David M. Williams
Chief Development Officer // Administration
Office and Contact
Email: dmwilliams@purdueforlife.org
Phone: 765-427-0527
David M. Williams has been serving as Chief Development Officer for the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University since August 2016. In this role, David is responsible for working with the Justin S. Morrill Dean of the College of Liberal Arts in partnership with the University Development Office to design and implement a comprehensive advancement program. David is specifically tasked with creating and implementing fundraising strategies to meet major gift and annual fund campaign objectives. This focus includes annual fund, major gifts and planned giving. He oversees the planning, implementation and coordination of alumni relations activities for the college and also serves as a liaison to faculty with regard to fundraising priorities and is a member of the Dean’s Senior Leadership Team.
David started his fundraising career at Purdue University in September 2004, serving as the University Development Office Communications Coordinator during The Campaign for Purdue (2000-2007). He became Associate Director for Planned Giving in January 2006 and Director of Development for the College of Engineering in January 2009. David was then promoted to Director of Advancement for the College of Engineering in August 2011 and served in that capacity through March 2013.
After accepting a Senior Major Gift Officer position with the Riley Children’s Foundation in Indianapolis, David returned to Purdue University as Senior Director of Development for the School of Chemical Engineering (August 2013 to July 2016). During Ever True: The Campaign for Purdue University (2012-2019), he helped secure a $20M gift commitment to name what is now the Charles D. Davidson School of Chemical Engineering.
In fiscal year 2023, David established a new record for funds raised in support of the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue (more than $28.3M).
Originally from Winchester, Indiana, David is a graduate of Marquette University (BA Journalism, 1996) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he currently resides, and is the proud father of Katelyn, Isaac and Simon.