Courtney Downey

Courtney Downey has served the John Purdue Club, Purdue Athletics and the Purdue for Life Foundation as assistant athletics director of development operations since July 2022. Downey joined the team as the assistant director of development and major gift operations in July 2017 and was promoted to director of development operations in March 2018 and senior director of development operations in December 2021.

Downey's responsibilities include leading and managing the operations team of seven full-time staff members responsible for executing special events, marketing and communications, customer service, data management, annual fund benefits, gift processing, stewardship, donor travel, budget management, the student-athlete internship program, donor recognition, and project management for the department.

In addition to the above, Downey was instrumental in working across the Purdue for Life Foundation and Purdue University to create the Purdue Parents & Families Club, which impacts multiple campus partners and strives to build a sense of pride for student families by creating opportunities that allow access to engage with campus, while giving back to enhance the overall vibrancy of Purdue student life.

Prior to coming to Purdue Athletics, Downey served as the director of alumni, donor and public relations for Purdue Bands & Orchestras for seven years. There she implemented a successful annual giving program, established a diverse stewardship matrix, executed alumni and donor events around the country, directed alumni reunions on campus, oversaw the department's advisory board, ran the student advancement team, managed all department communications and marketing and led Purdue Day of Giving efforts for the department.   

A native of LaGrange, Indiana, Downey earned her Bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Purdue University in 2010 and was a member of the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band for four years. Courtney is married to Chad and they have two daughters, Adalynn and Reagan. Her hobbies and interests include traveling as much as possible, enjoying time with family and supporting the Boilermakers.