Building community through traditions with Elise Betz

For two decades, Penn Traditions has been shaping the way students at the University of Pennsylvania learn about philanthropy and discover what it means to be part of a community that lasts long after graduation.

On this week's episode of Alumless, Ryan and Chris sat down with Elise Betz, Senior Executive Director for Alumni Relations, to look back at how the program began and how it grew into one of the most influential engagement engines in higher education.

Elise reflects on the early days of convincing campus leaders that student philanthropy mattered, the moment she knew the program had become part of Penn’s identity, and the innovations that have kept it relevant over 20 years. She shares how Penn Traditions now shapes everything from New Student Orientation to university-wide collaborations, and how alumni support continues to expand its impact.

In the bonus segment, the conversation turns to Penn’s recent fundraising campaign for its Cultural Resource Centers and what the future holds for student engagement at Penn.

You can check out the virtual fitness class Elise mentions in her Friday cheers here (passcode *%b2u+if).

Season 4 of Alumless is presented by Protopia, AlumnIQ, and Givzey.