Fast 15: Ashlie Junot Hilbun

It’s all about making connections that count. It’s about matching passion and purpose and making all of it work for the greater good. In a nutshell, that’s what Ashlie Junot Hilbun does as director of development and external relations for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. 

One aspect of the job that makes it so challenging is the sheer scale of the operation. The Fulbright College encompasses 33 percent of the student body, 46 percent of the faculty and 19 academic departments, including fields as diverse as the performing arts, international studies and geosciences.

Hilbun embraces the magnitude of the endeavor.

“That’s what I love about the job — it’s three-dimensional,” Hilbun said. “It’s a big job with big ideas and it’s a big college.”

While Hilbun admits managing a vast donor portfolio can feel overwhelming at times, she’s also confident in her ability to make and support the perfect fit between donor and program.

“I get the satisfaction from constantly working with people and connecting people who are passionate about what they’re doing,” she said.

As proof of the tangible results private donations can make, Hilbun points to the $6-million gift to help renovate the Old Field House on Garland Avenue. Once completed, the 650-seat Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center will host the university’s bands, choirs and theater troupes and will replace the 238-seat Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall and the 250-seat University Theater.

“This is impactful stuff,” Hilbun said.

A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Hilbun holds a doctorate from the UA, a master’s from Tulane University and a bachelor’s from Centenary College of Louisiana. In 2006, she was a national collegiate women’s finalist in Shotokan karate.

Even though her work and academic schedule has been chock-full over the last decade, Hilbun has found plenty of time to give back to the community. In the fields of disaster relief and construction in impoverished areas, Hilbun has worked in Louisiana, Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Missouri and Central America.

Her work in the wake of natural disasters helped set the stage for what she does now — raising money to support the dreams of students and professors.

“If you’re in a position to help, you can and you should,” she said.