About
Us
The Association of Veterinary Advancement Professionals (AVAP) is an organization of development, public relations and alumni relations professionals that seeks to promote the success of veterinary medical education through the professional development of its membership.
In this online community platform, learn about upcoming events, discussion calls, share struggles and successes with your CVM colleagues, and build connections amongst this network.
History
The Association of Veterinary Advancement Professionals (AVAP) originated in the mid-1980s as a group of veterinary college fundraisers under the Association of Veterinary Development Professionals (AVDP). In the mid-1990s, Jeffrey S. Douglas, then communications director at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, researched communications practices in veterinary colleges. His 1998 study, Institutional Advancement Staffing at North American Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, led to organizing communications professionals with the goal of forming a professional society.
Douglas collaborated with Chandy Christian, AVDP president, to establish a broader institutional advancement program. At the 135th American Veterinary Medical Association meeting in 1998, they presented research, fundraising, and communication programs, featuring keynote speaker Patrick Jackson. The event, attended by nearly 80 people, was a success. On July 27, 1998, AVDP members voted to expand the organization to include communications and alumni relations professionals, creating AVAP.
In July 2018, AVAP formalized its partnership with the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) through a Memorandum of Understanding, with AAVMC providing meeting management, financial services, and operational support.
About
The Association of Veterinary Advancement Professionals is an organization of development, public relations and alumni relations professionals that seeks to promote the success of veterinary medical education through the professional development of its membership.