Zach Peña Joins UAMS Institutional Advancement as Executive Director of Development
| LITTLE ROCK — Zach Peña has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Office of Institutional Advancement as an executive director of development, effective June 3.
Peña has more than a decade of experience in development at Texas Tech University and has supported college and system development teams in fundraising and advancement services. At UAMS he will lead the newly created institutional initiatives major gift team, which works to secure major gifts that support UAMS’ highest priorities.
”We are excited to have someone with Zach’s strong fundraising background, passion for our work and love of our region joining us,” said Angela Wimmer, M.Ed., vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement. “He brings significant fundraising experience to the position, is an effective and innovative leader, and a great addition to the UAMS team.”
“Zach excels at building a culture of collaboration and success, and we are delighted to have him lead our institutional initiatives team,” said Brigitte Grant, MBA, senior associate vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement. “We are excited to have him both as a front-line fundraiser and as an emerging leader in our field.” Early in his career at Texas Tech, Peña spearheaded fundraising for the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts. While serving as director of annual giving, he launched the first leadership annual giving program as well as the award-winning Texas Tech University Student Loyalty Council, the university’s student philanthropy group. Following time as a development professional for the Rawls College of Business, he returned to Texas Tech to grow the Chancellor’s Council, the university giving society, and developed an innovative training program for development professionals.
Peña holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Texas Tech and has presented at various development conferences across the country.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###