How Much is Too Much? Learning to Say No
This session, led by an experienced executive coach, will explore how spouses and partners set and communicate reasonable boundaries around their availability as an asset to the college or university. The presenter and participants will share strategies for responding to the myriad requests they receive and demands placed on their time.
Donna Brazil, Presidential Spouse, Mount St. Mary’s University (MD)
Chair: Kathy Creed, Presidential Spouse, Campbell University
Maximizing the President-Spouse Partnership in Fundraising
Joint Session with Presidents
Fundraising is among the most important and daunting presidential tasks. It requires finesse, diplomacy, charm, patience, and persistence. This session will explore the unique way the president and spouse or partner can work strategically to enhance fundraising for the college or university. Drawing on their experiences, the presenters will share effective approaches to consider when planning for the participation of the president and spouse or partner as a fundraising team, from donor cultivation to the major ask.
Michael L. Frandsen, President, Wittenberg University
Sharon E. Frandsen, Presidential Spouse, Wittenberg University
Cindy Gnadinger, President, Carroll University (WI)
John D. Gnadinger, Presidential Spouse, Carroll University (WI)
Chair: Dana Lentini, Presidential Spouse, Molloy University
You’ve Got to Accentuate the Positive: Sharing Our Successes
This session will present success stories from presidential spouses and partners about programs, rituals, and initiatives that they have been involved with on their campuses. Presenters will discuss how these activities support their college or university mission, the practical aspects of planning and implementing the programs, what they learned in the process, and what they might do differently.
Carol Bruess, Presidential Spouse, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University; and Chair, Presidential Spouses and Partners Task Force
Denise McGregor Armbrister, Presidential Spouse, Johnson C. Smith University
Christopher Niles, Presidential Spouse, Cottey College
Chair: Mary Domes, Presidential Spouse, Neumann University