Syracuse University today announced the appointment of Dan Dillon as senior vice president for business development. In this role, Dillon will lead efforts to expand the University’s business development portfolio, with an emphasis on growing Syracuse University Global and the University’s online and post-traditional education offerings. He will report directly to Chancellor Kent Syverud and serve as a member of the Chancellor’s executive team. Dillon’s appointment is effective Oct. 20 and was approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.
“Dan is an exceptional leader whose experience building world-class online programs, cultivating new revenue streams and strengthening university brands is unmatched,” says Chancellor Syverud. “He will play a critical role in helping Syracuse University grow its online portfolio to meet the needs of today’s learners, including undergraduate students who were raised with a device in the palm of their hands, professionals seeking continued learning opportunities, and corporate partners eager for upskilling and reskilling programs. His appointment underscores the University’s commitment to innovating across all areas of our academic operations and adapting to today’s market demands.”
Dillon brings more than three decades of experience in marketing, business development and higher education leadership. He most recently served as vice president for marketing at the University of South Carolina. Prior to that, Dillon was vice president for marketing and senior advisor to the president at the University of Florida.
Earlier in his career, Dillon held senior leadership roles at Arizona State University (ASU), including chief executive officer of ASU Enterprise Partners and senior vice president and chief marketing officer. At ASU, he was instrumental in scaling ASU Online into a national leader, generating nearly $900 million annually in revenue and serving as a model for digital higher education. He also built and led outcome-driven, high-performing teams at major corporations, including Coca-Cola, Ruby Tuesday, H.J. Heinz and ConAgra.
Dillon says he was drawn to Syracuse University’s reputation for academic excellence and the unique opportunity to expand its global reach.
“It is rare in a career to step into a role at a university with such a premium, well-established brand and powerhouse reputation,” says Dillon. “I am excited to work with Chancellor Syverud, Provost Agnew, Vice Chancellor Haynie, the Board of Trustees, deans and campus leaders, all of whom are deeply supportive of building a more robust and sustainable revenue center through Syracuse University Global and beyond.”
In his new role, Dillon will lead the transformation of Syracuse University Global into a centralized, high-performing hub for online and post-traditional academic programming. He will oversee all facets of operations for Syracuse University Global, including enrollment, marketing and course development. Dillon will collaborate with College of Professional Studies Dean Michael Frasciello, who has been instrumental in building the University’s online platform and portfolio.
“I want to extend my deep appreciation to Dean Frasciello,” adds Chancellor Syverud. “His relentless commitment to shaping the future of our online presence and his stewardship of our online academic programs has positioned the University to scale up our offerings, strengthen our portfolio and take Syracuse University Global to the next level. He has built the strong foundation that exists today.”
Dillon will also work closely with the provost, deans and faculty leaders across the University to identify and launch market-responsive academic programs, develop corporate education partnerships and capitalize on new revenue-generating opportunities.
“Syracuse University’s faculty are extraordinarily talented and widely recognized as thought leaders in their disciplines,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “I look forward to working with Dan to create new opportunities for learners everywhere to benefit from their expertise. By expanding our online portfolio, we can broaden access to the knowledge and innovation our faculty bring to the world.”
Looking ahead, Dillon emphasized the scale of the opportunity that sits before Syracuse.
“The ingredients are all here—an outstanding faculty, a strong brand, momentum across the University and a leadership team committed to innovation. I am energized by the chance to expand Syracuse’s online capabilities, generate revenue to support its mission and create programs that deliver real value to students and University partners,” Dillon says.
Over the span of his career, Dillon has transformed how universities and brands approach marketing, branding and revenue generation. As he makes the move from the University of South Carolina to Syracuse, Dillon noted that universities have enormous potential to grow their online portfolio to the benefit of the traditional learner as well as lifelong learners.
“First, there is tremendous demand from students for flexible learning options to incorporate into their academic journeys. Second, in the post-COVID era, online education has proven its efficacy and is now widely accepted by students, families and employers,” Dillon says. “Syracuse University has the momentum—and the intestinal fortitude—to build a gold-standard online portfolio and platform.”
