In partnership with Givzey, Russell Sage College has launched a virtual engagement officer powered by artificial intelligence to help the college better support its work with alumni and donors.

The virtual engagement officer, named in honor of the college’s founder, Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage, will reach out to a pool of 1,000 alumnae/i to build increased connection with members of the college’s Advancement team. Olivia will encourage alumni to increase their involvement with the college, highlight new engagement opportunities, and learn more about the needs of alumnae/i so the college can build more meaningful personal connections in the future.

“Russell Sage will always center on the human touch, and this technology does not replace personalized engagement, but opens doors so we can build deeper relationships with our alumnae/i,” said Teri Gartland, vice president for advancement at Russell Sage. “By making early connections and gathering information about what alumnae/i are seeking, Olivia allows our team to devote more time to meeting with our thousands of alumnae/i and offer ways to connect with the aspects of Sage that matter most to them. It’s about maximizing the personal experience Sage is known for with a little help from technology on the front end.”

The virtual engagement officer is designed specifically for alumni and donor engagement and limits unnecessary computations common with broad AI systems, reducing the draw on environmental resources. The technology also allows the college to reduce its environmental impact in other ways, including mailers and travel.

The initiative leverages technology for social good and helps the Advancement team generate additional scholarship and other support for our students.

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