Jennifer Dirking

As senior director of external relations and advancement for the Markkula Center, Jennifer Dirking is responsible for building relationships between the Center and its partners on the Santa Clara University campus, throughout the greater Bay Area, and across the globe. She focuses on strategic alliances that engage individuals, corporations, and foundations in supporting the important work of the Center and expanding its reach. The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics is one of the most active ethics centers in the United States, with programs in business, government, journalism, engineering, internet ethics, health care ethics, social sector ethics, leadership ethics, and K-12 character education.

Prior to joining the Center, Jennifer was the associate director of the Foothill-De Anza Colleges Foundation, and previously served as director of development for the Burke Museum of Natural History at the University of Washington in Seattle. She also raised support for the Meany Center for the Performing Arts (formerly UW World series), the international performing arts program at the university.

Jennifer earned her bachelor of arts in English from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and holds a master of nonprofit administration from University of San Francisco.