Program evaluation is a multidisciplinary, rapidly expanding, global field. Guest speakers from a variety of disciplines have been invited to the University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW) to host events that will broaden student understanding of how evaluation is applied in diverse, real-world contexts. Alison has been invited to speak with graduate students enrolled in[...]

Read More

Alison has been invited by the Zeta Chi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to speak about her career in the arts. As part of the sorority's national initiative, Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters around the world are hosting events that expose students to arts enrichment and culture by focusing on visual and performing[...]

Read More

Alison McNeil was invited to serve on a panel alongside David Mallet (Management Consultants) and Geoff Chang (Arts Consulting Group) during Linda Shelton's graduate level Governance and Trusteeship in Performing Arts Organizations class. Alison will share her philosophy and approach on conducting human-centered executive searches and finding quality talent to help shape the future of[...]

Read More

In the midst of the global pandemic, arts leaders around the United States quickly rallied to design processes that could facilitate a swift dissemination of emergency funding to artists and arts organizations. While many of the standard application procedures and fund administration efforts for these funding programs weren’t as stringent as standard philanthropic practices, the[...]

Read More

The Kapex Foundation is hosting Pirate Tank in conjunction with the Hampton University School of Business. Pirate Tank will consist of a panel discussion on entrepreneurship and a pitch contest. Alison was invited to be a panelist and a judge for this event. Modeled after Shark Tank, Pirate Tank creates the space for Hampton University[...]

Read More

Big news! Alison's stepping up to the mic for her first-ever live podcast, and we'd love for you to attend! She’ll be in conversation with fearless arts leader Quanice G. Floyd, Ed.D. on her podcast BAAB Culture podcast talking all things arts, Alison's journey in the industry, the current landscape, and so much more. Expect[...]

Read More

Alison was a featured speaker at the eXposure Speaker Symposium, a signature program of The Napoleon Complex Project that provides HBCU students with access to leaders in the multimedia industry. She spoke with students about creative entrepreneurship, her journey as an arts leader, and strategies for building a meaningful career in today’s evolving creative landscape.

Alison was honored to participate in Career Day at Hebron Harman Elementary School, where she spoke with 2nd and 4th grade students about her journey as a creative entrepreneur and the possibilities within creative careers. She considers it a true privilege to inspire the next generation and share the power of purpose-driven work.

How can funders and evaluators ensure investments in BIPOC-led arts organizations create lasting impact? Join MCE's Alison McNeil alongside funder and grantee partners to explore collaborative evaluation that empowers communities and drives systems change. The Case Study: Using the Barr Foundation's Powering Cultural Futures initiative as an example, we'll demonstrate how evaluation can move beyond[...]

Read More

Alison has been invited to speak at the inaugural Community Empowerment Conference, hosted by the Kingdom Cares Economic Empowerment and Innovation Center (EEIC), on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Beltsville, Maryland. She will participate in a panel entitled Designing Your Next Chapter: Unconventional Career Planning for Real-Life Impact—designed for anyone[...]

Read More