Development director named for UA libraries

FAYETTEVILLE – Dani Porter-Lansky is the new director of development for the University of Arkansas Libraries. She comes to Arkansas from Las Vegas, Nev. Porter-Lansky reports to the dean of University Libraries, Carolyn Henderson Allen, and to the assistant vice chancellor for development, Mark Power.

“We’re delighted to welcome Dani to the university libraries,” said Allen. “She brings a wealth of knowledge about academic libraries, development, research and relationship building. Her experience, expertise and passion for lifelong learning are critical to our continued growth as a nationally competitive and student-centered research library.”

Porter-Lansky most recently held the position of prospect research and stewardship manager at the San Diego Zoo Global in San Diego, Calif. There, she proposed prospects for giving programs, supervised donor relations and worked on major fundraising events.

Her previous experience includes a librarian position in Las Vegas. Prior to that role, she was the director of development for the university libraries at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. As the director of development, Porter-Lansky planned and directed a comprehensive major gift and advancement program, managing an extensive portfolio of benefactors, prospective donors, foundations and corporations. She also produced fundraising communications materials and engaged volunteers in fundraising initiatives. Like the University of Arkansas, the campus included one main research library and several specialized libraries.

“Dani’s familiarity with the operation of university libraries will undoubtedly make her transition to the University of Arkansas a seamless one,” said Power. “She is passionate about advancing our libraries’ offerings to the campus and to the community as a whole, and I look forward to collaborating with Dani and Dean Allen on these efforts.”

Porter-Lansky has extensive current and past involvement in professional development organizations including the American Library Association, the Advancement Professionals’ Research Association, the Academic Library Advancement and Development Network and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

“As a librarian, I’m thrilled to be returning to library development in higher education, especially for the University of Arkansas, where the spirit of generosity shines big and bright,” said Porter-Lansky. “With libraries at the crossroads of tradition and technology, now is an essential time to grow Arkansas’ education research for the benefit of the university, the state of Arkansas and beyond.”

Porter-Lansky holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the California State University and a master’s degree in library and information science from Louisiana State University. She and her husband, Meyer Lansky II, live in Fayetteville.