The Alumni Engagement Summer Reading List ??

The students are gone, temperatures are on the rise, and Maycember is finally in the rear-view mirror. While many of us operate on year-round calendars these days, summer in higher ed still feels like a space for learning and reimagining and there is nothing I (Nicole here! ????) love more than getting into a giant stack of books to help trigger some of that blue sky thinking. I hereby present to you, dear readers, my first-ever summer reading list!

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Why? Post-Covid, many of us are rethinking in-person events. If we’re going to spend resources to bring people together, the gathering must have a crisp purpose and deepen connections between attendees. Whether your milieu is a 500-person event or a 10-person meeting, Parker’s book can help you inject creative energy and that all-important purpose into your gatherings. Want more? She also has an excellent TED Talk and a very nice website with lots of resources.?

Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath

Why? What makes certain ideas resonate while others fade away? Chip and Dan Heath wrote a whole book about how to make ideas “stick” and move your constituents to act on information you’re sharing with them. Want more? I highly recommend going down a Heath brothers rabbit hole and reading everything these guys have ever written. They know their stuff. They also have a ton of free resources on their website and Dan recently launched a “Made to Stick” video course which is available on Udemy.?

How to Know a Person by David Brooks

Why? Success in advancement relies on our ability to understand our constituents. And while I know David Brooks comes in for criticism sometimes, this book is a fantastic resource for those of us looking to level-up our people-reading skills. Bill Gates obviously agrees with me, as it landed a coveted spot on his summer reading list, too. Want more? You can watch videos from a recent author event with Brooks here.??

Who You Know by Julia Freeland Fischer

Why? Julia Freeland Fisher makes a compelling case for why investing in helping students build relationships can help improve social mobility and close the “opportunity gap” that many disadvantaged students face today. This book is focused on K-12 education, but so many of the lessons can be applied to the higher ed context. Want more? Freeland Fisher is director of the Christensen Institute, and they have tons more content on their website around this topic.

Mailed It! by Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds (available on August 25 from River Grove books)

Why? File this one under “super practical.” It’s not the sexiest topic in the world, but with most institutions still conducting much of their alumni and donor engagement via email, learning how to craft the best, most effective communications possible is vital. I recently had the pleasure of attending a webinar where Ashley shared a lot of the tips she writes about in the book and can assure you there’s a goldmine in there. Want more? Subscribe to Ashley’s substack.

How to Have a Good Day by Caroline Webb

Why? We’re all stretched too thin with too many priorities pulling us in too many different directions. Webb, a former McKinsey partner turned leadership consultant, brings a behavioral science lens to the workplace, and lays out, in very practical terms, how to be happier and more productive.? Want more? Webb’s website contains a wealth of resources and content.

What’s on your reading list this summer? That TBR list isn’t going to build itself. Hit me with your suggestions in the comments!

- Nicole

#summerreading #tbr

Nicole Kempton is a Senior Consultant with Chris Marshall Advancement Consulting.

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