Alumni Alumni Award

Daniel Wagner '89, M.S. '94
Senior vice president of government relations at Inland Real Estate Group; Wheaton

A former student regent, academic senator, and vice president and president of the Association of Residence Halls during his time as an undergrad at Illinois State, Daniel Wagner has spent his professional life advocating for others.

Wagner is the senior vice president of government relations at Inland Real Estate Group in Oak Brook. He has served as president of the Chicago Association of Realtors and was named the 2017 Chicago Realtor of the Year. Earlier this year, Wagner was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Illinois Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

In 2018, Wagner received the Institute of Portfolio Alternatives’ (IPA) Outstanding Service Award for his role as co-chair of the Policy and Government Affairs Committee and became a board member for the IPA in 2018. He also became a board member this year for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Wagner was inducted into the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2017 and into the Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame in 2018.

The parent of an autistic child, Wagner advocates for the special needs community. In recognition of his work to build a special needs park and pass a special needs referendum, he received the 2014 Advocacy Award for the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.