Development Leader Appointed to Regional Board

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Clay Edwards, associate vice chancellor for university development at the University of Arkansas, has been appointed to the district III board of directors of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

The announcement was made at the CASE III district conference held Feb. 20-23 in Atlanta.

G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for university advancement, said: “We are pleased that the CASE III membership has elected Clay to serve on the board. It is a great honor for one of our staff to be able to give back to the profession in this manner.”

 “It’s a pleasure to be able to serve on the board of directors for our region,” Edwards said. “CASE provides vital services to our profession, and I am honored and pleased to be invited to serve on the Board.”

CASE, headquartered in Washington, D.C., with an office in London, is the professional organization for advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni relations, communications and development. Its membership includes more than 3,000 colleges, universities and independent elementary and secondary schools in the United States, Canada, Mexico and 42 other countries. It is the largest nonprofit education association in terms of institutional membership. CASE is divided into eight districts. The University of Arkansas is part of district III, one of the largest districts comprising most of the Southern states and all of the Southeastern Conference schools. CASE III provides many support functions for universities, colleges and independent schools and is responsible for developing standards and practices in the fields of alumni relations, development and university relations.

Scott Wells, chair of the CASE District III board of directors, said: “The CASE III board of directors is fortunate to have Clay Edwards join this group of dedicated volunteers who are committed to enhancing the advancement profession in the southeast. The University of Arkansas has seen major growth in the development area recently and we are pleased to have his years of experience to serve our members. Clay has been a distinguished speaker at our conferences and I'm thrilled he has agreed to take his participation to a new level by serving on the board as an at-large member.”

Edwards, a Fayetteville resident who has been with the University of Arkansas since 1998, will serve as a director for two years. He and his wife, Sandy, also an associate vice chancellor of development at the University of Arkansas, manage the Campaign for the Twenty First Century for the University of Arkansas.