As Sr. Manager for Marketing and Communications, Dolan Klein uses his wealth of marketing and public relations experience to share the Extension story with the people of Illinois and beyond. He joined Extension in fall of 2022 and was drawn to the role by the breadth of educational and community development programs offered. He looks forward to raising awareness of the role Extension plays in serving our communities while also communicating the benefits those programs provide to both youth and adults. 

Dolan grew up in a small farming community in Western Illinois served by a local Extension office before attending Western Illinois University where he minored in English and then received a Master’s degree focusing on higher education administration and student development.

He has event planning and marketing experience as a Program Advisor to the Illini Union Board and later as the general manager of a civic center where he was instrumental in crafting innovative promotions and public relations campaigns as well as community outreach programs. After many years of event management and promotion, he entered the tech industry transitioning into brand management, courseware development, and training director roles. Before joining Extension, he held various leadership roles for a global consumer products manufacturer where his marketing, brand management, and leadership skills were utilized to raise awareness of more than 20 unique and innovative brands.