UA hires new assistant director for University Initiatives

Will Whiting is the new assistant director of development for University Initiatives at the University of Arkansas.

Whiting returns to the university — where he previously held the role of assistant director of Corporate & Foundation Relations — from Little Rock, where he most recently served as vice president of advocacy and public policy for the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Whiting reports to Charlotte Taylor, senior director of development for University Initiatives within the office of university development.

During his time with the Little Rock Chamber, Whiting was responsible for the public advocacy division, which includes governmental affairs, public relations and public policy.  He planned and implemented several campaigns for the Little Rock Chamber including the passage of a recent sales tax for the city of Little Rock. He was also responsible for the strategic development and management of the newly created Little Rock Technology Park Authority Board.

As the assistant director of Corporate & Foundation Relations at the university, Whiting worked to raise private gift support for special initiatives.

Whiting’s previous experiences include fundraising work for the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation. He also worked at the President William J. Clinton Foundation in Harlem, N.Y., and Little Rock, and he has held positions in university advancement at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to return to the University of Arkansas and serve in this new role,” said Whiting.

Whiting’s community involvement includes current and past involvement with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the Clinton Global Initiative and Literacy Action of Central Arkansas. Whiting serves on the Board of Directors for the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Envoys and Just Communities of Arkansas. He is a former board member of the Public Education Foundation of Little Rock. Whiting was recently selected to serve as a partner fellow with the Truman National Security Project.  He is a founding member of Create Little Rock and a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association.

Whiting holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and a master’s degree in organizational and crisis communication from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.