Post-Conference Session
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm AST
AACP CEO Dean/Development Officer Fundraising Development Program
The Fundraising Trifecta: Data, Strategy, and Development Storytelling for Impactful Advancement
Fee: $199 for CEO Dean ONLY from a school; $199 for Development Officer/Staff ONLY from a school; $99 for CEO Dean with Development Officer/Staff; and $99 for Development Officer/Staff with CEO Dean. Pre-registration required; registration includes program workbook, beverage break, and healthy snack break.
Program Purpose
The Fundraising Development Program for CEO Deans and Development Officers/Staff at colleges and schools of pharmacy is designed to enhance the effectiveness of fundraising efforts by equipping participants with the knowledge, strategies, and tools needed to secure philanthropic support. This program will provide tools and resources to foster collaboration between CEO Deans and development leaders, leverage data-driven approaches to expand funding opportunities, and strengthen donor engagement and stewardship. By aligning fundraising efforts with institutional and college/school priorities and enhancing development storytelling, participants will be empowered to cultivate sustainable financial resources that advance pharmacy education, research, and innovation. Each participant will be provided with a workbook with all of the session presentations, resources, and other references germane to the topics presented.
Program Audience
This program is designed for CEO Deans at colleges and schools of pharmacy, Deans who have direct responsibility for an aspect of Development (e.g., Fundraising, Philanthropy, Alumni Affairs) at colleges and schools of pharmacy, and Development Officers and/or Development Staff affiliated with colleges and schools of pharmacy.
8:00 am - 8:15 am
Welcome and Program Overview
Speaker: AACP Council of Deans (COD) Administrative Board Member
Speaker: Jen Adams, Pharm.D., Ed.D., AACP Council of Deans Chair, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, Idaho State University L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy
8:15 am to 9:30 am
Session 1: Creating a Modernized Fundraising Program
1.25 contact hours (0.125 CEUs)
Session Overview: This session will explore how data-driven insights and leadership alignment can inform the development of annual and multi-year philanthropic strategies that advance institutional priorities.
Session Objective: At the end of this session, the participant will be able to develop a framework for integrating data-driven insights and aligning leadership on annual and multi-year philanthropic strategies that advance institutional priorities.
Speaker: Antonio (Tony) Burns, MB, Chief Development Officer, The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Speaker: Pamela (Pam) Heaton, Ph.D., BSPharm, FAPhA, Dean and Professor, The University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
9:30 am to 9:45 am
Break
9:45 am to 11:00 am
Session 2: Effective Management of Your Fundraising Program
1.0 contact hours (0.1 CEUs)
Session Overview: This session will explore strategies and data management practices that strengthen collaboration, communication, and alignment across centralized and decentralized fundraising structures to enhance donor relationships, reduce duplication, and advance unified institutional goals. This session includes a breakout session by Development Structure Type (Centralized Development Structure and Decentralized Development Structure).
Session Objective: At the end of this session, the participant will be able to analyze current fundraising team communication channels and create a plan to improve transparency and information flow.
Speaker: Renae Chesnut, R.Ph., Ed.D., Dean Emerita, Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Speaker: Brynn Huysman, Senior Director of Development, Principal Gifts and Corporate & Foundation Relations, The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
11:00 am to 11:45 am
Session 3: Development Storytelling in Today’s Higher Education Environment
0.75 contact hours (0.075 CEUs)
Session Overview: This session will explore how to design and implement strategic, donor-centered storytelling plans that align with their college’s priorities, craft narratives adaptable across multiple communication channels, and apply practical tools to strengthen long-term engagement and fundraising impact.
Session Objective: At the end of this session, the participant will be able to outline a clear action plan for integrating new storytelling techniques into upcoming fundraising campaigns to enhance donor engagement.
Speaker: Andrew Gauss, Director of Development & Alumni Engagement, Idaho State University L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy
Speaker: Dana Strachan, Pharm.D., BCPS, Dean and Professor, Palm Beach Atlantic University Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy
Speaker: Ellen Woods, President, American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE)
11:45 am to 12:15 pm
Healthy Snack Break
12:15 pm to 1:00 pm
Session 4: Putting It All Together for Your Effective Fundraising Program
No Continuing Education (CE) contact hours
Session Overview: This session will have a few CEO Deans share real-world examples of how they have integrated data, collaboration, and storytelling to build more effective and aligned fundraising programs. Through their experiences, participants will see how the key elements discussed throughout the program—strategic data use, cross-unit coordination, and impactful storytelling—can be combined to create cohesive, sustainable, and donor-centered fundraising strategies that advance institutional goals.
Session Moderator: Jeffrey (Jeff) Mercer, Pharm.D., BCPS, Dean and Associate Professor, Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Speaker: Jeffrey A. Bates, PharmD, BS Pharm, FMPA, Dean and Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Cedarville University School of Pharmacy
Speaker: Kerry LaPlante, Pharm.D., FCCP, FIDSA, FIDP, Dean and Professor of Pharmacy, The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
Speaker: Glen T. Schumock, Pharm.D., MBA, Ph.D., Dean and Professor, Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago, Herbert M. and Carol H. Retzky College of Pharmacy
