CSUSB’s Division of University Advancement will present at the 2024 CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) District VII and VIII Annual Conference in Anaheim March 3-5. Four members of University Advancement were invited to share their expertise and give two presentations, which will focus on building an advancement team and social media.

This year’s CASE conference will feature dynamic speakers and workshops covering a variety of topics, including advancement services, alumni relations, development, communications and marketing.

“I am proud to have the University Advancement team represent Cal State San Bernardino at the annual CASE Conference and showcase the great work being done in the division,” said Robert Nava, vice president for University Advancement and executive director for the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation. “The presentations are a testament to the innovative practices and collaborative spirit at CSUSB.”

Tania Pantoja, chief of staff, University Advancement, and Robert Tenczar, associate vice president of Strategic Communication, will share recruitment and engagement strategies, lessons learned and successes during their presentation, “Building An Advancement Team: All You Need Is A Little Bit Of Magic.”

In August 2022, Cal State San Bernardino invested in its advancement team by creating a position dedicated to professional and leadership development, hiring new employees, and promoting from within.

With support from leadership and campus partners, Cal State San Bernardino has created a dedicated and successful advancement team that is fostered in an environment of collaboration and innovation. Attendees will be provided the tools and resources to do the same.

The presentation will include an overview of the strategic plan implemented to strengthen professional and leadership development at CSUSB. Following a brief question and answer period, Pantoja and Tenczar will assign the audience to groups and challenge each group to come up with two to three strategies for improving the recruitment, onboarding and/or retention of advancement team members. Each group will have the opportunity to share their ideas during the session, allowing participants to learn from their peers.

Jessica Vierra, digital marketing specialist, and Elizabeth Ferreira, interim associate director of digital brand strategy, will share social media strategies and best practices during their presentation, “From Clicks to Community: The Power of CSUSB’s Social Media Story.”

As members of a small, dedicated team of social media professionals in the Office of Strategic Communication, Ferreira and Vierra have created a captivating online presence that has set CSUSB apart from other universities. They discovered that Cal State San Bernardino’s strength lies in authenticity and have used that to attract social media followers who are looking for real connections and meaningful experiences.

As they navigated the ever-changing world of social media, Ferreira and Vierra uncovered a wide variety of best practices tailored to each platform. The team monitors social media analytics and conducts research to learn from their successes and missteps. These practices have allowed Ferrira and Vierra to stay ahead of the evolving social media landscape.

Their presentation will teach attendees how to implement these strategies and practices at their higher education institutions. With the help of Ferreira and Vierra, attendees will be able to achieve a successful, authentic and interactive social media presence.

About the Council for Advancement and Support of Education
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a global nonprofit association dedicated to educational advancement professionals in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and advancement services. CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with its constituencies, such as alumni, donors, prospective students and parents.