The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has welcomed several new team members in key roles in the Office of Alumni and Development.

The announcement includes four new team members and two promotions of veteran Alumni and Development staff. The new UA Little Rock employees are especially welcome with UA Little Rock launching its Centennial Campaign, which commemorates the university’s upcoming 100-year anniversary of its founding in 2027.

“I am excited to welcome our four new talented team members to Alumni and Development, as well as celebrate the promotion of my hard-working colleagues, Kristi Smith and Derek Boyce, who have served the university well for many years,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “We have many things to celebrate in the coming years, especially the kickoff of our Centennial Campaign that will help set the course for the university for the next 100 years.”

Tommy Goucher has been named national director of development. He will be responsible for traveling to visit and build connections with UA Little Rock alumni who live outside of Arkansas. Goucher joins UA Little Rock from Datamax Inc., where he has served as an account manager since 2017.

A 2022 graduate of UA Little Rock, Catie Ross will serve as the associate director for alumni membership and engagement. She is responsible for growing the UA Little Rock Alumni Association membership and providing meaningful and engaging events for the alumni community.

Stephanie Purifoy has joined UA Little Rock as the new director of development and external relations in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE). She has previously worked in development roles for Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Audubon Arkansas.

Laterika Tooks has been named the director of annual giving at UA Little Rock. She is tasked with increasing yearly giving among alumni and friends of the university. A 2017 graduate of UA Little Rock, Tooks joined the university from the Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, where she worked as the constituent events manager.

In addition to the new team members, Derek Boyce, who previously served as the director of development and external relations for CHASSE, has been promoted to director of development for university initiatives/corporate and foundation relations. Boyce will seek and build relationships with entities that support various university programs.

Kristi Smith, the former senior director of alumni and development, has been promoted to associate vice chancellor of alumni and development. Her new role includes leadership of the UA Little Rock Alumni Association, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, and university initiatives.