connect

FINDING HIS PASSION

Bradford Crews was a journalist a few years out of college when he decided to change careers.

"Do what you love," his father advised. "You'll figure out a way to make money."

And so Crews followed his heart to the place he'd loved since his childhood family vacations: Disney World.

He was by turns a "cast member" and a Disney wedding planner before parlaying his event-planning skills into a career in higher education. During his first stint in academia, Crews realized he had a knack for developing employees and a love for connecting with alumni.

Over nearly 15 years, he worked for three universities in Florida, most recently at Florida Atlantic University as assistant vice president of alumni relations. While there, he created a young alumni awards program, relaunched a dormant chapters and societies program and debuted a corporate membership program.

In July, Crews became Case Western Reserve's new senior executive director of alumni relations after a national search that involved extensive alumni and staff participation. He replaced Dan Clancy, who had returned to the university from retirement last fall to serve as interim executive director.

Crews already is collaborating with campus colleagues and alumni volunteers to create inventive ways to reconnect graduates with their alma mater—and each other.

After all, it was the university's commitment to creativity—and his dad's advice years ago—that inspired Crews to move 1,200 miles north with his rescue dog, Dottie.

"The university's innovative spirit and phrase 'think beyond the possible' really just resonate with me," he said.

Fast Facts: Bradford Crews

• Alumnus of Appalachian State University in North Carolina
• Avid fan of Survivor (he's applied but never been selected to compete)
• Theater buff: He travels to New York City five times a year to see new shows
• Athletic guy who's looking to join tennis and volleyball leagues in Cleveland
• Board-game enthusiast (Scattergories is a favorite) and jigsaw puzzle master

—EMILY MAYOCK