Chris Jabin

Employer: John G. Shedd Aquarium

Graduation Year: 1986

Current Position: Senior Vice President, Development

Biography:

Chris Jabin is Senior Vice President, Development for the John G. Shedd Aquarium. Shedd is the largest indoor aquarium in the world and one of Chicago's most attended cultural institution with 2 million annual visitors. Jabin received his BA from Albion College in Michigan with a concentration in public service from the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Public Service. He has served Chicago's cultural community for the past 19 years as a development professional. His primary responsibilities include supervising all fundraising, membership and travel programs of the aquarium as well as assisting the CEO and trustees on Board development issues.

Before joining Shedd Aquarium, Jabin was Director of Development for the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) where he oversaw the completion of a $50 million capital campaign and a greatly expanded annual program upon the opening of the new building. Prior to his work at the MCA he served the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation in Oak Park as Director of External Relations. He began his career in Chicago with Lyric Opera where he was Assistant Director of Development for Guild Board Activities and Director of Planned Giving.

Jabin's professional affiliations include membership in the Association of Fund Raising Professional (AFP), the National Council on Planned Giving (NCPG), and the Chicago Council on Planned Giving (CCPG), where he previously served as secretary and treasurer. He has also taught at the School of the Art Institute, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago as an adjunct faculty member in their arts administration programs.

"The Ford Institute prepared me with excellent academic and professional networks, that expanded my idea of public service and the many opportunities available to me"