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Shannon Timm has been named chief advancement officer and chief of staff for the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence (CAI), taking on an expanded leadership role as the new college continues to build its organization and advance its priorities. 

Timm, who joined CAI’s predecessor, the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS), in 2022, has led the organization’s advancement, marketing, and communications efforts through a period of significant growth and transformation. As chief advancement officer and chief of staff, she will continue to lead those areas while serving as a close advisor to Founding Dean Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau and working across the college to help set priorities, coordinate major initiatives, and connect work across the organization. 

“Shannon has played a huge role in getting us to — and through — the launch of this college,” Arpaci-Dusseau said. “Over time, I found myself relying on her well beyond her formal responsibilities because she can see how the pieces fit together and help us turn ideas into action. This appointment reflects the role she is already playing and I’m very happy to have her taking on these duties as we continue building the college.”  

Timm joined CDIS at an early stage in its development, with a charge to build the advancement and external relations capabilities needed to support the growing school. She helped build an integrated advancement operation connecting the school’s work with its fundraising partners at the Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association (WFAA), while expanding annual giving, stewardship, and alumni engagement. She also developed a shared-services model for marketing and communications, building support across departments and assembling the team that now provides those services across the college.  

During Timm’s tenure, CAI and its predecessor have secured more than $367 million in philanthropic support, including $267 million for Morgridge Hall and the $100 million Catalyst Collective investment that helped launch CAI. As the college’s advancement leader, Timm leads CAI’s advancement work on the university side, partnering closely with the dean and WFAA development team to coordinate fundraising priorities and the annual giving, stewardship, alumni engagement, and communications efforts that support them. 

Timm also played a central role in major institutional milestones during the organization’s transition from CDIS to CAI. She led communications and engagement around Morgridge Hall from groundbreaking through the building’s opening and worked closely with Arpaci-Dusseau and campus partners as the new college took shape, including efforts to name and launch CAI. 

“There is no shortage of ideas or opportunities at CAI, and one of our challenges now is to decide what comes first and turn those ideas into action,” Timm said. “I want to help bring clarity to complicated things and be a bridge, not a gatekeeper, for people who are working to move the college forward.” 

Before joining CDIS, Timm served as director of alumni relations at the Wisconsin School of Business, where she led a multidisciplinary team spanning alumni relations, marketing and communications, and consumer insights. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade at the Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association, building expertise in advancement through marketing roles supporting fundraising, alumni engagement, and major institutional initiatives.  

Timm earned both of her degrees from UW–Madison: a bachelor’s degree in communication arts and a master of business administration from the Wisconsin School of Business. A lifelong Wisconsinite, Timm is happiest in her garden or spending time in northern Wisconsin.  

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