Veteran Administrators Promoted to New Positions in Enrollment Services

By University Relations

l-r: Wendy Stouffer and Philip Blevins

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Wendy Stouffer and Phillip Blevins, two experienced administrators in Enrollment Services at the University of Arkansas, have been promoted to new positions as part of a restructuring of the division.

Stouffer has been appointed associate vice provost for enrollment services and assistant dean of admissions and financial aid. She had previously served as the executive director of academic scholarships and financial aid. In her new position, Stouffer will provide oversight of the Financial Aid Office and Academic Scholarships as well as daily operational oversight of the Credential Evaluation Unit in the Office of Admissions. She is the first person to hold a position that oversees both admissions processing and financial aid at the university. She continues to report to Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions.

“Wendy Stouffer is stepping into a role that is new for our division, created with the idea of continuing to develop enrollment services as a one-stop shop for prospective and continuing students,” said McCray.  “We will benefit greatly from her breadth of understanding of and experience in admissions, academic scholarships, and financial aid.”

Blevins will replace Stouffer as executive director of academic scholarships and financial aid. His responsibilities will include managing and supervising financial aid processes, grants, scholarships and student loans and will involve working closely with outside organizations and students during their tenure at the university. He previously worked as senior associate director of financial aid and academic scholarships. He previously served as senior associate director of financial aid and academic scholarships.

“Phillip is a longtime fan of the one student at a time approach, and he encourages that in staff as well,” said McCray. “He has extensive experience and he will make the transition seamless.”

Stouffer has been at the U of A for 16 years, and has previously held the position of director of academic scholarships and associate director of admissions. She has served on various campus committees, including the Faculty Senate Admissions and Appellate Committee, the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee, and the Athletic Integrity Committee. She was also a member of two Office of the Provost committees: the Enrollment Advisory Committee and the Scholarship Review Committee. Stouffer was also elected to the College Board’s Southwestern Regional Council.

“While admissions and financial aid started cross-training on some duties a few years ago, we officially started aligning the offices last summer when we created two new positions that spend six months primarily working on admissions duties and six months on financial aid responsibilities,” said Stouffer. “This new organizational structure will allow Enrollment Services to continue to find creative ways to maximize our human and technological resources to better serve our students.”

Stouffer is a Rogers native who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice and a law degree, both from the University of Arkansas. She practiced law before joining the university in 2001 as assistant director of admissions.

Blevins has been with the U of A for 14 years, serving as a systems analyst for the university, and prior to that as a computer support specialist, beginning in 2002. He holds a bachelor of science degree in information technology, and a master’s degree in information technology, both from the University of Arkansas.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the university,” said Blevins. “And I feel very privileged to work with the amazing and dedicated financial aid staff. I look forward to continuing to promote access to higher education and success on campus.”

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.