Shari Fox joined the University of Illinois Foundation in July 2014 and has senior responsibility for the principal gifts and gift planning programs across the three universities comprising the University of Illinois System. She also coordinates the University of Illinois System President's advancement activities.

Prior to joining the University of Illinois, she was assistant vice president for development at the University of Michigan, where she had senior responsibility for the Office of Gift Planning, Stewardship and Donor Relations, the faculty and staff campaign, and several constituent fundraising programs. She previously served as director of gift planning with the University of Cincinnati Foundation and began her career in banking and trust administration.

Fox is a past chair and former board member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and a past president of the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council. She has served on the faculty of the Planned Giving Institute at University of Richmond and on the Editorial Advisory Board for the monthly newsletter Planned Giving Today. She is also a fellow of the Advancement Leadership Academy.

She received her bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in finance from Miami University and her master's degree in business administration with a concentration in management from Xavier University.