Stewart Chosen to Head Arkansas Alumni Association

Graham G. Stewart has been named associate vice chancellor for alumni and executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association at the University of Arkansas, the school announced Wednesday.

Stewart currently works as assistant vice president for alumni relations and executive director of the alumni association at Ohio University. He’ll start work at the UA on May 14.

“Of all the great candidates, Graham stood out as having the best combination of leadership and management skills and experience,” UA vice chancellor for university advancement Brad Choate said in a news release. “He has a deep understanding of alumni and advancement work and possesses a positive, can-do attitude that fits extremely well with our alumni association’s staff, volunteer and member culture. We look forward to his arrival on campus.”

Stewart will replace Mike Macechko, who is retiring in June after 24 years at the UA. During Macechko’s time, the UA alumni association’s membership has more than doubled, making it one of the top 10 universities in the nation for alumni who claim membership, as well as for membership retention.

Stewart also has led alumni associations at Ithaca College and the University at Buffalo, and was the marketing and public relations director for Cornell University’s performing arts center. He holds a bachelor of fine arts degree and a master’s degree in communication from Ithaca College.

“There’s obviously great affinity for the University of Arkansas and I look forward to building on that enthusiasm to the benefit of alumni, the association and the university,” Stewart said in the release.