Scott Rembold , vice president, University advancement, and Kyra Lyons , assistant vice president, alumni relations and University advancement, are quoted in a CASE Currents article on engaging with alumni through pop culture and current events. See below.
From: CASE Currents Date: March 2016 Author: Dena Levitz
... Holy Exposure! In fall 2015, when Pope Francis celebrated his first public Mass in the United States, 30,000 people gathered outside the basilica adjacent to The Catholic University of America-a record event attendance for the Washington, D.C., institution.
With only the entire world watching (no pressure, right?), the university's advancement team wanted to spotlight the institution and make sure that alumni, faculty, and staff were energized by this honor, says Scott Rembold, vice president for university advancement.
Staff from all departments worked around the clock for months to prepare for the occasion, organizing special events and revving up excitement through digital channels. Campus Ministries launched an effort called "Walk with Francis" that planned service activities and study groups based on Pope Francis' teachings. An added stress? Raising funds to cover the costs of hosting the historic event, which Rembold says each Catholic agency involved in the visit did as well.
Then there was a critical question: How would Catholic University distribute the 1,400 tickets it was allotted for the Mass? The Vatican confirmed that the university was a tour stop only five months before the Pope's visit.
Kyra Lyons used this uncertainty to her advantage. The assistant vice president for alumni relations and university advancement called on alumni to update their contact information so that they could get the inside scoop on tickets and participate in a random drawing. Nearly 3,000 alumni responded. ...