FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Laura Gray, a UA alumna from Fayetteville, has been named assistant director of development for the University of Arkansas J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, effective Nov. 7, 2002.

The assistant director of development for the Fulbright College helps to plan and implement the college’s fund-raising priorities and institutional advancement activities. This position reports to the director of development of the college, Dina Wood, and is part of an overall university advancement program. The assistant director of development’s primary responsibility is to secure private sector funding and to foster relationships for the college.

Gray will work closely with the college’s director of development and will play an important role in executing the college’s component of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, which includes raising funds for the college, the University Museum and University Bands.

Clay Edwards, assistant vice chancellor for university development, said, "We welcome Laura to University of Arkansas development. Her diverse background and professional experience will be a vital part of the development team in Fulbright College as they continue to grow and expand their program."

Gray earned her BA in English and political science from the University of North Alabama, her master’s in English from University of Montevallo (a liberal arts college in Montevallo, Ala.) and is an M.F.A. graduate of the University of Arkansas Creative Writing program. Prior to joining development, Gray was a full-time English instructor at the University of Arkansas. She previously worked as an admissions counselor at the University of Montevallo. As such, she traveled extensively and presented recruitment information, and developed special programming and events.

She previously worked for Lozier Industries as a human resources specialist where the greatest part of her responsibilities was to manage public relations and special programs for the company. While there, she developed and implemented a marketing campaign for a major annual fundraising drive. She has grant-writing experience and in the early 1990s, she worked for Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity for Women, based in Indianapolis, as an international leadership consultant. Her responsibilities included development of locally based fund-raising strategies that contributed to their national capital campaign efforts. She also worked in human resources for Lozier Industries and for Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity.

Gray said, "I look forward to making a positive impact on my alma mater by working on behalf of the students and faculty to help strengthen Fulbright College’s advancement efforts."

The Fulbright College’s Campaign goal is to raise $40 million in gifts and pledges by June 30, 2005. As of Oct. 31, 2002, $25.5 million has been raised. The goal set for Razorback Bands is $5 million, of which $2.5 million has been raised during the same time period.