John Erck leaving Walton College of Business to lead fundraising efforts at UAMS

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences said Monday (July 26) that John Erck has been hired as vice chancellor for institutional advancement.

Erck is senior director of development and external relations at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He’s had that job since 2013 and led the Walton College’s efforts for Campaign Arkansas, the UA’s fundraising initiative that raised nearly $1.45 billion. The Walton College exceeded its $235 million goal with just over $250 million raised.

Erck, 46, will begin working at UAMS on Aug. 23. He will remain in Northwest Arkansas while traveling frequently to Little Rock and other parts of the state.

“I look forward to working with John,” UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson said in a statement. “He has accomplished impressive things at the University of Arkansas, and I am confident his efforts at UAMS will help support our mission of achieving a better state of health for all Arkansans.”

Erck succeeds Angela Wimmer, who left UAMS in April.

“As the state’s only academic medical center, UAMS plays an important role in the health and well-being of Arkansans,” Erck said in a statement. “I look forward to the chance to support the great work being done at UAMS.”

Before joining the Walton College, Erck served as director of development for the UA athletics department for nearly four years. Erck came to Fayetteville from Vanderbilt University, where he was the director of major gifts and the associate director of athletic development.

Erck graduated from the University of Kansas’ William A. White School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree in business communication. He earned his master’s degree in sport administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he later worked as the assistant director of membership for the university’s Rams Club.

Erck serves on the board of Economics Arkansas, a private nonprofit educational organization to promote economic literacy in Arkansas, and the Donald W. Reynold Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville.

UAMS, the state’s largest public employer, is Arkansas’ only health sciences university, with a medical school and hospital in Little Rock, a campus in Fayetteville and sites in different regions. UAMS is also planning to build an $85 million orthopedic and sports medicine facility in Springdale.