Jesse Marks was named deputy director of athletics for development at Northwestern University in September 2021. 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 the university's senior associate vice president for schools and programs.

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.

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.

Matt Smith took on took on his current role of Director of Athletics Operations, Special Events, and Premium Seating in December of 2021. In this position, Smith plays a frontline role in securing major gifts benefitting Northwestern Athletics while also overseeing the teams internal operations and several aspects of re-imagining Ryan Field as the team looks to execute the renovation project. He joined the athletics development team as a program assistant in January of 2013 before being elevated to Assistant Director in June of 2015, Associate Director of Leadership Giving in June of 2016, and Senior Associate Director for Major Gifts, Director of Premium Seating in August of 2021.

In his previous positions, Smith lead the prospect and portfolio management efforts for the team, assisted the executive director with major and principal gift level solicitation planning, campaign reporting, front line fundraising, and secured leadership and major gifts benefitting Northwestern Athletics. Matt has often served as the first point of contact for athletics donors, including assisting with premium ticket requests and general stewardship.

Prior to joining the Northwestern athletics development team, Matt spent two years in NU's Department of Alumni Relations and Development. A native of Elmwood Park, IL, Matt holds a BA from Northern Illinois University. Matt and his wife, Jackie, who works for Northwestern's School of Professional Studies, live in Evanston with their daughter, Allie.

Amy Blackbourn is a seasoned professional in the field of athletics development, currently holding the position of Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts and Premium Seating for Northwestern Athletics since April 2023. In this key role, she assumes a frontline position in securing major gifts that significantly benefit Northwestern Athletics. Concurrently, Blackbourn serves as the department liaison to the Legends team, a vital partner in ticket sales, and the New Ryan Field Campaign. She oversees both current and future premium seating sales in Welsh-Ryan Arena and New Ryan Field.

Prior to this role, Blackbourn originally joined the athletics development team in November 2021 as an Associate Director of Leadership Giving. Within this role, she demonstrated her commitment to the department's success by leading the most successful National Student-Athlete Day, setting records in both the number of gifts brought in and dollars raised. She also played a pivotal role in the onboarding of the Legends ticketing, marketing, and premium sales team.

Prior to Blackbourn joining the Wildcat family, Amy served as a member of the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department as a Development Officer and Premium Development Account Executive under Legends. Her primary duties included leading fundraising efforts for the annual fund as well as fundraising and selling premium seating for the CR Future project, a $77 million comprehensive renovation of the south end zone of Camp Randall Stadium.

Before transitioning onto the Development team at Wisconsin, Blackbourn worked for the University of Wisconsin Athletic Business office as a financial specialist providing administrative and financial support to all 23 programs. Blackbourn was also responsible for onboarding and implementing DocuSign which was used for the execution of all athletic contracts including development pledges and gift agreements. Blackbourn also implanted and managed the contract management system which stored all executed athletic agreements.

Blackbourn earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa, and her master's from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Bio coming soon...

Steven LaPlante joined Northwestern in March 2022 as the Assistant Director of Operations, Events & Premium Seating, and was promoted to Associate Director, Wildcat Fund in May 2023.

Prior to arriving in Evanston, Steven served as a Development Assistant for the Tennessee Fund at University of Tennessee. He managed a team of interns and student workers who monitored a customer service line for Tennessee Fund members, and assisted with various projects for the Annual Fund, Major Gifts, and Operations teams.

Steven earned a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Sport Administration from Ohio University. During his time in Athens, he was a graduate assistant in the Ohio Bobcat Club. He also served as treasurer for the Sport Administration Graduate Student Organization.

In 2018, Steven graduated from University of South Carolina with two bachelor degrees in finance and risk management & insurance. While an undergraduate, he was a men's basketball manager for the Gamecocks, and was on staff during an NCAA Tournament Final Four in 2017.

Alicia Torimoto McLeod joined Northwestern in August 2016 as the program assistant for the Wildcat Fund.

Before arriving in Evanston, Torimoto McLeod served as the administrative assistant for North Central College Athletics and Health/Physical Education Departments. She provided administrative support for all 25 ty sports which included: transportation needs, game day management for officials, business office paperwork, and eligibility.

Prior to returning to her alma mater, Torimoto McLeod completed her Masters of Education in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership at the University of Washington. During her time at Washington, she was an advancement graduate assistant with the Tyee Club working on special events, football ticket renewals, and annual giving assignments.

In 2013, Torimoto McLeod graduated from North Central College with two bachelor degrees in marketing and sports management. While an undergraduate at NCC, she was an administrative intern for the Athletics Department, operations intern for the men's soccer team, served in numerous athletic leadership groups, and was a student-athlete in both volleyball and track & field.

Austin Siegel joined the Athletic Development team as Assistant Director of Operations in August of 2024. A 2018 graduate of Northwestern, Siegel returned to Evanston in 2021 after a stint at Kansas State, where he covered the Wildcats as the athletic department’s team reporter and wrote daily stories on the K-State Athletics website. In his time at Northwestern, Siegel has worked with the Athletic Communications team as a graduate assistant and Student Affairs Marketing as a Communications Specialist. Siegel has also assisted TrueNU, Northwestern’s NIL collective, with content and marketing since 2024, including developing and writing TrueNU’s monthly newsletter. Siegel holds two degrees from Northwestern, a bachelor’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism and a master’s degree in Sports Administration.