Christopher S. Dickie recently was selected to serve as the director of development and external relations for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Education and Health Professions.

In his new role, Dickie is responsible for developing relationships with alumni and friends of the college and cultivating support for students, faculty, and programs.

Dickie was inspired to join UA Little Rock after reading a story about a student with a difficult background who turned his life around by earning a scholarship and is now a successful doctoral candidate at UA Little Rock.

“I learned that without UA Little Rock’s assistance, this student would have continued down an alternative, harsher path,” Dickie said. “At that moment, I knew I had to try and join Little Rock’s team. It’s an important and exciting time on campus, and I am grateful to have this opportunity. I am thrilled to work with Dean Ann Bain in the College of Education and Health Professions.”

Dickie started his career as proprieter of his family’s restaurant, Smokehouse Grill and Café, and as a State Farm insurance agent in Batesville. In higher education, his experience includes working as director of enrollment management at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, where he was the Students Choice Award recipient in 2014.

As director of employee relations and community outreach, Dickie helped establish University of Arkansas System eVersity, the only completely online University of Arkansas System institution. He also worked as a consultant for the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, where he helped create its online executive Master of Public Service degree.

Dickie holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Lyon College as well as a master’s degree in college student personnel from Arkansas Tech University. He is a doctoral student in the adult and lifelong learning program at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Active in the community, Dickie serves as a board member on the Wolfe Street Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people recover from alcoholism and addiction. He was also named to Arkansas Business’ 2010 “20 In Their 20s” list.

Dickie and his wife, Tara, have a 5-year-old daughter, Adelynn, and live in Bryant.