Jennifer Gibbs Hired as Development Director

12/04/2013 12:21 PM

By Kelly O’Brien ‘15

Jennifer Gibbs has been fond of Bradley University her whole life.  So when she tagged along on a campus visit with her father, an alumnus, she could envision a career at Bradley.  Carrying on her father’s Bradley legacy, Gibbs has taken the position of senior director of development for the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts.

“I am most excited about learning and experiencing the areas of communications and fine arts, of traveling to meet with successful and interesting prospects, working with the amazing faculty and department chairs in the Slane College and seeing the impact that my work will have on the students,” she said.  “In the end that is why we do what we do—help transform young lives who will go out and make a difference in the world.” 

Gibbs hopes to steward and cultivate alumni and friends of the university interested in communications and fine arts, raise money for department initiatives and uncover and engage new donors for Bradley 

“My goals are both ambitious and simple,” she said.  “In general, I hope to solicit major gifts for the health and future of this institution.” 

The Canton, Ill. native graduated from Hope College with a history degree and spent the last 11 years as an associate director of development at Illinois Wesleyan University, where she was in charge of raising funds from major donors for support of the university’s initiatives and goals. 

Leaving her job at Illinois Wesleyan was difficult, but she was convinced Bradley was the right choice after meeting with President Joanne Glasser, Dean of the Slane College Jeffrey Huberman and Vice President of Advancement Jake Heuser. 

“I was extremely impressed with all of them,” she said.  “Their passion and enthusiasm was and continues to be contagious.”

 Doing her own research on Bradley and the Slane College confirmed her decision to come work on the Hilltop.

“I decided this was an institution and a college that I believed in, was enthusiastic about and that I would be proud to represent.”