College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

People

David Weerts

  • Professor; Associate Vice Provost for Public Engagement, University of Minnesota System

David Weerts is a Professor of Higher Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development and Associate Vice Provost for Public Engagement for the University of Minnesota System.

    DEGREES

    PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, higher education administration
    MS, University of Wisconsin-Madison, higher education administration
    BS, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, major: communication and journalism, minor: business administration

      AREAS OF INTEREST

      Higher education leadership, finance, and organizations
      State-university relations
      Public engagement
      Institutional advancement

        BIOGRAPHY

        My scholarly work focuses on helping college and university leaders build productive relationships with external partners including state policy makers, community partners, alumni, and donors. In pursuing this agenda, my research lies at the intersections of state-university relations, community engagement, institutional advancement, higher education leadership, and organizational development. My recent studies include historical analyses of state-university relations, longitudinal analyses of state appropriations for higher education, latent variable analyses predicting alumni support behaviors, and case studies of university-community engagement practices. These investigations rely on variety of disciplinary frames from economics, political science, sociology of organizations, social psychology, history, and religion.

        My work on these topics has been greatly informed by my experiences as a major gifts officer at the University of Wisconsin Foundation and University of Minnesota Foundation, and as past director of the Center for Innovative Higher Education.

        Courses taught

        OLPD 8702—Administration and Leadership in Higher Education
        OLPD 8703—Public Policy in Higher Education

          AWARDS

          Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship (Inducted in 2025)

          H. S. Warwick Award for Outstanding Research In-Progress in Alumni Relations for Educational Advancement, 2016 (with co-investigator, Dr. Alberto Cabrera). Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

          H. S. Warwick Award for Outstanding Published Scholarship in Alumni Relations for Educational Advancement, 2010 (with co-authors Drs. Alberto Cabrera and Thomas Sanford). 
          Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

          Rising Scholars Award, 2002.  National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good, University of Michigan

          Bobby Wright Dissertation of the Year Award, 2000. Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)

            PUBLICATIONS

            Weerts, D. J. (2025). University-regional engagement amid disaster recovery: how institutions leverage their identities to revitalise communities. Regional Studies, 59(1).  https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2025.2522800

            Weerts, D. J. & Cabrera, A. F., (2025). Civic virtue and educational attainment: Is college attendance associated with more tolerant and humble citizens? Journal of College and Character, 26(2), 141-159.

            Weerts, D. J. (2024).  Reframing anthropologies of alumni support behaviors.  Philanthropy & Education, 8(1), 46-59.

            Weerts, D. J. (2021). Civic inspiration or civic disillusionment? The mixed legacy of the Wisconsin Idea. The Good Society 30(1), 12-34. 

            Weerts, D. J. (2021). The organizational ecology of state support for public flagship universities. Teachers College Record, 123(8) https://www.tcrecord.org/library ID 23776

            Weerts, D. J. (2019). Resource Development and the Community Engagement Professional: Building and Sustaining Engaged Institutions. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 23(1), 9-34.

            Weerts, D. J. (2017). From covenant to contract: Changing conceptions of public research universities in American society. The Good Society, 25(2-3), 182-208.

            Weerts, D. J., (2016). Engagement champions: How trustees connect campus and community, boost institutional engagement, and serve the public good. Trusteeship, July/August, 18-23.

            Weerts, D. J., (2015). The public-good variable: Can public engagement boost state support for higher education? Change, 47(3), 20-25.

            Weerts, D. J., (2014). State funding and the engaged university: Understanding community engagement and state appropriations for higher education. Review of Higher Education, 38(1), 133-169.

            Weerts, D. J., Freed, G. F., & Morphew, C. C. (2014). Organizational identity in higher education: Conceptual and empirical perspectives. In M. N. Bastedo (Ed.), Higher education: Handbook of theory and research (Vol. 29, pp. 229-278). New York: Springer.

            Weerts, D. J., & Ronca, J. M.  (2012). Understanding differences in state support for higher education across states, sectors, and institutions: A longitudinal study. Journal of Higher Education, 83(2), 155-185.

            Weerts, D. J. & Sandmann, L. R. (2010). Community engagement and boundary spanning roles at public research universities. Journal of Higher Education, 81(6), 632-657.

            Weerts, D. J., Cabrera, A. F., & Sanford, T., (2010). Beyond giving: Political advocacy and volunteer roles of college alumni. Research in Higher Education, 51(4), 346-365.

            Weerts, D. J., & Ronca, J. M. (2009).  Using classification trees to predict alumni giving for higher education.  Education Economics, 17(1), 95-122.

            Weerts, D. J., & Sandmann, L. R. (2008). Building a two-way street: Challenges and opportunities for community engagement at research universities. Review of Higher Education, 32(1), 73-106.

            Weerts, D. J., & Ronca, J. M. (2008). Characteristics of alumni donors who volunteer at their alma mater. Research in Higher Education, 49(3), 274-292.

            Weerts, D. J. (2007).  Facilitating university engagement with schools. Metropolitan Universities, 18(4), 67-86.


            Weerts, D. J. (2007). Toward an engagement model of institutional advancement at public colleges and universities.  International Journal of Educational Advancement, 7(2), 79-103.

            Weerts, D. J. & Ronca, J. M. (2006). Examining differences in state support for higher education: A comparative study of state appropriations for research universities. Journal of Higher Education, 77(6), 935-965.

              PRESENTATIONS

              Weerts, D. J., Nwaka, A & Lyftogt, K., (2024, October 21). Spanning ideological boundaries:  Understanding rival views of higher education as a public good. [Poster presentation]. Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities, Minneapolis, MN 


              Weerts, D J., Cabrera, A. F (2023, October 27).  Civic virtue and behaviors across faith and non-faith communities.  Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture, Waco, TX


              Weerts, D J., Cabrera, A. F., & Van Dorn, K. (2023, April 16).  Educational attainment, humility and tolerance: Does college attendance build capacity for confident pluralism? American Educational Research Association. Chicago, IL.


              Weerts, D. J. (2018, October 1).  Engagement ideologies: Navigating rival views of community engagement in higher education.  Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC), Minneapolis, Minnesota


              Weerts, D. J. (2017, November 9).  The collapsing canopy of the Wisconsin Idea, Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Houston, TX. 


              Weerts, D. J. & Cabrera, A.F. (2017, November 9).  Profiles of philanthropic alumni: A latent class analysis, Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Houston, TX. 


              Weerts, D. J. (2017, August 9).  Student success and rival views of higher education as a public good.  State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) Education Policy Conference.  Minneapolis, MN


              Weerts, D. J., (2016, October 29).  From covenant to contract: Public research universities in American society.  Higher Learning Conference, Baylor University, Waco, TX.  


              Weerts, D. J., Singh, V., Taylor, L., & Horn, A. (2015, November 4).  Design thinking for higher education policy innovation.  Symposia for policy pre-conference, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Denver, CO. 


              Weerts, D. J. & Cabrera, A. F. (2015, April 17). Profiles of civically engaged college students.  Roundtable presentation, American Education Research Association, Chicago, IL


              Weerts, D. J. (2014, November 21). Alumni identity:  Emerging theory, research, and implications for practice (with Drezner, Cabrera, Huehls, Amos).  Symposium, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Indianapolis, IN


              Weerts, D. J. (2013, November 15).  Higher education systems in an era of public engagement:  An organizational learning perspective. (with Rall, Tandberg, Tierney, and McLendon). Symposium, Association for the Study of Higher Education, St. Louis, MO


              Weerts, D. J., Cabrera, A. F., & Pérez Mejías, P., (2012, November 15). College students as citizens:  Unpacking the dimensions of civic engagement in college.  Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Las Vegas, NV. 


              Weerts, D. J. (2010, November 20). Institutional advancement and higher education:  Emerging perspectives on theory, research, and connections to practice (with Caboni, Strickland, Proper, Drezner, and Nehls).  Symposium, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Indianapolis, IN


              Weerts, D. J., Cabrera, A. F., & Sanford, T., (2010, November 20). The impact of college on post-collegiate volunteer behavior.  Roundtable paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Indianapolis, IN
              Weerts, D. J. (2010, November 19). Can community engagement leverage state appropriations for higher education?  Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Indianapolis, IN


              Weerts, D. J. (2010, May 4). Beating the odds: When higher education wins in tough times. Research paper presentation, American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO


              Weerts, D. J., Sanford, T., & Glushko, O. (2010, May 2). Explaining differences in alumni giving participation rates at flagship universities. Roundtable paper presentation, American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO 


              Weerts, D. J., Cabrera, A. F., & Sanford, T. (2010, May 1). The impact of college on post-collegiate political behavior. Research paper presentation, American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO


              Weerts, D. J., & Hudson, E.  (2009, November 7). Leading the engaged institution: The impact of mission and context. Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


              Weerts, D. J. (2009, April 15). Funding the flagships: Governance, power, and identity in state support for higher education. Research paper presentation, American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA


              Weerts, D. J., & Hudson, E.  (2009, April 14). Community engagement in higher education: Does one size fit all?  Research paper presentation, American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA


              Weerts, D. J. (2008, November 7). Power, identity, and inequities in state support for public college and universities in Massachusetts. Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Jacksonville, FL


              Weerts, D. J., & Cabrera, A. F.  (2008, November 6). Beyond giving: Political advocacy and volunteer roles of college alumni.  Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Jacksonville, FL


              Weerts, D. J. (2008, November 6). ASHE reconsidered: Advancing public scholarship through the Association for the Study of Higher Education.  Symposium: Perspectives on the State and Future of Engagement in Higher Education: A Critical and Committed View (with O’Meara, Hartley, Thorton, Jaeger, Pasque) Symposium paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, Jacksonville, FL


              Weerts, D. J., & Sandmann, L. R. (2007, November 10). Community engagement and boundary spanning roles at public research universities.  Roundtable presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Louisville, KY 


              Weerts, D. J., & Ronca, J. M. (2007, November 7). A longitudinal study of state support for higher education.  Research paper presentation, Public Policy Forum, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Louisville, KY 


              Weerts, D. J., & Sandmann, L. R. (2007, October 8). Unsung heroes of engagement: The critical role of boundary spanners.  Outreach Scholarship Conference, Madison, WI.


              Sandmann, L. R. & Weerts, D. J. (2007, April 11). Expanding institutional boundaries to accommodate an engagement agenda.  Roundtable presentation, American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL


              Weerts, D. J., & Ronca, J. M. (2007, April 10). Predicting alumni giving and volunteerism for higher education. Research paper presentation, American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL 


              Weerts, D. J., & Ronca, J. M. (2006, November 3). Taking it to the next level: Characteristics of alumni donors who increase levels of giving to their alma mater. Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Anaheim, CA 


              Weerts, D. J., & Sandmann, L. R. (2006, November 2). Building a two-way street: Toward a theory of knowledge flow in university-community partnerships.  Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Anaheim, CA 


              Weerts, D. J, Cabrera, A., Vidal, J., & Williams, R. (2005, November 14). Comparative perspectives on alumni research: The European and American experience.  International Scholars Symposium, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Philadelphia, PA.  


              Weerts, D. J., & Sandmann, L. (2004, October 4) What do “they” say?  Community partner perspectives on institutional commitment to engagement.  Presentation, Outreach Scholarship Conference, Penn State University, State College, PA.


              Weerts, D. J., & Sandmann, L. (2004, April 2). Pathways to institutional engagement.  Presentation, Learning to Change Conference, American Association for Higher Education (AAHE). San Diego, CA


              Weerts, D. J. (2003, November 14). Understanding organizational factors that contribute to institutional success in community outreach and engagement.  Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Portland, OR.  


              Weerts, D. J., & Sandmann, L. (2003, October 13). Practices and perceptions of institutional engagement.  Presentation, Outreach Scholarship Conference, Madison, WI.


              Weerts, D. J. (1999, November 18). A comparative study of state support for research universities.  Research paper presentation, Association for the Study of Higher Education, San Antonio, TX.  
               

              David Weerts