CCCU Announces Joel Dillon as Senior Vice President of Advancement

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, the leading voice of Christian higher education, today announced that Joel Dillon has been named senior vice president of advancement. Dillon will replace Andrea Thies, who has been appointed as the CCCU’s chief of staff.

Dillon most recently completed a decade as president and CEO at Jill’s House, a Christian nonprofit. Prior to that, he served as associate vice president for advancement and director of development at Trinity International University in Illinois.

“Having watched Joel grow as a leader since we first worked together at Trinity International University in 2009, I know firsthand the passion and integrity he brings to every endeavor,” said CCCU president David Hoag. “His commitment to our mission and his genuine care for the Christian higher education community give me tremendous confidence that Joel will build meaningful relationships and inspire new pathways for growth across the CCCU.”

As senior vice president of advancement, Dillon is responsible for leading and executing the organization’s comprehensive advancement strategy. He will develop and execute annual and multi-year advancement strategies that align with organizational goals. He oversees the three critical revenue streams—unrestricted giving, membership and sponsorship—to achieve annual revenue goals in direct support of the CCCU’s mission to strengthen and resource Christian higher education.

Dillon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in German from Wheaton College. He also attended Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

“Christian higher education is one of the greatest forces for good in the world, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of what God is doing in and through these institutions, their students, their faculty, their staff and their leadership,” Dillon said. “I look forward to working with the team here at the CCCU to serve all our member schools. The missions of these institutions are so important, and I hope that we can play a part in making them even more effective than they already are.”

All media inquiries should be directed to Dr. Amanda Staggenborg, vice president of communications, at astaggenborg@cccu.org.

About the CCCU 

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of more than 170 Christian institutions around the world. Since 1976, the CCCU has served as the leading voice of Christian higher education. With campuses across the globe, including more than 130 in the U.S. and Canada and more than 30 from an additional 18 countries, CCCU institutions are accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities whose missions are Christ-centered and rooted in the historic Christian faith. Most also have curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. The CCCU’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.  

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