This is an excerpt from the original article by Kira Blankenship at NC State Alumni Association.

NC State Alumni’s volunteer network is powered by hundreds of alumni who give their time, talent and treasure to strengthen the Wolfpack community. With the Volunteer Leadership Conference, an event designed to connect, train and inspire alumni leaders from across the country, the committee is keeping that momentum moving forward. 

The conference is the product of a collaboration between the Volunteer Engagement Committee, which is comprised of members of the NC State Alumni board of directors, and NC State’s Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving team.

A Community of Communities

From the earliest planning stages, the committee played a hands-on role in shaping the conference experience. According to board member and ISE alum Patrick Murray, the group worked to ensure the event reflected a wide range of perspectives.

“We facilitated feedback from a dozen volunteer leaders representing both regional and affinity networks,” Murray explained. “That allowed us to build something that speaks to different experiences and needs.”

The committee also acted as a sounding board for programming ideas, helped refine the agenda and identified alumni who could serve as effective panelists and workshop facilitators.The result was a conference designed to both inform and actively engage attendees.

NC State Alumni’s volunteer network is powered by hundreds of alumni who give their time, talent and treasure to strengthen the Wolfpack community. With the Volunteer Leadership Conference, an event designed to connect, train and inspire alumni leaders from across the country, the committee is keeping that momentum moving forward. 

The conference is the product of a collaboration between the Volunteer Engagement Committee, which is comprised of members of the NC State Alumni board of directors, and NC State’s Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving team.

The Conference

The conference itself was structured to maximize both learning and connection. The schedule included breakout sessions focused on engagement measurements to make informed decisions, engaging different generations and social media. Saturday continued with additional sessions focused on idea exchange and troubleshooting techniques, increasing attendance and ideas to stretch a budget.

Holm hopes that these sessions were impactful and believes “there’s real value in hearing how other networks operate and learning what works. At the same time, those personal connections can also lead to long-term collaboration and friendship between alumni,” he said.

For Holm, effective leadership starts with inclusivity and strong relationships within volunteer organizations. “Inviting a diverse group of volunteers to serve on our committees is critical,” he noted. “And having a strong working relationship with alumni staff is just as important.”

Alumni learn from students, their goals, their challenges and how the world is changing.

Alumni all the way from Phoenix, Arizona, registered for the event, something Murray sees as deeply meaningful. “It shows they recognize the value of connection and community,” he said. “They’re investing their time because they believe in what this can become.”

Beyond the conference itself, the committee is focused on long-term strategies to enhance alumni engagement. One major initiative is the use of Amplify, a new volunteer management system designed to connect alumni with numerous opportunities across campus. The platform matches alumni interests with university needs, making it easier for alumni to get involved in ways that connect for them.

Another growing initiative is the Alumni Student Mentoring Program, which pairs students with alumni mentors. It has already shown promising results, with participants connecting both locally and virtually. “The program is a powerful way to give back,” Murray added. “Alumni learn from students, their goals, their challenges and how the world is changing.”

A Culture of Excellence

One of the Volunteer Engagement Committee’s core goals is to create a seamless transition from student life to alumni engagement. The committee is working to increase collaboration and awareness between student and alumni groups.

As Allison Hughes, director of volunteer engagement for the Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving team, shared, “The Volunteer Leadership Conference sets a new standard for how we prepare and support our alumni leaders. It’s about equipping volunteers with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to lead with confidence and create impact in their communities.”

At its core, the Volunteer Leadership Conference reflects the mission of the Volunteer Engagement Committee: to connect, support and elevate NC State’s volunteer community. By fostering collaboration, identifying new opportunities and empowering alumni leaders, the conference is poised to be a critical junction for both connection and camaraderie.