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
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
1304 West Green Street, Room 203, MC 246, 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
Assistant 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 (Rupkey) 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
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
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 Relationss
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
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.