University of North Texas.Matt reflects on why the move from sales to fundraising felt surprisingly natural, why

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45:58

206: Karl Miller Lugo, The University of Texas at San...

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/11/11

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Karl Miller Lugo, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement at The University of Texas at San Antonio.Karl shares his journey from Puerto Rico to rural Kentucky, where he was a Breckenridge County High School Tiger, class president, and deeply involved student who later followed a family path to Western Kentucky University. There, an eighth-grade camp visit, multiple family connections, and a powerful student ambassador experience as a

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56:02

205: Bill Kavan, ASU Foundation

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/11/11

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Bill Kavan, Vice President of Engagement and Outreach at the Arizona State University Foundation.Bill traces his journey from a ten-year-old in Westhampton Beach, New York, pulling a lawnmower behind his bike, to an Arizona State University student looking for community on a campus where his first class was larger than his entire high school. He shares how a landscaping business, a father who would only cover “Converse money” for sneakers, and an

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41:36

204: Christina Pina, Miss Porter's School

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/11/11

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Christine Pena, Chief Advancement Officer at Miss Porter’s School.Christine shares how a childhood fascination with The Facts of Life led her from a small dinner table in West Falmouth on Cape Cod to a snowy visit at St. Paul’s School, where she instantly knew, “This is where I want to be.” As a heavily aided, first-generation student from a working-class, third-generation Cape Cod family and an African American girl crossing “the bridge to the rest

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58:07

203: Patrick Hewett, Endicott College.

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/07/25

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent welcomes Patrick Hewett, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Endicott College—and one of the first advancement professionals to give EverTrue feedback, way back in 2011.Patrick traces his path from Portsmouth Abbey School to Saint Anselm College, from a short-lived stint in insurance to his first advancement job developing a young alumni program for his alma mater. He shares how his time at Middlesex School and Boston University shaped his

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46:20

202: Peter Wilch, Loyola Marymount University

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/06/04

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent welcomes Peter Wilch, Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Loyola Marymount University.Peter shares his journey from growing up as the youngest of nine in Mount Vernon, Iowa, to finding purpose in higher education fundraising. As a first-generation college graduate, Peter reflects on the transformative experience he had at Cornell College and how it ignited his commitment to pay it forward through philanthropy.He walks us through his early

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50:22

201: Marie Schultz, The University of Texas at Arlington

RAISE Podcast ·

2025/05/20

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Marie Schultz, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Texas at Arlington.Marie reflects on her journey from a first-gen student in Riverside, California to leading a 70+ person advancement team in one of the country’s most dynamic public universities. She shares the moment a friend’s brother told her she was “UC material,” how a student job in the development office changed everything, and the 27-year run that

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56:11

200: Brian Hastings, University of Nebraska

RAISE Podcast ·

2024/12/18

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Richard P. Virgin, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of San Diego.Richard dives into the intricacies of leading advancement at a Catholic institution, sharing insights on how mission and identity shape fundraising strategies and donor engagement. Drawing on his tenure at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and other leadership roles, Richard reflects on building high-performing teams and the unique challenges of

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55:00

199: Richard P. Virgin, University of San Diego

RAISE Podcast ·

2024/12/10

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Richard P. Virgin, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of San Diego.Richard dives into the intricacies of leading advancement at a Catholic institution, sharing insights on how mission and identity shape fundraising strategies and donor engagement. Drawing on his tenure at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and other leadership roles, Richard reflects on building high-performing teams and the unique challenges of

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48:56

198: Ashley Budd, Cornell University

RAISE Podcast ·

2024/12/04

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent chats with Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University and co-author of Mailed It! Ashley shares her journey from student ambassador at RIT to leading digital marketing efforts in higher education, and offers insights on launching social media platforms and scaling strategies at Cornell.They discuss the importance of authenticity, empathy, and trust in email marketing, along with strategies for effective alumni engagement and stewardship

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51:31

197: Thomas Chaves, Albright College

RAISE Podcast ·

2024/11/06

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Thomas Chaves, Vice President for Advancement at Albright College. Thomas shares his journey in advancement, reflecting on his career in higher ed, Albright's approach to financial sustainability, and his passion for long-distance running.

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39:54

196: Michael Bor, The Endowment Project

RAISE Podcast ·

2024/10/15

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