Allyson Bianchi
Summary
With two decades of growing success in educational enrollment management, marketing, communications, and alumni/donor relations, I excel in assessment, program development, and crafting and implementing marketing strategies and campaigns. Known for professionalism, tenacity, creativity, and delivering results, I've earned a reputation as a versatile leader across top-tier academic research institutions. My expertise in leveraging data to drive strategic decisions has consistently enhanced inquiries, yield, enrollment, and engagement across prestigious programs and institutions.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Associate Director of Alumni Engagement
Emory University
07.2022 - Current
- Strategically Developed and Led an Innovative Alumni Engagement Initiative: Spearheaded the creation and management of a groundbreaking alumni engagement portfolio focused on student support programming, introducing a series of unique volunteer opportunities aimed at connecting alumni with new students of Emory University. This initiative marked a pivotal step in enhancing the university's alumni interaction and integration.
- Established and Nurtured Strategic Partnerships Across University Departments: Acted as the principal liaison for the Emory Alumni Association with the Office of Undergraduate Admission, Campus Life, and eight colleges & schools within Emory. These collaborations were essential in orchestrating alumni admission volunteer programs, co-leading major events, streamlining processes, and bolstering the recruitment and cultivation of alumni volunteers, thereby amplifying the university's outreach capabilities.
- Drove Exceptional Growth in Alumni Engagement and Affinity: Through the leadership of signature volunteer programs, I successfully mobilized 1000 alumni in the first year of the portfolio, and am on track to elevate alumni engagement by 50% to 1500 participants in FY24. This achievement underscores a deepened sense of community and connection among the alumni network.
- Pioneered Comprehensive Onboarding and Training Strategies: Engineered and implemented comprehensive onboarding strategies to enhance engagement across the Emory community. This included the development and delivery of interactive webinars, departmental and board presentations, and the provision of marketing toolkits to both campus partners and alumni volunteers worldwide, ensuring a cohesive and informed volunteer base.
- Crafted and Executed Dynamic Marketing Strategies: Conceived and rolled out multifaceted marketing strategies to elevate the visibility of signature volunteer programs among both internal and external stakeholders on a global scale. These strategies have been pivotal in driving engagement, participation, and overall awareness of the university's commitment to community and alumni relations.
Associate Director of Alumni Engagement
Emory University
06.2021 - 07.2022
- Developed and Implemented a Holistic Engagement Approach for Laney Graduate School Alumni: Orchestrated an all-encompassing engagement plan catering to over 14,000 active alumni of the Laney Graduate School (LGS), focusing on fostering communication, volunteer service opportunities, networking events, professional development support, and encouraging philanthropic contributions.
- Strategically Managed Relationships with Key Alumni and Donors: Took charge of a significant portfolio consisting of distinguished alumni and donors, dedicating efforts to build and maintain substantial relationships, guiding the stewardship of their contributions to enhance future engagement and philanthropic endeavors.
- Oversaw Donor Relations for School-Specific Award Funds: Directed the donor relations operations for roughly 40 named award funds within the school. Responsibilities encompassed the acknowledgment of gifts, the recognition of donors, and the meticulous reporting and stewardship of these contributions, ensuring donors felt valued and informed of the impact of their support.
- Spearheaded the Emory Day of Giving Campaign for Laney: Led the strategic planning and execution of Laney’s participation in the Emory Day of Giving. This included developing a comprehensive communications strategy, recruiting and managing volunteers, and actively soliciting leadership gifts, thereby boosting the campaign’s success and fostering a culture of giving within the Laney community.
Associate Director of Admission & Marketing
Emory University
08.2017 - 02.2020
- Leveraged Data-Driven Strategies to Boost Enrollment: Employed comprehensive data analysis to devise and implement enrollment optimization strategies, successfully achieving a 41% increase in enrollment figures.
- Orchestrated and Executed Over 40 Email Marketing Campaigns Per Cycle: Expertly designed and managed a series of targeted email marketing campaigns, each addressing critical topics of interest to prospective students, enhancing engagement and interest.
- Utilized Scholarship Awards to Promote Diversity: Strategically managed the allocation of $300K in scholarship funds, utilizing these resources to significantly enhance the diversity of the student cohort through effective marketing strategies.
- Pioneered Engaging Outreach Initiatives: Spearheaded a range of outreach activities, including webinars, information sessions, and initiatives to engage alumni and faculty, contributing to a more dynamic and interactive recruitment process.
- Achieved Record-Breaking Yield Rate: Led the school to its highest ever yield rate of 66%, a testament to the effectiveness of the marketing and engagement strategies implemented.
- Innovated Lead Generation Tactics: Developed and implemented a suite of lead generation tools, including landing pages, Requests for Information (RFIs), and targeted paid advertising campaigns, which resulted in a 300% increase in inquiries within a single year.
- Comprehensive Management of Applicant Engagement: Oversaw all aspects of applicant interaction, from responding to initial queries and guiding prospective students through the application process, to reviewing applications and making final admission decisions, ensuring a seamless and supportive applicant experience.
Manager of Marketing & Recruitment
Georgia State University
10.2015 - 08.2017
- Directed a Team to Enhance Marketing and Recruitment Operations: Led a dedicated team of three staff members, focusing on the strategic administration of marketing and recruitment efforts to maximize outreach and engagement.
- Boosted Engagement Through Targeted Outreach Initiatives: Strategically deployed a series of outreach activities, including open houses, campus visits, and opportunities for class observation, culminating in a significant 19% increase in event participation.
- Optimized the Admissions Funnel for Increased Efficiency: Took charge of managing the entire admissions process, from initial prospect inquiries and interviews to the thorough review and processing of applications, successfully enhancing the overall yield by an impressive 21%.
- Fostered Community and Networking Among Executive MBA Graduates: Organized and coordinated a variety of networking events and social gatherings, specifically designed for alumni of the Robinson Executive MBA Program. These events spanned both regional and international locations, facilitating valuable connections and community building among graduates.
Program Director (Grant Funded)
Kennesaw State University
10.2011 - 10.2015
- Directed Operations for a Major Educational Grant: Managed the daily operational aspects of a $600K grant from the Goizueta Foundation, aimed at boosting student recruitment, retention, and graduation through an innovative, integrated service model.
- Strategically Enhanced Enrollment and Retention: Spearheaded the development and execution of targeted strategies to broaden the impact of a 7-year grant-funded program, setting and achieving ambitious enrollment and retention goals over an extended period.
- Forged Key Collaborations for Student Success: Partnered effectively with departments such as Admissions, Academic Advising, Student Life, and Career Services to craft and implement cohesive strategies. These efforts significantly improved enrollment and retention rates, enriching the academic and social experience for over 250 students.
- Elevated First-Year Retention Rates: Successfully increased the average first-year retention rate of cohort-enrolled students to 94%, achieving a remarkable 18% higher rate than the overall institutional average. This underscored the effectiveness of the strategies and operations managed.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
State University of NY At Oswego
Oswego, NYMaster of Arts - Higher Education Leadership
Argosy University
Atlanta, GACertificate - Marketing Strategy
Cornell University
Cornell, NYSkills
Staff development & leadership
Marketing communications
Recruitment & yield strategy
Volunteer management
Donor & alumni relations
Stewardship
Funnel optimization & lead generation
Budget management
Program & project assessment
CRM administration
Campaign life-cycle management
Timeline
Senior Associate Director of Alumni Engagement
Emory University
07.2022 - Current
Associate Director of Alumni Engagement
Emory University
06.2021 - 07.2022
Associate Director of Admission & Marketing
Emory University
08.2017 - 02.2020
Manager of Marketing & Recruitment
Georgia State University
10.2015 - 08.2017
Program Director (Grant Funded)
Kennesaw State University
10.2011 - 10.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
State University of NY At Oswego
Master of Arts - Higher Education Leadership
Argosy University
Certificate - Marketing Strategy
Cornell University