University of Arizona Athletics

Judi Kessler began her career at the University of Arizona in April 1984 and has served as Associate Athletics Director for Major Gifts and Development since 2010. Kessler is responsible for identifying, cultivating and securing major gifts for the Capital Campaign. She has played a key role in five major capital campaigns undertaken by Arizona Athletics including the state-of-art $72 million Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, the $30 million Phase 1 of the McKale Center Renovation Project and the recent $7.5 million Ginny L. Clements Academic Center. Kessler is one of only a few staff to secure multiple million-dollar gifts for these campaigns and over $33 million overall to benefit Arizona Athletics. 

Kessler started in Arizona Athletics as a bookkeeper/gift processor in the Wildcat Club. In October 1985, she was promoted to Coordinator of the Wildcat Club. From 1991-1997, Kessler was the Director of Priority Seating. In December 1997, as Director of Donor Relations and Priority Seating, her responsibilities were expanded to include overseeing the Wildcat Club priority-seating program, the parking benefit program, and coordinating postseason ticket allocation. In October 2002, Kessler became an Assistant Athletics Director for the Wildcat Club and Annual Giving. She oversaw the annual giving program, the gift club level benefit program and served as a development officer in helping to raise funds for Campaign Arizona.

She was named an "Honorary Bobcat" by The University of Arizona in 1999, and has been a UA President’s Club Member since 1988.

Kessler, a native of Tucson, received her B.A. in business economics from University of California, Santa Barbara. She has a son, Mitch, and a daughter, Melissa, who are both graduates of the University of Arizona.