Matthew Manfra Named Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement

Matthew Manfra has been appointed assistant vice president for alumni engagement at Syracuse University. The appointment, effective Jan. 6, was made by executive vice president of advancement and external affairs Thomas J. Walsh and vice president for development Brian Sischo.

Matthew Manfra

Manfra most recently served as assistant vice president for alumni relations at the University of Northern Colorado, where he provided executive leadership to the UNC Alumni Association Board of Directors and created pathways for UNC’s 125,000 alumni to participate in campus initiatives. At UNC, he created the Young Alumni Council and developed a strategy for regional and affinity alumni chapters. He also expanded the benefits and services for alumni and increased social media engagement six fold.

Prior to joining UNC, Manfra served as director of outreach programs and director of regional clubs at Rutgers University, where he increased the number of regional alumni clubs by 40 percent. Manfra also defined rules, regulations and best practices for regional clubs and created a successful event model to ensure brand consistency and messaging continuity across Rutgers clubs in the United States and the world.

“With 240,000 Orange alumni throughout the country and the world, it’s imperative that we continue to find new ways to engage them,” Walsh says. “In this reimagined role, Matt will create and implement strategies to advance participation, volunteerism and philanthropy among alumni and the current student body. He’s already thinking about new ideas and models for meaningful engagement that mirror the great affinity our alumni have for their alma mater.”

Sischo adds, “We are very excited that Matt has joined our team. He brings a depth of experience in alumni relations at major universities that positions him well for success in leading SU’s alumni relations and annual giving programs.”

Manfra believes Syracuse University boasts an extremely strong alumni body composed of caring, passionate graduates. “I am thrilled to be associated with such a distinguished group and look forward to partnering with Syracuse University Alumni Association president Laurie Taishoff and our national alumni board in creating dynamic ways to engage our graduates,” he says.

Manfra, a native of Point Pleasant, N.J., received a B.A. in political science from the College of New Jersey. He will settle in the greater Syracuse area.