His E-Ticket to Success 

Alex Chang’s career has brought him full circle, from USC Marshall School of Business student to the school’s associate director of alumni relations. Since 2019, he’s been overseeing Marshall’s campus and community collaborations; regional alumni programming; and young alumni engagement through the Marshall Young Alumni Council. He manages the school’s four regional alumni volunteer boards – L.A., Orange County, Bay Area and New York – as well as its network of domestic and international regional reps. He also works with volunteers and partners to develop, plan and execute events and programming that engage Marshall alums, and he supports the initiatives of the Dean’s Alumni Council as well as the signature programs of the External Relations office.

Alex’s move to advancement was serendipitous. He started out in the sports biz, working in community affairs, game entertainment, marketing and special events. In 2007, he seized an opportunity to return to his USC roots, joining the USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association where he could use the skills he honed while working in sports and special events to help support and engage a community near and dear to him. The move marked the beginning of journey that would define his career for the next 17 years and counting.

“When I first joined APAA,” he explains, “I did not see myself on a traditional development career path, as the Alumni Association was not part of University Advancement. While I understood the importance of alumni relations to fundraising, I viewed the work of a frontline fundraiser as separate from that of someone focused on outreach and engagement. Once the Alumni Association moved under the umbrella of Advancement in 2008, my perception gradually changed, and I started to see how closely tied to development my role actually was.”

Since Alex’s move to USC Marshall in 2019, he has further “embraced the various fundraising elements inherent in alumni relations: annual giving, capital campaigns, donor relations and stewardship, alumni giving participation rates, and building a culture of philanthropy within our alumni community.”

One of the most significant moments in Alex’s USC career came in 2016 when the Alumni Association recognized him as Alumni Friend of the Year for his contributions in support of the Trojan Family. What mattered to him wasn’t getting an award and having a moment onstage, but the appreciation he felt from colleagues and constituents directly impacted by his work. 

“It was a gesture that reinforced my sense of purpose and demonstrated that what I was doing really mattered. That sense of purpose is what drives me to support our alumni with opportunities that help them find and fulfill their own purposes, whether as professionals, volunteers or donors.” 

Which leads Alex to offer some great advice for others in this trade: “Find your passion and purpose, be genuine, build trust, be respectful, bring out the best in people, don’t be complacent, and never think anything is unattainable. Make sure our constituents feel a true sense of belonging, and that their voices and actions have a meaningful impact here at USC.”

For recreation, Alex and his family love Disneyland, snowboarding, riding bikes at the beach, exploring the local foodie scene, cheering for the Dodgers or just staying home to watch a movie or bond over Legos. Their favorite travel destinations are Hawai’i, Japan, Taiwan and any of the world’s Disney parks. And guess what their favorite mode of travel is? A Disney cruise ship, of course.