By Fred L. Jones, Jr.
Marla Mayberry, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the University of Arkansas, will join the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as the newly appointed Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and Development.
“Today, I celebrate new beginnings!” said Mayberry. “I am honored to serve among the dynamic team at UAPB. A promising beginning that I am certain will yield incredible opportunities for the students, university, and the city!”
After a national search conducted by Gonser Gerber, a firm that specializes in advancement and development, Mayberry will replace James Tyson, who left the position last year. Mayberry, who has more than 20 years of progressively responsible experience leading nonprofit and higher education development teams, has led organizations through start-up, survival, turnaround and growth modes. Her understanding of both distribution channels encompasses major fundraising, community advocacy and involvement, strategic planning, process improvement, financial management, leadership, and government. Before she arrived at UA, she had major fundraising roles for four years as Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Tulsa before enhancing her development experience by returning to the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League as the Chief Executive Officer and later Metro Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.
Mayberry’s leadership has extended beyond the workplace. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Phillips Theological Seminary, 2025 Vision Commission Board for the City of Tulsa, the Economic Development Initiative – Leadership Team, Links, Inc. and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Mayberry also has served as an adjunct instructor in the Metro Campus Communications Department at Tulsa Community College. She holds a Master of Human Relations degree with an emphasis in Organizational Development from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Langston University. Mayberry is an alumnus of Booker T Washington Sr. High School in Tulsa. She and her husband Lee are the parents of 5 daughters and one grandson.
