Kincaid named UA Honors College director of development

Missy Darwin Kincaid has been named director of development at the University of Arkansas’ Honors College, the university announced Monday (Aug. 12). The university alumna and Little Rock native began the job July 15.

According to the university, Kincaid has 23 years of fundraising and leadership experience and will lead fundraising work with the Honors College

“Missy Kincaid brings to the Honors College a wealth of experience in philanthropy, community engagement and advocacy,” Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College, said in the statement. “Her energy coupled with her love for the University of Arkansas are electrifying—the effects are already palpable in our wing of Gearhart Hall.”

Kincaid is tasked to provide strategic oversight of the fundraising efforts for the Honors College and their Dean’s Advisory Board and Parents Committee. She will also work with donors and other stakeholders to work on priorities for the Honors College and support overall university initiatives.

She recently was the first Northwest Arkansas development director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families where she helped increase giving by 230% and secured the largest individual and planned gifts in the history of the organization. Prior to that, Kincaid was the vice president of development and the director of donor engagement for Walton Arts Center. During her tenure, she led a $23 million capital campaign, and her team was responsible for raising $7 million annually from individuals, corporations and foundations.

“As a U of A alumna and the parent of two Honors College graduates, I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the institution that has had such a profound impact on my family,” Kincaid said. “I look forward to working with Dean (Lynda) Coon and the Honors College team and getting to know alumni and friends as we develop this remarkable academic resource for our students and faculty. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and our extraordinary faculty, we can challenge and support student success across campus and around the world.”

Kincaid is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and in 2015 was honored as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is on the board of directors for the Washington Regional Medical Foundation and is a member of the Rotary Club of Fayetteville. In 2009, Kincaid served as a volunteer and co-chair on the millage campaign committee to improve Fayetteville High School.

Kincaid also was on the staff of U.S. Sen. David Pryor, D-Ark., and worked in several roles with the Clinton Administration, including being a protocol officer for the U.S. Department of State, chief of staff for the U.S. Small Business Administration and special assistant to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Kincaid also taught English as a Second Language in the former Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Fulbright College of Arts and Science.