FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Emily Williams is the new assistant director of development in the University of Arkansas College of Engineering. Emily will be responsible for the stewardship activities of the college by helping to communicate with alumni and keep them informed of how their support makes a difference to students, faculty and staff. She also will be growing a portfolio of major gift prospects and assisting in raising funds in support of engineering programs.

“The College of Engineering is thrilled to welcome Emily to our team,” said Peggy Gabriel, director of development in the College of Engineering. “Her experience in working with key donor groups and communicating with volunteers is a tremendous addition to our group. Her presence here is already having a great impact on the quality of the outreach we are able to do, and I know our alumni are going to enjoy having Emily as a contact here in the dean’s office.”

Williams is originally from Fort Smith, Ark. She has spent the past five years in Washington, D.C., most recently working for the USA Rice Federation as a political action committee manager. In that role, she was responsible for identifying, cultivating and stewarding donors to the federation, primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Texas and California. Prior to that, Williams worked for several years in offices of Congressman Mike Ross as a grants manager.

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in 2001 and a master’s degree in political management from the George Washington University in Washington in 2002.