Marcia Overby, associate vice chancellor for administration and director of operations in the Office of the Chancellor, has retired after 40 years of service to the U of A.    

Over the course of her career, Overby supported five chancellors, serving as a behind-the-scenes constant through periods of transition, transformation and tremendous growth.  

Indispensable to the Chancellor's Office

"Marcia's contributions have helped shape the University of Arkansas in countless ways over the course of four decades," said Chancellor Charles Robinson. "Her knowledge, dedication and genuine love for the U of A have made her a great colleague. We are grateful for her many years of service and wish her much happiness in retirement."  

Former chancellors who worked with Overby echoed that appreciation. "She was the epitome of the word initiative," said Chancellor Emeritus Dan Ferritor. "If there was a job that needed to be done, Marcia was ready to do it. She was just a super employee."  

"Marcia provided five chancellors with advice and counsel that few others could provide: that of a working wife, mother and student who loved the University of Arkansas," said Chancellor Emeritus John White. "I knew I could count on her to tell me what I needed to hear, not just what I wanted to hear. I knew she was loyal to me, but I also knew she was even more loyal to the University of Arkansas."  

"Marcia Overby has been indispensable to the Chancellor's Office," said Chancellor Emeritus Dave Gearhart. "She deserves a long and joyful retirement, but losing her will be a challenge. Marcia has done a spectacular job and is beloved by all the many people that have worked with and known her through the years. She helped manage the Chancellor's Office and served as liaison to the system office in Little Rock. She is absolutely the best!"  

A Reservoir of Institutional Knowledge 

With her decades of experience, Overby developed a unique grasp of the people, policies and patterns that shaped the university over time. When questions came up about how something should be handled or why a policy existed, she usually had the answer.  

"I worked down the hall from Marcia for more than a quarter century," said Don Pederson, provost emeritus and former vice chancellor for financial affairs. "There was not a time when I asked her about something that she was not able to provide an appropriate answer. She was a reservoir of institutional knowledge that she graciously shared when asked, and I am forever grateful."  

Her work touched nearly every part of the office — from managing budget operations to coordinating Board of Trustees agenda items, helping launch the Fowler House Conservatory event space and serving as a sounding board to senior leaders and new staff alike.  

"When I first joined the Chancellor's Office, Marcia was an essential mentor," said Derrick Hartberger, associate director of operations and special events. "She didn't just explain how things were done — she helped me understand the thinking behind them. I'll always be grateful for her support."    

Four Generations of Razorbacks

Overby's career began in 1976, when she took a clerical job in Finance and Administration at age 19. She is the third generation of her family to work on campus, following her grandfather in Facilities Management and her father, who was a printer in the university's print shop. "Back then, my dad and I would meet for lunch at Brough Commons every day," Overby recalled. "That was a special time."   

The U of A was also where she met her future husband, Bill Overby, who worked in payroll. Though they first met early in their careers, it wasn't until years later, after Marcia had briefly left the university and returned, that they reconnected. "He heard my voice before he saw me," she said. "And when he did, the first thing he said was, 'Let me see your left hand.' A year later, we were married."  

The couple have lived in the same Fayetteville home for nearly four decades. Their son, Hank, is the prep chef at Fayetteville's Catfish Hole restaurant. He and his wife, Alyssa Draper, both attended the U of A and currently raise cattle west of Fayetteville.  

Never Stop Learning

Overby moved through roles in the Registrar's Office and, after taking a few years off to stay home with her young son, returned in 1993 to join the Chancellor's Office, where she became a fixture. Even as titles changed — from administrative assistant to associate vice chancellor — her approach remained the same: do what needs to be done, do it well and never stop learning.  

"Jack of all trades — that's how I'd describe it," Overby said. "Every time the chancellor changed, the office changed. I just adapted to what was needed."  

One constant throughout her career was her commitment to learning. With encouragement from Chancellor White, Overby took advantage of the U of A' s employee tuition discount and earned her bachelor's degree. But she didn't stop there.  

"Needless to say, when Marcia completed her bachelor's degree, I encouraged her to pursue a master's degree, which she did — again while working full-time," White said. "In typical Marcia Overby fashion, she pursued and completed her doctorate. I would not have been more pleased if she were my daughter. I was so very, very proud of her."    

"The thing that really typifies her career is that she was always committed to learning and personal growth," Ferritor said. "I would be surprised, happily surprised, if any other employee took better advantage of the university's career ladder opportunities. She earned a bachelor's, a master's and a doctorate while working full-time. Come on! Who does that?"  

"I never took a semester off between 2000 and 2014," Overby said. "Not even summers. I went straight through all three degrees, and I loved every minute of it. I was that student who didn't want class to end."  

Her doctoral dissertation focused on university fundraising and drew on her own experience supporting the U of A's transformative Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. It also gave her the chance to interview chancellors, trustees and university system leaders she had worked with for years — a full-circle moment in a career defined by service and growth.   

That same spirit of service led to her longtime involvement with the University of Arkansas Women’s Giving Circle, a philanthropic group that supports student success along with women’s and children’s initiatives across Arkansas. As a member of the Circle, Overby was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2023, recognized alongside her fellow members for their collective impact.

The Women's Hall of Fame, with Marcia Overby at center next to former Provost Terry Martin.

Not Slowing Down

Overby has no plans to slow down anytime soon. A skilled crafter, she sews, quilts, weaves baskets, crochets, knits, paints and creates resin art. She's also active in the Elks Lodge, where her elaborate costumes have earned her a reputation — and more than a few prizes.  

"My husband says I have more hobbies than any one person should be allowed," she laughed. "But that's what makes me happy: making things, learning new things and being around good people."