AI in Advancement Services: a four-part series

Part 1: The ABCs of AI - a Guide for Beginners

In the first of our four-part series, we will help you get up to speed on the topic of AI. Our panel will address the following questions (and provide insights on):

1. What is AI (Artificial Intelligence)?

2. What types of AI are there and what are their common uses?

3. What does AI do well and what does it not do well?

Learning Objectives

Provide an introduction to AI for anyone new to the topic (or needs a refresher)

Moderator: Chris Amherst, Director of Data Management, The University of Chicago Alumni Relations & Development

A thought leader on data within higher education advancement and its power to drive insights and tell impactful stories, Chris Amherst has contributed to his respective fields through articles on Master Data Management, webinars on data culture, and a practice paper on the impact of technical debt on innovation and leadership within our teams.  In 2023, he was recognized by Almabase as one of “50 under 50” in advancement. Currently serving as the director of a team handling data strategy, management, and governance at the University of Chicago, Chris is a member of DAMA, EDUCAUSE, has served in volunteer roles at CASE and AASP, and presented at numerous conferences, locally and nationally.

Speakers

Mark Koenig, Vice President, Technology, and Chief Innovation Officer, Oregon State University Foundation

Mark Koenig is the vice president for technology and chief innovation officer for the OSU Foundation. In this role, he serves as the Foundation’s technology strategist, including oversight of relationship insights, pipeline development, analytics, data and CRM operations, and technology services. Mr. Koenig is the past chair of the Ellucian Advancement Executive Advisory Committee and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VIII. In 2019, he received the Distinguished Service Award from CASE District VIII recognizing his many years of service to the organization and in 2018, he received the Ellucian ‘EllumiNation’ Community Award recognizing his dedication to infusing innovation throughout the advancement profession. Mr. Koenig earned his bachelor’s in history and economics from the University of Houston and a master's in adult education and organizational capacity from OSU.

Jessica Roberts, Vice President, Data Analytics, CCS Fundraising

Jessica joined CCS Fundraising in 2015 and has 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising management and consulting.  Jessica currently serves as the Vice President of Data Analytics. Jessica has a wealth of experience in nonprofit fundraising management and consulting, having worked with over 1,000 clients worldwide since joining CCS Fundraising in 2015. She began her career as a student caller and manager at Binghamton University and has since held leadership roles in Annual and Major Giving, Donor Relations, Event Planning, and Data Analytics. She holds an M.S. in Nonprofit & Fundraising Management from Columbia University and a B.S. in Management from Binghamton University, with concentrations in Marketing and Consulting & Organizational Leadership.

Dr. Rodger Devine, AVP Advancement Operations, Pomona College

Dr. Devine brings over 20 years of experience in enterprise information technology, business intelligence, organizational development, and cross-functional leadership. Rodger completed his graduate studies in information science at the University of Michigan School of Information, where he was a member of the Michigan Data Sciences team and co-founder of the Student Organization for Data Analytics. Rodger completed his doctoral research in Organizational Change and Leadership at the USC Rossier School of Education with a focus on technological change, workforce development, and organizational learning. Rodger co-authored Hands-On Deep Learning with R: A practical guide to designing, building, and improving neural network models using R (2020) and Data Science for Fundraising: Build Data-Driven Solutions Using R (2018). Rodger presents at conferences, chairs symposia, designs workshops, and volunteers in various leadership roles and mentorship capacities with non-profit organizations such as the Apra, AASP, and CASE, among others. Rodger looks forward to connecting with other lifelong learners and building diverse and inclusive communities of professional development, expertise, and knowledge sharing across higher education and beyond.

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