Dale Wright serves as Interim Vice Chancellor for Advancement at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Interim Senior Vice President at the University of Illinois Foundation. He leads staff members in University Advancement, who seek to engage Illinois’ remarkable alumni, parents, and friends in the life of the University by keeping them informed, involved, and invested in ways that are mutually beneficial.
Before joining Illinois, Wright served for 15 years at the University of Missouri in Columbia. With more than 25+ years of advancement experience, Wright has played key roles at all levels, including roles in alumni and constituent engagement, fundraising, talent development and overall advancement leadership.
He is also involved in the broader development community, through active involvement with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), serving as a faculty member and speaker, including co-chairing multiple CASE national conferences and contributing to the advancement field as a member of the CASE Commission on Philanthropy and a CASE Laureate, as well as past District leader (V & VI). His excellence as a teacher and mentor was recognized with CASE’s Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence (2024). He is also the recipient of the CASE Frank L. Ashmore Distinguished Service Award (2025) for the U.S. and Canada region. Additionally, he is a member of organizations such as the African American Development Officers Network and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, including as a past member of the board.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Wright is committed to community service, serving as 30+ year volunteer with the American Legion Boys State of Missouri (Missouri Boys State), most recently on the program’s Executive Council to the Board of Directors. In recognition of his service to Missouri Boys State and the field of education, he received the Mel Carnahan Public Service Award in Education in 2023 from the Carnahan Policy Institute. He holds degrees from the University of Missouri (Mizzou).