The Arkansas Alumni Association is proud to welcome our two newest staff members, Julie Preddy and Heath Bowman.
With a background in volunteer management, Preddy joins the Association with an extensive list of accomplishments in volunteer service. Serving on the board of directors for various organizations, such as Fayetteville Public Schools, the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, Life Styles, Inc., and the Elizabeth Richardson Center, she has provided her knowledge and skills to volunteer services, event management, and volunteer and donor cultivation.
Her work in volunteer management has enabled her to take on various projects within the community, including the 2008 Northwest Arkansas Documentary Film Festival, which she considers to be one of her biggest volunteer highlights. In addition, she is the former communications director for the United Way of Washington County, where she oversaw multiple projects and special events. Deciding to go back to school, Preddy graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
As Associate Director of the NWA territory, Preddy will support the Northwest Arkansas Chapter volunteers, as well as act as the contact for professional alumni societies, such as the Law Alumni Society, the Sam M. Walton College of Business Alumni Society and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. She will also work to form relationships with notable community, non-profit and educational organizations, all who have similar goals as the Association. She will also be working on the communication and marketing strategies of the Association’s newest, Arkansas Alumni Career Network.
Joining Preddy on the programs team is Heath Bowman, who has worked as the Student Programs Coordinator for the past two years at the Arkansas Alumni Association. Overseeing the program, he has worked hard to reorganize it to better fit the mission of the Association. The reason for the program shift was to allow students the opportunity to serve in positions that relate to their interests and career goals. In the past year, the number of student volunteers has increased from 25 to 265.
Graduating in 2007 from Texas Tech, with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, Bowman is currently studying at the University of Arkansas and will graduate this May with a master’s in higher education.
As Assistant Director of the out-of-state territory, Bowman will work to support the out-of-state chapter volunteers, as well as work with the Razorback Band Alumni Society. In addition, he will serve as the special project manager for alumni ambassadors who are involved in student recruitment activities.
