Jeff has spent his entire career in educational advancement.  He served as the assistant director of alumni relations at the University of Northern Iowa from 1989 to 1995.  He then moved to the University of Iowa where he worked at the UI Alumni Association from 1995 to 1998 and moved to the UI Foundation in 1998.  (The UI Alumni Association and the UI Foundation consolidated to form the UI Center for Advancement.)

Jeff is also very active with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), a professional association for people working in educational fundraising, alumni engagement, and communications.  He has served on numerous CASE boards and committees, chaired and participated as a faculty member for several conferences and educational programs, and was recognized with CASE's "Crystal Apple" for his accomplishments in teaching.

Jeff received his B.A. in communications/public relations from Northern Iowa in 1988 and his M.A. in journalism from Iowa in 2002.