Giving Announcements
Northwestern Names Kim Buckley Assistant Vice President for Athletics Development
Northwestern University has appointed Kim Buckley ’98, ’04 MBA as Assistant Vice President for Athletics Development and Senior Associate Athletics Director, following a comprehensive national search. Buckley, an accomplished fundraising executive with deep Northwestern roots, will lead philanthropic efforts for the Department of Athletics and Recreation during a transformative period in college athletics.
Buckley succeeds Jesse Marks, who was promoted to Chief Revenue Officer for Northwestern Athletics this spring. She will report jointly to Jamie Muller ’98, Associate Vice President of Development for Northwestern Alumni Relations and Development’s Schools and Programs, and Mark Jackson, the Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation.
“Kim is an exceptional fundraiser and inspiring leader who truly understands what makes Northwestern special,” Muller said. “At this pivotal time in college sports, donors need someone they can trust to guide their giving for maximum impact—and Kim is uniquely qualified to do that.”
Buckley brings exceptional credentials to her new role, having personally secured more than $50 million in philanthropic support across Northwestern. Most recently, she oversaw fundraising strategy for nine Northwestern schools and programs, managing an 18-person team that raised $208 million over two years.
Her previous leadership during Northwestern’s historic We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern proved particularly impactful. As head of fundraising for the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences from 2015 to 2022, Buckley exceeded the school’s campaign goal by raising $470 million across 26 departments and more than 40 interdisciplinary programs.
The appointment positions Northwestern Athletics with proven leadership as the department advances major facility projects, including the new Ryan Field and Kip and Sara Kirkpatrick Stadium, while navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Kim to our leadership team and to have her play a vital role in advancing our athletics department efforts,” Jackson said. “Her collaborative approach and strategic mindset combined with her tremendous experience in fundraising here at Northwestern will be instrumental as we continue to grow support for our student-athletes and all of our programming in this transformative era of college athletics.”
In her new role, Buckley will develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies for all varsity athletics programs and facilities. Her responsibilities include leading the Athletics Development team in securing investments for the Wildcat Fund, Otto Graham Society, and student-athlete scholarships, while coordinating donor stewardship, communications, and special events.
As a member of the Athletics and Recreation senior leadership team, Buckley will collaborate directly with Jackson, athletics administrators, and varsity coaches to identify and prioritize strategic funding opportunities that support student-athlete success both competitively and academically.
A graduate of Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy with an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Buckley began her Northwestern career in 2010 with the Annual Giving team, where she managed the Chicago Regional Board of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle.
“As a double Northwestern alum, I find it incredibly rewarding to work with fellow alumni and supporters to help them invest in the areas of the University that inspire them,” Buckley said. “I have cheered on the Wildcats for decades—at the Rose Bowl, March Madness, the lakeside fields, and countless other venues. I could not be more excited to join Northwestern Athletics to continue helping supporters and fans elevate our student-athletes and all of our outstanding teams.”
Before joining Northwestern, Buckley worked in marketing and management consulting, creating comprehensive campaigns for major film studios including Warner Bros. and beginning her career at Arthur D. Little, Inc., a global management consulting firm.
Buckley resides in Wilmette with her husband, also a Kellogg graduate, and their two children, who she notes “have been cheering on the ’Cats their entire lives.”
The appointment is effective immediately.