Jeff Weaver will be joining the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture as its director for government affairs and stakeholder engagement, a new position, starting Jan. 2.
“Jeff is a perfect fit to fill a critical position on our team,” said Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System. “Jeff brings a wealth of experience not only within the U of A System, but also the workings inside the Beltway and its impacts within Arkansas. Jeff also has a solid track record for development, which will be of great benefit to the Division of Agriculture.”
“I am excited to take my experience in government relations and fundraising to support the research and outreach the Division has been conducting for decades,” Weaver said. “I thank Dr. Fields for this opportunity. He has assembled a great team, and I am thrilled to be a part of that group.”
Weaver also expressed thanks to the University of Arkansas at Monticello for the opportunity to work for his alma mater, an institution he says has been “vital to the growth and sustainability of the Arkansas Delta.”
In his new position, Weaver will handle in-state government affairs and coordinate fundraising from a base in Little Rock. Chuck Culver, assistant vice president and director of external relations, will continue working with Congress and development efforts.
“I am looking forward to advocating for the research and outreach that supports Arkansas’ largest industry,” Weaver said. “I’m impressed with the diversity of projects and missions of the Division of Agriculture. I want to be able to convey that breadth of work to our elected officials.”
A native of the Arkansas Delta, Weaver said he has a passion for rural development.
“Growing up in Dumas, I see how important it is for our smaller towns that rely on farming to have the support to be sustainable,” he said.
Weaver has served as vice chancellor for advancement at the University of Arkansas at Monticello since 2018. During his tenure, UAM raised more than $16 million and created 37 endowments, and gained its two largest private gifts in the school’s history.
Between June 2015 and June 2018, he was vice president for external affairs at National Park College in Hot Springs. His prior posts include campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, state director for U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, and field director for U.S. Rep. Marion Berry. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant intern for U.S. Sen. Blanche Lambert Lincoln.
“My interest in public policy and politics started in college,” Weaver said. “I was fortunate to work for a few great public servants and really get a 30,000 feet view of the state by being a congressional staffer.
“Agriculture and education were always important topics because one is the state’s largest industry, and the other, in my opinion, is the most transformative issue for the Arkansas Delta,” he said. “The Division of Agriculture has a great reputation, and the University of Arkansas System is the gold standard when it comes to research and education and getting that research in the hands of the farmers.”
Weaver served on the UAM Alumni Foundation Board and was named among Arkansas Business’ 40 under 40 in 2008. In 2016 and 2017, he earned nine Medallion Awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations with National Park College.
Weaver earned his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and his bachelor’s in political science from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Weaver and his wife Aimee have two daughters, Lauren and Ella. Lauren, of Bentonville, is a healthcare marketing consultant. Ella is a sophomore in high school. Aimee is a former small business owner who was director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at UAM.
