Chelsey Morrison
Harvey Mudd College
Associate Director of Advancement Services
Why would you encourage someone in advancement services to become an aasp member?
Just do it!
It is an affordable resource that every person in your department can benefit from. When I have changed jobs and institutions, one of my first requests is for an aasp membership. Even if you cannot attend Summit, the aasp community has so much to offer year-round, from the Knowledge Base Library to the podcasts to the connections with people who truly understand the work.
What project or accomplishment are you especially proud of from the past year?
It’s actually a project that my team is currently working on. Over the past few years, our Advancement Services team has adopted a 'Help us help you' mindset. This approach has encouraged us to practice better self-advocacy and focus on strengthening our own internal operations, rather than always putting immediate service to others first. Right now, we are developing a five-year strategic plan for our department.
We kicked this off by getting the entire Ad Serv team into a room to brainstorm every neglected task, wish-list item, and project that could improve our data and operations. We then voted on them and laid out a comprehensive roadmap where each year has a specific organizational theme. This process did something incredible: it gave everyone, from coordinator to director, a deep sense of ownership and autonomy, and it helped us see how our data truly transforms the work of the entire institution.
We have over 50 projects on the horizon, and while it's a bit overwhelming and we know it won't happen overnight, the energy is amazing. I honestly never thought I’d see the day when I was energized by the prospect of cleaning up thousands of records or implementing a whole new Fund Management system, but here I am - excited for five years of meaningful work ahead!
If you could give one piece of advice to someone new to advancement services, what would it be?
Learn the why behind the work, not just the process.
So much of Advancement Services work is built around specific processes. It’s easy to get buried in spreadsheets, systems, policies, gift entry, reporting, and deadlines. But at the core of all of it is supporting relationships and philanthropy. When you understand how your work impacts the bigger picture, including fundraisers, donors, students, and the institution as a whole, you become far more strategic and a stronger team player.
Also, never underestimate the power of curiosity. The people who thrive in Advancement Services are the ones who ask questions, connect dots, and genuinely want to understand how everything works together.
What’s the best professional lesson you’ve learned from a colleague, mentor, or team member?
One of the best professional lessons I’ve learned is to pause and take a breath. When you move too quickly, act out of fear, or rush without care, mistakes are inevitable. Even under tight deadlines, it’s important to slow down enough to be thoughtful and intentional in your work. Taking that extra moment to review, think critically, and approach situations calmly almost always leads to better outcomes.
What’s your favorite way to recharge after a busy week at work or after Summit?
My favorite way to recharge after a busy week at work or after an aasp Summit is to go outside and reconnect with the world around me.
Especially after Summit, my introverted data brain is exhausted from so much “peopleing” and so much information to digest. I always try to carve out some solo time after a conference to explore whatever city I’m in. I love people-watching, learning something new about a place, and taking in beautiful architecture or nature. It helps me reset, reflect, and recharge before jumping back into everyday life.
If your work style had a theme song, what would it be?
Although it’s a little on the nose, I’d probably choose “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. There’s something about it that is so mundane while still feeling playful, energetic, and a little whimsical. I also find myself saying “Just think. Use your mind” when I am stuck on something, so it feels like Dolly and I are on the same page with this one.
If you could instantly master any skill — professional or personal — what would it be and why?
If I could instantly master any skill, it would be the ability to stay instantly adaptable to new technology. The pace of technology, especially in artificial intelligence, feels like it is accelerating faster than anyone can keep up with it.
I would love to be able to solve any tech challenge immediately without needing to pause and look things up or spend time learning new systems from scratch. Just having that kind of fluency and ease with evolving tools would make the work feel a lot more seamless and less overwhelming.
What has been the biggest benefit of being part of the aasp community?
One of the biggest benefits of being part of the aasp community is that I feel understood in a way that is hard to replicate elsewhere. Advancement Services is a pretty niche avenue of work. It is not always easy to find people who immediately understand the balance of being both data-centric and donor-centric. But the aasp community does!
I can walk into a room at Summit and just know that the people there get it. There is a real sense that we are all in this together, not competing with each other, but sharing what we know to make the work better across institutions.
I also really value the connections I have made through the aasp community across the country. I always come back from Summit with new relationships and the comfort of knowing that if I ever run into a unique or weird problem, I have people I can call who will actually understand it and want to help.
Which type of Summit session do you find most valuable for your professional growth and why? (Panels, workshops, case studies, peer discussions, etc.)
I really love a good panel. I value the opportunity to hear from people across different institutions and roles, all sharing their perspectives on the same topic. I always come out of panel sessions with a broader understanding, more ideas, and honestly more energy than I went in with.
Also, anything John Taylor does is always incredibly valuable for me. I leave those sessions with a very long list of takeaways and usually the urge to go back and rethink half of our institutional policies.