UAPB Appoints Kristi Smith Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement

Experienced advancement leader to strengthen philanthropy, alumni engagement and strategic partnerships in support of UAPB's path toward preeminence The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has appointed Kristi L. Smith as vice chancellor for institutional advancement, effective November 9th, 2026. Smith brings nearly two decades of experience in higher education, institutional advancement, alumni engagement, fundraising, public relations, and strategic relationship development. She currently serves as associate vice chancellor for alumni and development at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she provides strategic leadership for alumni engagement, annual giving, planned giving, and corporate and foundation relations. Loading advertisement… As UAPB's chief advancement officer and a member of the Chancellor's Executive Cabinet, Smith will provide strategic leadership for the university's comprehensive advancement enterprise, including fundraising and development, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, advancement services, donor stewardship, and the university's relationship with the UAPB Foundation. 'I am excited to welcome Mrs. Smith to UAPB and believe her extensive experience in advancement, knowledge of Arkansas's philanthropic landscape, and demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships will be tremendous assets to our University,' Chancellor Anthony Graham said. 'I look forward to working with her as we continue building the partnerships and philanthropic support necessary to advance UAPB's mission and our aspiration for national preeminence.' Smith has played a leadership role in UA Little Rock's historic $250 million Centennial Campaign, which has raised more than $248 million toward its goal. During her tenure, she has helped strengthen philanthropic and alumni engagement across the institution, including leading the university's Campus Campaign, which has increased faculty and staff giving participation by 15 percent since 2020. She also helped advance Taste of Little Rock, an alumni and community engagement initiative that generated more than $1 million for student scholarships. Before becoming associate vice chancellor in 2022, Smith served as UA Little Rock's senior director of alumni and development and senior director of development. Her accomplishments include securing a $600,000 gift from the Crankstart Foundation for student scholarships and supporting the cultivation and stewardship of significant philanthropic investments, including activities surrounding a transformational $10 million gift from the Donaghey Foundation. Smith's professional experience also extends beyond higher education advancement. Before returning to UA Little Rock in 2016, she spent nine years at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, where she was recognized as one of the company's top-performing sales professionals nationally. Earlier in her career, she served as administrative director of education in the Department of Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and held positions within the Graduate School at UA Little Rock. Smith earned both her Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from UA Little Rock. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXVI and currently serves on the Leadership Greater Little Rock Alumni Board and LifeTouch Health Governance Board. Little Rock Soirée also recognized her as one of its 2022 Women to Watch. Loading advertisement… In her new role, Smith will help strengthen UAPB's philanthropic capacity, deepen relationships with alumni and friends of the university, expand corporate and foundation partnerships, and more intentionally align fundraising with UAPB's strategic priorities