Missy Darwin Kincaid to Lead Honors College Philanthropic Initiatives

Photo by Brandon Ngo

Missy Darwin Kincaid

U of A alumna and Little Rock native Missy Darwin Kincaid has been named director of development for the Honors College, effective July 15. 

Kincaid joined University Advancement to lead the fundraising efforts of the Honors College and brings over 23 years of fundraising and leadership experience to the university. 

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

In her new position, Kincaid provides strategic oversight of the fundraising efforts for the Honors College and their Dean's Advisory Board and Parents Committee. She will also work with constituents to identify and steward a portfolio of donors to advance priorities for the Honors College and support initiatives of the university.

“Missy is an accomplished professional with an outstanding track record of success, and she possesses an unwavering commitment to the mission and values of the University of Arkansas,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “She is an excellent champion for philanthropy to support the Honors College, and we are thrilled to welcome her as a member of the team in the Advancement Division."

Most recently, Kincaid served as the first Northwest Arkansas development director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. 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 has been a resident of Fayetteville for 24 years and is deeply involved in the Northwest Arkansas community. She 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. 

Kincaid serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington Regional Medical Foundation and is a member of the Rotary Club of Fayetteville. She is active in her church, where she sings in the choir and is a youth counselor, and she is a member of the Modern Literature Club. In 2009, Kincaid served as a volunteer and co-chair on the millage campaign committee to improve Fayetteville High School.

Kincaid also has an extensive background in public service in Washington, D.C. She served on the staff of U.S. Senator David Pryor and in several roles with the Clinton Administration. Among other positions, Kincaid was 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. 

As a U of A student, Kincaid was a member and president of the Psi Chapter of Chi Omega, the national sorority established at the U of A in 1895. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Kincaid is a member of the Chancellor’s Society, Thoroughreds giving society, Women’s Giving Circle and the Arkansas Alumni Association.

About University Advancement: University Advancement advances the mission of the University of Arkansas by raising private gift support from alumni, friends, parents, foundations, corporations, and other institutional supporters. Working in philanthropic partnership with academic leaders and volunteers, Advancement team members are determined to advance the people, work, and impact of the greater whole at the University of Arkansas.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.