Executive leadership
The executive leadership team guides the overall direction of advancement efforts, aligning strategy, organizational effectiveness, and campaign initiatives to support the university’s long-term goals and priorities.
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Dale Wright
Vice Chancellor for Advancement; Senior Vice President of the University of Illinois Foundation
Support contact: Amy Hubbard
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Alex Schmidt
Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement Operations, Chief of Staff
Support contact: Amy Hubbard
Alphabetical (A–Z)
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Dale Wright
Vice Chancellor for Advancement; Senior Vice President of the University of Illinois Foundation
Support contact: Amy Hubbard
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Katie Harrell
Senior Director of Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
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Alex Schmidt
Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement Operations, Chief of Staff
Support contact: Amy Hubbard
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Leadership
The Leadership team guides the overall direction of advancement efforts, aligning strategy, organizational effectiveness, and campaign initiatives to support the university’s long-term goals and priorities.
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Dale Wright
Vice Chancellor for Advancement; Senior Vice President of the University of Illinois Foundation
Support contact: Amy Hubbard
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Alex Schmidt
Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement Operations, Chief of Staff
Support contact: Amy Hubbard
Administrative Support
The Administrative Support team ensures smooth and efficient operations by providing essential coordination, organization, and behind-the-scenes support across initiatives.
Advancement Operations
Advancement Operations ensures strategic alignment and operational efficiency across OVCIA by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, while leading internal communications and event strategy and logistics to effectively engage and support the advancement community. This team is overseen by Kristin Burnette.
Annual Giving
The Annual Giving team drives broad-based philanthropic support by coordinating central and unit-level fundraising efforts, engaging donors through channels like direct mail, digital campaigns, and crowdfunding. This team is overseen by Kristin Burnette.
Communications & Design
The Communications & Design team brings the university’s story to life through compelling messaging and creative visual storytelling that inspires engagement and support. This team is overseen by Kim Schmidt and Joseph Brumleve.
Corporate & Foundation Relations
This group supports faculty and administrators in building and advancing strategic partnerships with private foundations through guidance, proposal development, and stewardship. This team is overseen by Elizabeth Birlet.
Principal Gifts, University Initiatives, and Campaign Strategy
The team leads principal gift strategy, advances key university initiatives, and drives campaign planning to support transformational philanthropy.
People & Culture
This team partners with colleges and units on campus to empower and elevate experiences for advancement professionals across the Illinois Advancement community and provide expert guidance that supports career growth and organizational success. This team is overseen by Timisha Luster, Marcus Kelley, and Katie Walker.
Regional & Global Advancement
Regional & Global Advancement 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. This team is overseen by Sarah Morris.
Stewardship & Donor Relations
The Stewardship & Donor Relations team fosters meaningful, lasting connections with donors through thoughtful recognition, impact reporting, and personalized engagement. This team is overseen by Jamie McFarling.
Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
This 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. This team is overseen by Katie Harrell.
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Katie Harrell
Senior Director of Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
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