Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Welcome Marks As Deputy A.D. For Development
8/6/2021 10:55:00 AM | General
Executive director of Miami Dolphins Foundation joins 'Cats as first executive staff addition for Dr. Derrick Gragg
EVANSTON, Illinois – Jesse Marks has been named deputy director of athletics for development at Northwestern University, Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Dr. Derrick Gragg announced Friday. As part of his dual role within the University fundraising structure, Marks also will serve as senior executive director of athletics development on Northwestern's Alumni Relations and Development team, reporting to Julie Allen, senior associate vice president for schools and programs. He will begin work on September 13, and succeeds Travis Goff, who is now director of athletics at the University of Kansas.
"We are excited to welcome Jesse, his wife, Caroline, and son, Bradley, to the Wildcats family," said Gragg. "Jesse has a tremendous record of fundraising success, strategic leadership, and institutional vision, and is a vital first addition to my executive leadership staff. I'm grateful to Julie Allen for leading the search process, which attracted a deep, diverse candidate pool. The 'We Will' Campaign has provided an incomparable foundation for success, and our best is still ahead of us. Support from the Northwestern community has never been more important because our ambition as a department has never been higher."
Marks has served as executive director of the Miami Dolphins Foundation since 2019, guiding the foundation in its mission to make South Florida a healthier, more educated and united community. He directed the foundation's signature fundraising programs, including the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, which has raised more than $45 million in unrestricted gifts for innovative cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, as well as The Miami Dolphins Food Relief Program, raising over $5 million to battle food insecurity in South Florida caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It truly is an honor to join the Northwestern University family," said Marks. "I am thankful to Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Dr. Derrick Gragg, and Senior Associate Vice President Julie Allen, for this tremendous opportunity. I look forward to working with our dedicated and passionate student-athletes, coaches, donors and colleagues, to write the next successful chapter of Wildcats athletics."
A University of Miami graduate and south Florida native, Marks spent three years as the Hurricanes' senior associate athletics director for development prior to his time with the Dolphins. He was responsible for all fundraising operations for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, including campaign oversight, major gifts, annual fund, donor stewardship, event hospitality and coordination with the university's central advancement efforts. He also was the sport administrator for the nationally ranked men's tennis program.
Marks' previous roles at Miami included associate athletics director for development, assistant athletics director for major giving, assistant director, development – annual giving, and development associate – annual giving and events.
During his tenure as head of the Hurricane Club, Miami Athletics raised more than $210 million, enhancing the school's core athletic facilities and student-athlete services through private philanthropy. Notable projects during this time included the $18 million Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellence, completed in 2013, and the $40 million Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, completed in November 2018. There also were multiple million-dollar renovation projects funded through various fundraising campaigns under Marks' direction, including updates to the Watsco Center (on-campus basketball arena), the Hecht Athletic Center and the creation of the Women's Golf Practice Facility at the historic Biltmore Hotel.
Marks was part of two comprehensive fundraising campaigns at the University of Miami: the Momentum Campaign, which raised over $1 billion for the university, and Momentum2, a university-wide $1.6 billion campaign. Under Marks' leadership, athletics raised more than $85 million toward the Momentum Campaign and raised $120 million toward Momemtum2.
Previously, Marks served as assistant director of development at Wake Forest University, where he managed relationships with more than 150 athletic donors in the southeast, including South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. He also was assistant athletics director for development at Florida International University, where he led all development operations, including the Panther Club, major giving, and stewardship programs.
Marks is a member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) and served as an adjunct professor in the University of Miami's School of Education Sports Administration Program, teaching sport promotions and sales. In 2019, Marks was recognized by the "South Florida Business Journal" as a "Forty Under 40" honoree, representing top young professionals in the South Florida community.
Marks earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in sports administration from the University of Miami.
"We are excited to welcome Jesse, his wife, Caroline, and son, Bradley, to the Wildcats family," said Gragg. "Jesse has a tremendous record of fundraising success, strategic leadership, and institutional vision, and is a vital first addition to my executive leadership staff. I'm grateful to Julie Allen for leading the search process, which attracted a deep, diverse candidate pool. The 'We Will' Campaign has provided an incomparable foundation for success, and our best is still ahead of us. Support from the Northwestern community has never been more important because our ambition as a department has never been higher."
Marks has served as executive director of the Miami Dolphins Foundation since 2019, guiding the foundation in its mission to make South Florida a healthier, more educated and united community. He directed the foundation's signature fundraising programs, including the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, which has raised more than $45 million in unrestricted gifts for innovative cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, as well as The Miami Dolphins Food Relief Program, raising over $5 million to battle food insecurity in South Florida caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It truly is an honor to join the Northwestern University family," said Marks. "I am thankful to Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Dr. Derrick Gragg, and Senior Associate Vice President Julie Allen, for this tremendous opportunity. I look forward to working with our dedicated and passionate student-athletes, coaches, donors and colleagues, to write the next successful chapter of Wildcats athletics."
A University of Miami graduate and south Florida native, Marks spent three years as the Hurricanes' senior associate athletics director for development prior to his time with the Dolphins. He was responsible for all fundraising operations for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, including campaign oversight, major gifts, annual fund, donor stewardship, event hospitality and coordination with the university's central advancement efforts. He also was the sport administrator for the nationally ranked men's tennis program.
Marks' previous roles at Miami included associate athletics director for development, assistant athletics director for major giving, assistant director, development – annual giving, and development associate – annual giving and events.
During his tenure as head of the Hurricane Club, Miami Athletics raised more than $210 million, enhancing the school's core athletic facilities and student-athlete services through private philanthropy. Notable projects during this time included the $18 million Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellence, completed in 2013, and the $40 million Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, completed in November 2018. There also were multiple million-dollar renovation projects funded through various fundraising campaigns under Marks' direction, including updates to the Watsco Center (on-campus basketball arena), the Hecht Athletic Center and the creation of the Women's Golf Practice Facility at the historic Biltmore Hotel.
Marks was part of two comprehensive fundraising campaigns at the University of Miami: the Momentum Campaign, which raised over $1 billion for the university, and Momentum2, a university-wide $1.6 billion campaign. Under Marks' leadership, athletics raised more than $85 million toward the Momentum Campaign and raised $120 million toward Momemtum2.
Previously, Marks served as assistant director of development at Wake Forest University, where he managed relationships with more than 150 athletic donors in the southeast, including South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. He also was assistant athletics director for development at Florida International University, where he led all development operations, including the Panther Club, major giving, and stewardship programs.
Marks is a member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) and served as an adjunct professor in the University of Miami's School of Education Sports Administration Program, teaching sport promotions and sales. In 2019, Marks was recognized by the "South Florida Business Journal" as a "Forty Under 40" honoree, representing top young professionals in the South Florida community.
Marks earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in sports administration from the University of Miami.
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