University Development Staff Publishes Paper in the Journal of Education Advancement and Marketing Emily Pogue and Amanda Minix co-authored an article on engaging young alumni in leadership-level annual giving.

By Brian Laubscher
February 27, 2026

Washington and Lee University’s Emily Pogue, senior associate director of annual giving, and Amanda Minix, senior development writer, recently co-authored an article with Erin Stringer, W&L’s former director of reunion giving and current philanthropy officer with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

The article, titled “Inspiring Young Alumni Through Reunion Scholarships,” appeared in the spring edition of the Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing.

In the paper, the authors detail the creation and impact of the Young Alumni Reunion W&L Fund Scholarship program that the university developed in 2023 as part of its capital campaign, Leading Lives of Consequence.

The scholarship program addresses the challenges that many universities face when trying to engage young alumni, particularly those enjoying their fifth and 10th reunion milestones, in leadership-level annual giving. Recognizing that younger donors are motivated by authentic connections, visible impact and accessible entry points, the program tied multi-year reunion giving to student scholarships, creating named, class-based awards for each cohort.

As a result of this novel model in higher education, W&L exceeded expectations, with the classes of 2014 and 2019 raising over $230,000 in scholarship support that went on to fund four-year awards for seven incoming students. These scholarships were made possible through gifts to the W&L Fund financial aid designation, with both the W&L Fund and financial aid serving as top priorities within the Leading Lives of Consequence campaign.

In addition to tangible giving, the university also experienced increased alumni participation, strengthened stewardship and produced deeper alumni-student connections. This proved that W&L’s model offers a replicable approach for institutions seeking to align young alumni engagement with mission-driven fundraising and long-term donor pipeline growth.

Pogue joined W&L in 2023 as director of annual fund leadership gifts and was promoted to senior associate director of annual giving in 2025. She holds a bachelor’s degree in globalization studies from Gettysburg College and a master’s degree in religious studies from King’s College (U.K.).

Minix has worked at W&L since 2017. She began as development writer, before being promoted to senior development writer in 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Longwood University.

W&L publicly launched its $650 million comprehensive campaign, Leading Lives of Consequence, in 2024, representing the most ambitious fundraising effort in the university’s 275-year history. The campaign constitutes a powerful investment in Washington and Lee and in the students and faculty who contribute to and benefit from the university’s educational excellence. The funding priorities fall into five primary areas: Community, Curriculum, Citizenship, Campus and Continuity.

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