Stephen Kull Named McKendree University Vice President for Institutional Advancement
(LEBANON, Ill., April 19, 2022) – McKendree University has named Stephen Kull as its
Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Kull is currently the Vice President
for Advancement and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Rockford University, in Rockford,
Ill., where he is responsible for the management and oversight of alumni engagement,
annual giving, planned giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation gifts, data and
gift management, prospect and grant research, marketing and communications, and university
events and scheduling. He will start in his new role at McKendree on May 2.
“We’re pleased to welcome Stephen as our Vice President for Institutional Advancement,”
said McKendree University President Daniel Dobbins. “This was a key search for our
institution as we prepare to roll out our strategic plan, UNITED. Stephen’s wealth
of experience in higher education advancement, capital campaign leadership and strategic
planning will make him a valuable addition to McKendree. We look forward to him becoming
a strong contributor to our senior leadership team as we continue to further the mission
of the university. We are excited for Stephen and his family to become part of our
McKendree family.”
As Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Kull will oversee all areas of development,
alumni and parent relations. In his 17 years of higher education advancement experience
he has worked collaboratively to secure more than $200M in philanthropic gifts. Under
his leadership, the alumni participation rate at Rockford University doubled and faculty/staff
participation rates increased from 13% in FY19 to 82% in FY21. Prior to his current
position, he was Associate Vice President of Advancement at Central Michigan University,
where he successfully managed fundraising efforts for the University’s “Fire up for
Excellence” $100 million campaign, the largest in the institution’s history. He has
also served as Director of Development – Gift Planning, Senior Director of Development
and Interim Assistant Vice President for Advancement at Eastern Illinois University,
as well as in other development roles at Blackburn College and Concordia Seminary
in St. Louis.
“I am both humbled and thrilled to join President Dobbins and a passionate team at
this point in my career,” said Kull. “I began my advancement career in the St. Louis
area and this move feels like I've come full circle. I am looking forward to the
exciting work we have ahead of us at McKendree. I'm eager to partner with the university's
passionate alumni, parents, and friends to support the initiatives, projects, and
programs taking shape at the university. My family and I cannot wait to join the
McKendree family and meet members of the campus community, alumni, and friends.”
Kull earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Texas A&M University, a certificate
in executive management from University of Notre Dame, and is currently working on
his MBA in Organizational Leadership from Rockford University. He and his wife, Angela
(Collins) Kull, a Mascoutah native and former McKendree student, have four children.
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