On this episode of the RAISE podcast, Brent chats with Todd McCubbin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the Alumni Association at the University of Missouri. Check out this recap featuring our favorite takeaways from the episode, and then tune into the podcast.
Episode overview
On this episode of the podcast, Brent chats with Todd McCubbin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the Alumni Association at the University of Missouri. While much of advancement faces high turnover and talent pipeline problems, Todd’s career is an example of what’s possible when you set down roots at an institution that you love and believe in. In light of his Mizzou tenure and 26 years of alumni relations experience, Todd talks about how to recruit and retain talent amidst the “Great Resignation” and how leaders need to consider where staff members are at “socially and mentally” coming out of the pandemic.
This is a RAISE podcast episode that shows us what’s possible through determination and commitment. Back in the day, Todd and his few Alumni Relations counterparts across the country doubted whether AR would actually become a “thing.” Now, he oversees a team of 30 alumni relations professionals and the field employs thousands of folks across the world. Once upon a time, joining the Big 12 conference was a stretch for Mizzou, and now the Tigers have been in the SEC championships a few times over. Todd’s original career dreams was to be the next Jack Buck. And now with this star performance on the RAISE podcast, he may have just fulfilled his destiny…
Highlights from this episode
Todd started his college degree at Moberly Area Community College. Moberly helped to ease Todd’s transition from a small high school to a medium-sized college community, and allowed him to play (lots of) basketball while honing in on his course of study.
Working in athletics at a university can be really tough for a big sports fan like Todd. You’re often caught up in the hustle of ticket sales and miss out on the games and interactions with players. BUT working in athletics development, you get to actually enjoy the games alongside alumni and donors while cultivating relationships. It’s the best of both worlds.
Todd likes to look back at the alumni lifecycle of Mizzou’s biggest donors. Usually their donor journey started with early membership in the Mizzou Alumni Association after graduation and built year after year through events, sports games, and personal connections with alumni relations liaisons. Alumni engagement leads to alumni giving. Period.
Development and Alumni Relations teams are like a basketball team. You need trust, good passes, flexibility, and hustle up and down the court. And not everyone can be the shooter.
Livestreaming a homecoming game does not really count as an enjoyable “hybrid” event experience. And we also can’t expect alumni relations teams to double every event (live plus virtual) with the same amount of resources. What does “hybrid” really mean for alumni engagement opportunities? Live Q&A with head coaches, anyone?
Todd launched “MIZ Talks,” webinars and presentations available for free to all Mizzou friends and alumni. Rather than wait on a dean, coach, or other campus partner to commit to being the MIZ host, Todd stepped up to emcee MIZ Talks.
Keep the #JackBurnsVibes alive, Todd!
About Todd
Todd is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations and the Executive Director of the Mizzou Alumni Association. As the chief alumni relations officer, Todd leads the alumni relations, annual giving, donor relations and advancement marketing and communication teams. Todd joined the Mizzou Alumni Association staff in 1995 and recently celebrated 25 years at Mizzou. During his tenure, he has served on two advancement leadership teams who completed successful $1 billion campaigns.
Since 1999, the Mizzou Alumni Association has won 24 national programming awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Todd has served in numerous district and national roles for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) including the Commission on Alumni Relations. He is a longtime member and former board member for the Council of Alumni Association Executives.
A native of Harrisburg, Todd earned a Master’s in Education degree from Mizzou, a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Truman State University and an Associate’s degree from Moberly Area Community College.
Want to work with Todd? Mizzou is hiring! Connect with Todd on LinkedIn, or by email at mccubbint@missouri.edu.