UAMS College Names First Associate Dean for Student Success

By Jon Parham

Pilgreen’s role is to assist planning and implementation of activities that promote student success and engagement. His work includes recruitment and retention, diversity and inclusiveness, academic support services, leadership development and campus life enhancement, said College of Health Related Professions Dean Douglas Murphy, Ph.D.

“Dr. Pilgreen comes to us with extensive experience as a professional and educator in higher education administration and student services,” Murphy said. “As our enrollment and number of programs grow, we need to improve coordination of student recruitment and support along with student and alumni engagement so we can maximize the effectiveness of services available to our students.”

Pilgreen has worked as a student affairs professional for more than 26 years and has expertise in student development, recruitment and retention. He has served in administrative positions at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) since 1996, most recently as assistant professor in charge of the College Student Personnel Administration program. He also served as an associate dean and as assistant vice president over housing and residence life, dining services, university book store and other student-related areas.

Also at UCA, Pilgreen created the Freshman Year Experience, which enhanced student engagement and retention efforts; and co-created the Sophomore Year Experience based on the successes of the Freshman Year Experience program.

Pilgreen earned a doctorate in student development and public policy administration from Mississippi State University in 1995 and a master’s degree in student development from the same institution in 1989.

The UAMS College of Health Related Professions encompasses 21 academic programs in the allied health professions

UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Related Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute. Named best Little Rock metropolitan area hospital by U.S. News & World Report, it is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,800 students and 775 medical residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including about 1,000 physicians and other professionals who provide care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS’ Area Health Education Centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com.