Annual Giving Donors Celebrated at Fall Chancellor's Society Event

Russell Cothren

Chancellor Joe and Sandy Steinmetz with the 2019-2020 Chancellor's Society co-chairs, Brandy and Erik Tuft.

The University of Arkansas celebrated its most generous annual giving donors at the fall Chancellor's Society event on Oct. 18. More than 300 guests attended the annual event, which was held at the Fowler House Garden and Conservatory. Alumni Erik and Brandy Tuft were on hand as the new co-chairs of the Chancellor's Society and greeted guests alongside Chancellor Joe Steinmetz and his wife Sandy.

The Tufts met on the University of Arkansas campus as students and both graduated from the Sam M. Walton College of Business. The couple reside in Rogers, where Brandy is a managing director of assurance services with Ernst & Young and Erik is a retirement plan advisor with Arvest Wealth Management.

The couple greatly appreciate higher education and believe that the more educated someone is, the better he or she can impact the world around them. They have given generously to the U of A, supporting students through a scholarship in the Walton College and an Advance Arkansas endowment.

"We are so honored and excited to be co-chairs for the Chancellor's Society," Brandy Tuft said. "Erik and I both have such a passion for education and giving to our community. The university played a pivotal role in our development and helped us build a strong foundation, and we feel that by giving back, it helps create the next generation of strong leaders who will advocate for the U of A."

"Erik and Brandy are impressive young alumni who are already building a legacy of giving back on the University of Arkansas campus," said Chancellor Steinmetz. "They have made significant major gifts to support students and continue to give through the annual fund as well. It is an honor to have them representing the Chancellor's Society this year."

Hog Town Hot Club provided entertainment for the evening. The group consists of four musicians — Ed Nicholson and Jim Greeson on guitar, Jim Jernigan on clarinet and Garrett Jones on bass.

More than 125 faculty and staff at the U of A are members of the Chancellor's Society. The society is managed by the Office of Annual Giving and is the most prestigious annual giving group on campus. Donors who contribute $2,000 or more to the university — either through the Chancellor's Society Fund or other areas of campus — are eligible to join. Students and alumni who have graduated within the last five years are eligible at a level of $500 per year, and alumni within six to 10 years of their graduation dates are eligible at a level of $1,000 per year.

Members of the Chancellor's Society understand the critical need for annual gift support — and the immediate impact their gifts have on students, faculty, programs and facilities on campus, year after year. Gifts to the Chancellor's Society also count toward Campaign Arkansas, the university's $1.25 billion capital campaign to advance academic opportunity at the U of A.

For more information about the Chancellor's Society, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at (479) 575-2944 or society@uark.edu.