BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Jesse Meyer, recently the Senior Director of Major Gifts and College Campaign Director at the University of Chicago, has been named Illinois Wesleyan's Vice President for Advancement, effective Oct. 14.
"Jesse has a strong background in fundraising leadership for private higher education, in cultivating major gifts and identifying fundraising priorities," said President Sheahon Zenger. "He brings experience and expertise that is a great fit for Illinois Wesleyan and our Titan community."
While at the University of Chicago, Meyer formulated roughly $1.5 billion in undergraduate campaign priorities. Prior to this role, he was Chief Development Officer for St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, after holding development roles at the University of Notre Dame, where he spearheaded efforts to increase regional team fundraising from $45 million to $90 million in under three years.
A graduate of the University of Chicago with a bachelor's degree in political science, Meyer earned his master's degree in higher education administration from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in sports management, with a dissertation on how to maximize alumni-athlete philanthropy at academically selective institutions.
"I'm excited to join such a passionate team at Illinois Wesleyan," Meyer said. "This University is clearly blessed with a network of supporters who believe in helping to provide future generations with the meaningful opportunities and lifelong relationships that they experienced in their time here."
Meyer's wife, Erin, is a native of Peoria. They have five children.