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Shante Carter, Chief Financial Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement Services & Alumni Relations at UC Irvine, has built a distinguished career marked by a passion for numbers, strategic leadership, and a deep commitment to fostering alumni engagement.

Her professional journey, which began in public accounting and evolved into executive financial leadership, reflects her dedication to leveraging financial expertise to drive organizational impact. "I have a passion for using what I call a superpower—understanding the numbers to tell a story so leadership can make effective and efficient decisions," Carter explains.

Her current role at UC Irvine places her at the heart of alumni relations, where she is reshaping the way alumni engage with their alma mater.

A Career Defined by Strategy and Purpose

Born and raised in Maryland, Carter began her professional career in public accounting at Arthur Andersen before transitioning into the private sector. Most of her 25-year trajectory followed a traditional path toward executive financial leadership, with roles ranging from internal auditor to CFO.

"I have always enjoyed demystifying numbers for others," Carter shares. "Being able to bring people along, whether they love numbers or not, is what excites me."

Carter’s path took a transformative turn when she joined the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. For the first time, she was able to blend mission with her profession. She saw how finance could be a force for good beyond just numbers. "Signing checks for millions in funding and knowing that 100% of those funds were going into the community was an incredible feeling," she recalls. The experience solidified her passion for mission-driven work.

She first served as Controller for the Alumni Association before moving into the CFO role. Pursuing an Executive MBA from the Paul Merage School of Business during this time further refined her strategic and leadership abilities, enabling her to transition seamlessly into the Associate Vice Chancellor role.

"The MBA program was exactly what I needed at that stage of my career," she reflects. "I was able to apply what I learned in real-time and make an impact with my team, my work, and my community network."

Leading Alumni Relations

As CFO and Associate Vice Chancellor, Carter oversees several key initiatives, including finance and administration, engagement and annual programs, and alumni relations. In her expanded role, she has the unique opportunity to lead the Alumni Association, a nonprofit entity that she manages with a keen focus on engagement and connection.

"The alumni are part of the heartbeat of the university," Carter notes. "Our mission is to engage with them in a lifelong relationship that enhances their lives and advances the university. Achieving this mission requires us to work with our campus partners such as the Merage School of Business and the broader community."

Engagement, according to Carter, must be meaningful and multifaceted. "We want our alumni to find their place within the university, whether it's mentoring, volunteering, attending events, or giving back financially," she says.

Through initiatives like homecoming, networking events, and regional “Connect the Zots” gatherings, Carter ensures that engagement remains dynamic and far-reaching. "Bringing alumni together is about creating nostalgia and re-establishing connections," she adds.

Strategic Collaboration Across Campus

Collaboration is a cornerstone of Carter’s leadership approach. The Alumni Association serves as a hub that connects schools, units, and alumni engagement partners across campus. "One of our core strategies is our alumni engagement roundtable where we hold meetings at the association with our alumni engagement partners across campus to align on strategies and ideate and share best practices," she explains. "It’s about leveraging resources and working together for greater impact."

A recent success in cross-campus engagement is the newly launched “Battle of the Deans.” This friendly competition brings together students, alumni, and faculty for trivia challenges—an idea originally proposed by an engaged alumnus. The association initially partnered with the engineering and law schools, and the event has quickly become a beloved tradition, expanding to include more schools.

"There’s a lot of smack talk happening," Carter laughs, "but ultimately, it’s about creating a sense of unity and shared experience. Merage is up next, so I am looking forward to cheering them on as an alum."

More specifically, the association’s collaboration with the Paul Merage School of Business exemplifies how strategic partnerships can amplify alumni relations. "We share data, industry insights, and best practices to help tailor the school’s engagement efforts," she says. "By working together, we ensure that our alumni feel connected no matter which school or unit they were part of."

Another initiative that highlights the power of collaboration is “Connect the Zots.” This recently launched program creates meaningful engagements locally, regionally, and internationally, reinforcing the strength of the UCI alumni network.

The Future of Alumni Engagement

As UC Irvine prepares to conclude its Brilliant Future campaign—which has already surpassed its goal of $2 billion raised and 75,000 unique alumni engaged—Carter sees an opportunity to further enhance alumni relations.

"Engaged alumni are one of the best parts of UC Irvine. As we partner with them to establish goals on how they want to connect with the university, we then blend our resources, campus collaborations, and alumni passions to complete the story and the impact," she emphasizes.

Looking ahead, Carter is focused on leveraging technology and AI to elevate alumni interactions. "AI in engagement is a major conversation right now," she says. "We need to ensure that we’re evolving with the industry, utilizing new tools to connect with our alumni in more personalized and effective ways."

During the CFO Summit, she discussed a new AI class that explores AI-driven engagement and expressed interest in attending it to further integrate innovative strategies into alumni relations.

Beyond technology, she is committed to deepening relationship management and expanding the university’s impact through strategic partnerships. "We have to continuously ask ourselves, ‘How do we meet our alumni where they are?’" Carter explains. "The landscape of alumni engagement is changing, and we need to be ahead of that curve."

A Personal and Professional Commitment to Growth

Carter’s connection to UC Irvine runs deep—not just as a leader but also as an alumna of the Merage School’s Executive MBA program. Reflecting on her time as a student, she describes the experience as transformative.

"The program challenged my thinking, introduced me to new perspectives, and gave me tools I could apply immediately in my career," she shares. "Having classmates who also had years of experience made the conversations that much richer."

As an empty nester, Carter has taken this new phase of life as an opportunity to hone more skills and add new tools to her tool belt.

She attended the CFO Summit, an event in partnership with the Merage School, on the night of the university’s video shoot, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning. She has also expressed interest in attending the CFO of the Year event hosted by OCBJ, further expanding her professional network and engagement with industry leaders.

Beyond her professional work, she remains actively engaged, participating in mentorship programs, summits, and industry discussions.

"I love giving back," she says. "Mentoring students and being part of the alumni network is an opportunity to pour into others the way I was poured into."

Helping Others Find Their Voice

Her advice to fellow alumni is simple but powerful:

"There is space and a need for your voice. Whether through mentoring, volunteering, or giving back, every alum has a role to play in shaping UC Irvine’s future. Get in where you fit in."

With a dynamic vision and a deep passion for connection, Shante Carter is leading UC Irvine’s alumni relations into an exciting new era—one defined by engagement, collaboration, and lifelong connection to the university.