Chancellor Joel E. Anderson announced that the UALR Office of Alumni Relations, parent to the UALR Alumni Association, has been moved from the university’s advancement division to the development division, effective today.

Anderson said strengthening UALR’s fundraising infrastructure lays the foundation for the university’s next comprehensive campaign, still a few years away. Combining alumni and development is one step in that building process, he said.

Vice Chancellor for Development Bob Denman leads the development division, which now will be the Office of Alumni and Development. Denman led his division in carrying out the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, It’s Time for UALR, which succeeded in raising more than $100 million dollars, far exceeding the initial goal of $75 million.

“We will fully integrate the plans, strategies, and teams from these two areas into one stronger unit to advance UALR’s standing among key stakeholders of alumni, community leaders, public officials, donors, and potential supporters,” Denman said.

He stated that Christian O’Neal, executive director of the UALR Alumni Association, will take on an expanded leadership role as associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. O’Neal will manage accounting, annual fund, compliance, donor relations, and information technology functions for the newly combined unit.

“The UALR Alumni Association’s impressive membership growth in recent years has led to greater alumni engagement and participation in giving,” said Denman. “The merger will help us escalate this growth.”

The Bailey Alumni and Friends Center will remain home to the UALR Alumni Association, and the same familiar faces will provide leadership to the alumni engagement program, he said.

“It makes good sense to combine the knowledge of the university’s alumni and fundraising professionals to get the greatest impact in the most efficient way,” Denman said.

“This is a significant opportunity to promote UALR to a growing group of alumni and valued supporters,” said O’Neal. “Our high-profile graduates are making a difference wherever they live. The new partnership will help us make our alumni a greater part of our university’s heritage through their engagement and giving.”