Knight Named Senior Director for Campaign Priorities

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Kellie Knight.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kellie Knight of Springdale has been named the new senior director of development for campaign priorities at the University of Arkansas, effective Jan. 20.

In this role, Knight will report to Mark Power, associate vice chancellor for university development, and provide oversight for key fundraising priorities related to Campaign Arkansas, the university’s capital campaign, which is still in the organizational phase. She will also work closely with Chris Wyrick, vice chancellor for university advancement.

“Kellie’s institutional knowledge makes her a perfect fit for this position,” said Wyrick. “She is a true professional and an accomplished fundraiser. I am certain she will excel in this new role and look forward to working with her to prioritize the strategic objectives surrounding our capital campaign.”

Knight has been with the university since 2000, when she joined the College of Engineering to work as its scholarship and endowment officer. She later became the college’s assistant director of development before spending three years as the development director for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Knight returned to the College of Engineering as its director of development and external relations in 2010 and was promoted to senior director in 2011. In this role, she led the college as its chief fundraising officer and also served as the communications lead by overseeing a team of development staff, a communications director and a web designer.

“I had the good fortune of joining the development team during the organizational phase of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century,” said Knight. “This allowed me to observe the planning and preparation it takes to unveil a comprehensive capital campaign, not to mention the privilege of watching and learning from exceptional leaders in fundraising. The private gift support we raised transformed the University of Arkansas to heights we enjoy today, and I look forward to the opportunity to help the development team further advance this great institution through Campaign Arkansas.”

Knight holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from the University of Illinois.