The College of Engineering has named Bill Lansden as its new Senior Director of Development. Lansden comes to the University of Arkansas from Virginia Tech, where he served as senior associate athletic director, focusing on fundraising. In that role, he led a 19-person team responsible for all facets of a comprehensive athletic development program.

His leadership of the Hokie Scholarship Fund resulted in $16.2 million in giving, a record 62 percent increase from the previous year. That was followed by a new record of $16.8 million in 2018. That same year, his development team generated $47 million in cash donations, an all-time high.

Lansden has 24 years of experience in development and external relations, with 17 years in leadership roles at various schools.

In the College of Engineering, Lansden will oversee fundraising, communications and alumni engagement activities for the college.

John English, dean of engineering, said he was pleased to add Lansden to the team.

"Bill will bring a new energy and sense of momentum to the remaining months of Campaign Arkansas and beyond," English said. "He has tremendous leadership experience and will be a fantastic resource for our volunteers and alumni. I look forward to working with him to accomplish the fundraising needs of the college."

Lansden said, "I am very appreciative to Dean English for this wonderful opportunity to work in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas. I am eager to help continue our momentum and am looking forward to working with our alumni and friends."

Katy Nelson-Ginder, associate vice chancellor for development, says Lansden has a proven track record of managing high performance teams.

"We are very excited about Bill's leadership skills and the successful outcomes he has achieved in increasing donor engagement and giving in his previous roles," Nelson-Ginder said. "Our alumni and friends will also appreciate that Bill and his family have a connection to Arkansas."

Lansden comes to Fayetteville with strong ties to the University of Arkansas. His wife, Blair, holds a bachelor's degree in education from the U of A and played basketball during her college career. She spent 15 years as a Division 1 basketball coach. 

Prior to Virginia Tech, Lansden served as a senior associate athletics director at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and associate athletics director for athletics development at the University of Memphis.