Kris Plunkett
Senior Director of Advancement, University of Florida
Kris Plunkett, Ed.D. is the Senior Director of Advancement at the University of Florida, where he leads efforts to drive philanthropic growth and strengthen donor engagement of the Levin College of Law. With nine years of experience in higher education fundraising, he previously served as Director of Principal Gifts at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business and held multiple roles at the University of Florida Warrington College of Business.
Dr. Plunkett completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Texas Tech University before earning an EdD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida. His research focuses on leadership and organizational behavior in higher education advancement, exploring the impact of servant leadership on fundraiser retention and performance. His dissertation, Servant Leadership in Higher Education Advancement: Relationship Between Turnover Intentions and Challenge-Hindrance Stress, examined how leadership approaches influence organizational culture and development team success.
With extensive frontline fundraising experience and a background in teaching leadership and organizational behavior, Dr. Plunkett blends research-driven insights with practical application to help advancement teams build sustainable, high-performing cultures.