Shannon Fleming Named Senior Director of Development for UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging
| LITTLE ROCK — Shannon Fleming has been named senior director of development for the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), effective May 29.
He comes to UAMS from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he served since 2013 as executive director of the university’s foundation, which had more than $118 million in assets, including $75 million in endowments.
“From the beginning of our search, it was evident Shannon Fleming was the most-qualified person for the job,” said Jeanne Wei, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Reynolds Institute. “We are delighted to have him join our team and are sure that he will help us achieve our mission of improving senior care in Arkansas and across the nation.”
Fleming brings 30 years of experience in higher education to his UAMS post. In the last four decades, he has worked at various Arkansas institutions. He spent six years as assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and two years as chief development officer at Henderson State University.
He served three years as associate vice president for advancement at the University of Central Arkansas. During that time, he helped plan a $35 million campaign and assisted in securing the lead gift of $3.5 million.
Prior to his time at the University of Southern Mississippi, Fleming spent seven years as vice president for institutional advancement at Philander Smith College, where his responsibilities included supervision of the college’s fundraising, marketing, public relations and alumni services. Among his accomplishments there, he secured the college’s first $1 million individual gift, first Kresge grant, for $1.2 million, and a $1 million capacity-building grant. He also completed three challenge grants that brought $1.3 million to the college. During his tenure, Philander Smith saw significant gains in alumni donations, including a 39-percent increase in gifts of $1,000 or more.
“The Reynolds Institute has done, and will continue to do, incredible work to improve life for the aging population in Arkansas and across the nation,” said Fleming. “It is an honor to join the talented staff and help them continue to provide world-class medical care.”
Fleming earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1982, and his master’s in business administration from Louisiana Tech University in 1983. He earned his doctorate of education in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1997.