Matsko, Thomas Join College of Engineering Development Team

Photo by Brandon Ngo

From left: John Matsko, Erin Thomas and Bill Lansden.

The College of Engineering at the U of A has named John Matsko as its senior director of development and Erin Thomas as associate director of development.

“John and Erin are highly accomplished and dedicated professionals, and we are thrilled to have them on the team,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for university advancement. “They have already made an immediate positive impact on the college and the university community.”

Matsko and Thomas join Bill Lansden, chief strategy officer, and Marla Sheely, development support specialist, to advance the college’s fundraising efforts under the leadership of College of Engineering Dean Kim Needy and Varady.

“I’m so grateful for this incredible team of development officers who help our alums stay connected with the college and find ways to give meaningfully to our greatest strategic initiatives,” Needy said. “This group’s depth of expertise and can-do energy will play a vital role in securing resources to support our students and advance the transformative work of our faculty and researchers.”

Matsko comes to the U of A from the University of Cincinnati Foundation, where he served as associate vice president of development and senior associate athletic director. He oversaw the generation of more than $41 million in revenue through major gifts, corporate partnerships and other fundraising initiatives. Prior to that, he was the senior associate director at the Razorback Foundation Inc. 
He previously worked as the assistant athletic director for development at West Virginia University and as the assistant director for development at the University of Texas at El Paso. He held several positions at the University of Kansas from 2001-2006. Matsko holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in sports administration from the University of Kansas.

“I am thrilled to join the College of Engineering as the new senior director of development,” Matsko said. “This role presents an incredible opportunity to support and advance the mission of a college that drives innovation and transforms lives. I look forward to connecting with our incredible alumni to build on the college’s legacy of excellence and ensure its continued success for future generations."

In his new role, Matsko provides oversight and execution of fundraising initiatives to support the College of Engineering’s strategic priorities and to achieve the college’s fundraising goals.

“We are really excited to have John and Erin join our team. With John’s experience working in the Razorback Foundation and Erin’s success at the Ronald McDonald House, we are in a position to raise the needed funds to continue to move the College of Engineering forward,” Lansden said.

Thomas, a Fulbright College alumna, returns to campus as the college’s associate director of development after serving as director of development at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma for nearly five years. Prior to that, she was the assistant manager of volunteer and outreach services at the Fayetteville Public Library and the outreach coordinator for the Ozark Literacy Council.

In her new role, Thomas is instrumental in the fundraising efforts for the College of Engineering and works with constituents to identify and steward a portfolio of donors to advance priorities for the college and support initiatives of the university. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the U of A and was named to the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's 2024 class of Fast 15 honorees.

“As a U of A alumna, I am thrilled to join this talented team at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering. This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the university’s mission of research excellence and student success,” Thomas said. “I look forward to collaborating with Dean Needy, faculty, students, alumni and industry partners to help secure the resources needed to advance engineering education and make a positive impact on our community.”

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 College of Engineering: The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the state’s largest engineering school, offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, online studies and interdisciplinary programs. It enrolls nearly 4,500 students and employs more than 150 faculty and researchers. Its research enterprise generated $46 million in new research awards and $48 million in research expenditures in fiscal 2024. The college’s strategic plan, Vision 2035, seeks to build the premier STEM workforce in accordance with three key objectives: Initiating lifelong student success, generating transformational and relevant knowledge, and becoming the destination of choice among educators, students, staff, industry, alumni and the community. As part of this, the college is increasing graduates and research productivity to expand its footprint as an entrepreneurial engineering platform serving Arkansas and the world. The college embraces its pivotal role in driving economic growth, fueling innovation and educating the next generation of engineers, computer scientists and data scientists to address current and future societal challenges.

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 $3 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.