Paul’s bio
Paul J. Clifford is a seasoned leader in alumni relations with almost three decades of experience. Prior to joining CMAC, he served as the CEO of the Penn State Alumni Association and Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations from 2016 to 2024. With more than 173,000 members, the Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association of its kind worldwide. He managed a $13.5 million operating budget and led a team of 55 staff members, 280 affiliate groups and 3000 volunteers world-wide.
Before Penn State, Clifford held a key leadership at the University of Oregon serving as the Associate Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the University of Oregon Alumni Association. There, he oversaw alumni engagement for 190,000 alumni and led an innovative team integrating alumni relations and fundraising.
Clifford’s career also includes leadership positions at East Carolina University, the University of Connecticut, SUNY New Paltz, and James Madison University. He has been an active contributor to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), serving on various committees and as a faculty member at CASE’s Summer Institute for Alumni Relations.
Clifford earned his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Higher Education from Penn State. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
Contact Paul J. Clifford directly