A world class university demands a world class advancement program. Our centralized advancement team works in conjunction with advancement professionals throughout the colleges and units on campus. Meet our team below and use the Illinois campus directory to search for anyone on campus.
Advancement Leadership
The Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement works in partnership with the University of Illinois Foundation to manage all aspects of the fundraising operations on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

Barry Benson
Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Senior Vice President for Development, UIF
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
bensonb@illinois.edu
LinkedIn
Support: Melissa Engel

Karen Aarestad
Associate Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
aarestad@illinois.edu
LinkedIn
Support: Debi Knight

David Bruns
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
dbruns@illinois.edu
LinkedIn
Support: Erica Finiak

Sarah Morris
Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Illini Center Chicago, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Alex Schmidt
Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement Operations, Chief of Staff
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
kaschmid@illinois.edu
LinkedIn
Support: Kelly McCleary

Dale Wright
Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
dlwright@illinois.edu
LinkedIn
Support: Debi Knight
Administrative Support

Melissa Engel
Director of Administrative Operations for Advancement
Supports Advancement Leadership
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Erica Finiak
Administrative Aide
Supports Principal Gifts, University Initiatives, and Campaign Strategy
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Debi Knight
Administrative Aide
Supports Advancement Leadership
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Kelly McCleary
Office Administrator
Supports Strategic Engagement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
Strategic Engagement
The Strategic Engagement team leads the strategic efforts in the areas of event strategy, annual giving, stewardship, data analytics, and marketing/communications.

Alex Schmidt
Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement Operations, Chief of Staff
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
kaschmid@illinois.edu
LinkedIn
Support: Kelly McCleary

Abigail Bobrow
Associate Director of Storytelling
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Justin M. Brauer
Associate Director of Strategic Engagement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Joseph Brumleve
Art Director
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Kristin Burnette
Senior Director of Advancement Operations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Nicole Cazley
Assistant Director of Strategic Engagement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Kristen Costello
Associate Director of Strategic Engagement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Sam Foran
Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Ashley Gorman
Senior Associate Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Rachel Hull
Associate Director of Strategic Engagement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Audrey Legrande
Associate Director of Event Strategy
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Jamie McFarling
Senior Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Brittney McIntire
Project Manager
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Michelle Nguyen
Graphic Design Associate
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Lisa O’Banion
Associate Director of Annual Giving Programs
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Jason Quackenbush
Associate Director of Annual Giving Communications
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Danielle Runyon
Associate Director of Strategic Engagement (Health Sciences & Research Initiatives)
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Kim Schmidt
Director of Storytelling
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Rebecca Schultz
Senior Graphic Designer
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
Regional and Global Advancement
The Regional, Global, and International team is comprised of major gift officers who are deployed on a regional basis as additional fundraising support for all of the colleges and units at Illinois.

Sarah Morris
Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Illini Center Chicago, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Kara Carpenter
Associate Director for International Constituent Engagement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Olivia M. Koenig
Senior Director of Advancement
Illini Center Chicago, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Erin Marker
Senior Director of Advancement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Joe Melisi
Associate Director of Advancement
Illini Center Chicago, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Erin Nelson
Senior Director for International Advancement
Illini Center, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Mike Nelson
Associate Director of Advancement
Illini Center Chicago, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Charlie Ryan
Associate Director of Advancement
Illini Center, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Kitty Snow
Director of Advancement
Illini Center Chicago, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Jess Strong
Director of International Advancement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
Principal Gifts, University Initiatives, and Campaign Strategy
The Office of Principal Gifts, University Initiatives, and Campaign Strategy collaborates with university leadership, colleges, units, and institutes to secure transformational philanthropy impacting institutional priorities.

David Bruns
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Elizabeth Birlet
Senior Director of Foundation Relations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Laura Clark
Associate Director of Foundation Relations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Emily Deppermann
Coordinator of Communications
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Samantha Hendon
Director of Stewardship and Operations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Julie Jackson
Senior Director of Strategy and Communications
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Erin Kirby
Senior Director of Advancement, University Initiatives, and Campaign Strategy
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Tiffany Leung
Associate Director of Foundation Relations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Barlow LeVold
Director of Foundation Relations
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Betsy Rodriquez
Director of Advancement for Research Initiatives
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Tiffany Xanos Rossi
Director of Advancement
2001 S. Lincoln Ave., M/C 002, Urbana, IL 61802
People & Culture
People & Culture partners with colleges and units on campus to attract, engage, and retain dedicated employees across the Illinois Advancement community.

Alex Schmidt
Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement Operations, Chief of Staff
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
kaschmid@illinois.edu
LinkedIn
Support: Kelly McCleary

Zsayla Brummett
Recruitment & Onboarding Associate
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Chris Brunson
Assistant Director of Employee Engagement & Development
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Roberta Jorge
Associate Director of Employee Engagement & Development
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Marcus Kelley
Director of Team Development
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Jennifer Kresin
Business Manager
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Timisha Luster
Executive Director of Organizational Consistency
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Brenda Morris
Senior Human Resource Associate
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Julie Smith
Office Manager
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Amanda Wahba
Associate Director of Recruitment and Onboarding
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Katie Walker
Director of Employee Experience
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
The Strategic Planning and Organizational Development team drives strategic and annual planning, facilitates fundraising goalsetting, and serves as the primary reporting analysts for senior leadership in advancement. This office is also responsible for enhancing advancement outcomes by boosting organizational capacity through data-informed, systems-based initiatives that optimize effectiveness.

Alex Schmidt
Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement Operations, Chief of Staff
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
kaschmid@illinois.edu
LinkedIn
Support: Kelly McCleary

Katie Harrell
Senior Director of Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

Trevor Jennings
Director of Data Management, Visualization & Analysis
Alice Campbell Alumni Center, MC 079, 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
We’re Looking for Talent
Find a home at Illinois with a career in Advancement.