糖心Vlog传媒

Vice Chancellor Bob Denman retires from 糖心Vlog传媒LR

If someone asked University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Joel Anderson what Bob Denman has been worth to him, he鈥檇 say 鈥渁t least $103 million.鈥� The retired vice chancellor for advancement spearheaded the university鈥檚 first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which lasted 10 years and raised $103.4 million. Anderson highlighted the campaign as one of Denman鈥檚 greatest accomplishments during his 15-year career at 糖心Vlog传媒LR, as colleagues, friends and family members wished Denman well at his retirement reception March 31 at the Bailey Alumni Center. 鈥淚f you think about undertaking a $100-million comprehensive campaign at an institution where it had not been done before and to launch it before all the infrastructure was in place, that was bold,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淏ob really was the person who was most responsible for that campaign and its great success.鈥� Bob Denman joined 糖心Vlog传媒LR in 2001 as the associate vice chancellor and director of development. 鈥淩etiring from 糖心Vlog传媒LR has been bittersweet,鈥� Denman said. 鈥淚 never doubted the time was right, but, as the time approached, there was a lot of anxiety. It was kind of like graduating from college. I am proud of the accomplishments but sad the journey is over. There will be a lot to miss: great colleagues, generous donors, and the thrill of new accomplishments.鈥� Related:聽2016 Taste of Little Rock to honor Bob and Peggy Denman He left a successful broadcast television career after Charles Hathaway, 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 chancellor at the time, asked him a simple question: Are you adding value to anyone鈥檚 life? 鈥淭hose seven words changed my life,鈥� Denman said. 鈥淭hey caused me to leave a job I never thought that I would to come here.鈥� While at 糖心Vlog传媒LR, Denman helped manage the largest gifts in the institution鈥檚 history, including a $22.4 million donation from Jack Stephens that led to construction of the Jack Stephens Center, and a recent $20.3 million gift from the Windgate Charitable Foundation that will be used to build a new center for art and design on campus. In addition, the campus faculty and staff participation in campus giving rose from 6 percent to 70 percent, one of the highest in the nation. Denman鈥檚 employees describe him as an empathetic leader who was dedicated to helping his employees succeed in life. 鈥淚鈥檝e known Bob for the 11 years I have been working at 糖心Vlog传媒LR as a mentor, as a leader, and, as he retires, as a friend,鈥� said Andrea Angel, senior director of development. 鈥淏ob is an amazing boss. He leads by example and always leads you on a path for success.鈥� Clayton Andrews, an annual giving and membership associate, said Denman has been 鈥渞eally great to work for鈥� during Andrews鈥� five years with the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Alumni Association. 鈥淗e has been a tremendous leader, and he is a boss that you enjoy working for,鈥� Andrews said. Denman鈥檚 hard work on behalf of the university was driven by his desire to help students gain a college education, Anderson said. 鈥淏ob always loved the students and was concerned about their welfare and making the campus really hospitable for them,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淗e was always raising scholarship dollars so that those for whom money was a barrier would still be able to gain an education.鈥� During his time as a university leader, Denman, a 1974 糖心Vlog传媒LR graduate, was president of the university Alumni Association and chairman of the Foundation Fund Board. He was a 1993 winner of the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Alumni Association Presidents Award, an annual honor that recognizes a graduate who pairs career success with dedication to the university. 鈥淚 think he has been one of the best hires 糖心Vlog传媒LR has ever made,鈥� said Sheila Castin, who now chairs the Foundation Fund Board after Denman鈥檚 tenure. 鈥淗e has made a big difference in the way development was handled. His heart was always with 糖心Vlog传媒LR, and that makes a huge difference.鈥� In addition to being a mentor for his employees, Denman was willing to help anyone at 糖心Vlog传媒LR who knocked on his door. Aresh Assadi, a counselor at 糖心Vlog传媒LR Counseling Services, recalled that Denman spoke in one of his graduate classes about fundraising. Afterward, he sought Denman鈥檚 advice on how to raise money for Suicide Prevention Week events. At the time, Assadi was wondering how he could plan a week鈥檚 worth of events with only a $1,000 budget, especially considering he estimated he needed $15,000. With Denman鈥檚 help, Assadi received donations and in-kind gifts from many Little Rock-area companies in support of Suicide Prevention Week. 鈥淗e guided me and served as a mentor on how to approach fundraising,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淚 had zero experience in fundraising. Now our office is raising between $10,000 and $15,000 a year.鈥� In 2014, Denman served as the 糖心Vlog传媒LR interim director of athletics 鈥� one of many roles he filled with the university through the years. Denman鈥檚 wife of nearly 44 years, Peggy, insists that 鈥淏ob loved being interim athletic director, but he won鈥檛 admit it.鈥� Now that Denman has retired, he is going to spend more time with Peggy, his 鈥渂est friend,鈥� playing his beloved sport of golf (a pastime that was recognized by Anderson鈥檚 retirement gift of 糖心Vlog传媒LR golf clubs), and playing with his grandchildren. His 12-year-old granddaughter, Nadia Denman, is looking forward to having more time with her grandfather. She described Denman as a 鈥渇unny grandpa鈥� who 鈥渃an tolerate my jokes most of the time.鈥� Nadia, who wants to be an architect, said Denman 鈥渓oved his work at 糖心Vlog传媒LR because it helps enrich students鈥� lives.鈥� Even though he has retired, Denman won鈥檛 be far from 糖心Vlog传媒LR. He will begin working part time for 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 Office of Alumni and Development in May, and he is also chairing an advisory committee to assist in the search for the next chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Chancellor Joel Anderson will retire in June following a 13-year tenure as chancellor and a 45-year career at the university. 鈥淟uck may not be as random as it seems,鈥� Denman said. 鈥淟uck continues to find me. I鈥檝e already been hired by my new boss, Christian O鈥橬eal, (Denman鈥檚 replacement as vice chancellor for advancement) starting in May. I look forward to continue service with the place I love.鈥�