Director of Alumni Affairs

Position Summary: 

Fisk University is seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Alumni Affairs to lead efforts to connect alumni to the university and vice versa. The responsibilities are central to cultivating a lifelong sense of pride and engagement among Fisk alumni and strengthening relationships through meaningful communication, programming, and events. The Director will serve as the primary liaison between the university and its alumni community, ensuring that alumni remain informed, involved, and invested in the mission and future of Fisk University. 

The Director reports directly to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs and will eventually supervise direct reports within the sphere of the Alumni Office. This position sits on the Development and Alumni Affairs team. Evening and weekend work is occasionally required, especially around major events. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Alumni Relations & Engagement 

• Serve as the primary point of contact and advocate for Fisk alumni at the university. 

• Develop and implement strategies to increase alumni engagement, volunteerism, and philanthropy. 

• Foster relationships with alumni through personal outreach, digital communication, regional programming, and on-campus involvement. 

• Maintain regular and purposeful communication with alumni, highlighting university updates, achievements, and opportunities for involvement. 

Signature Event Leadership 

• Plan, manage, and execute all alumni aspects of Jubilee Day, Homecoming, and Reunion, serving as the university’s lead coordinator and primary contact for alumni-related activities during these events. 

• Collaborate with university departments, alumni groups, and external vendors to ensure successful execution of events with alumni at the forefront. 

• Evaluate event success and alumni participation to improve future experiences. 

Communication & Outreach 

• Oversee alumni communication strategy, including printed publications, newsletters, email campaigns, social media, and web content. 

• Develop targeted messaging to engage various alumni segments (by class year, geography, affinity group, etc.). 

• Ensure consistent and compelling storytelling that highlights alumni achievements and strengthens the Fisk alumni network. 

Collaboration & Stewardship 

• Work closely with the Office of Development to support alumni fundraising initiatives and donor stewardship. 

• Partner with academic and administrative departments to connect alumni with current students, faculty, and institutional priorities. 

• Provide support and strategy to the class agent program along with other alumni volunteers with leadership and logistical support as needed. 

• Work alongside the General Alumni Association of Fisk University board to serve and promote Fisk alumni  

• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required 

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in alumni relations, marketing/communications, advancement/development, event planning, or related fields. 

• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale events and working with various stakeholders. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build relationships and inspire engagement across constituencies.  

• Passion for HBCUs and a deep appreciation for Fisk University’s history, mission, and legacy. 

Preferred 

• Proficiency in CRM systems, email marketing platforms, and social media tools is a plus. 

• Experience with customer service 

• Strong preference given to Fisk University alumni  

Core Competencies: 

• Strategic thinking and innovative problem solving 

• Professionalism and discretion 

• Good judgement  

• Collaborative and service-oriented mindset 

• Initiative and follow-through on complex tasks 

Location Detail 

• The Director is required to work on campus five days a week – one day at the Richardson House location and four days in the office with the Development Department.