Zimmerman Creates a Lasting Impact Through Service

Zimmerman Creates a Lasting Impact Through Service

Leadership, connection and generosity guiding the Razorback community

Guided by a mission to strengthen connections, support students, and advance the University of Arkansas, the National Alumni Board of Directors helps shape the future of the Razorback community. Among its leadership is Charles Zimmerman B.S.C.E.'85, whose connection to the U of A is defined by long-standing service, thoughtful engagement, and a commitment to student success. A devoted alumnus and advocate for the university, Zimmerman helps advance the Arkansas Alumni Association through his service on the board, guiding programs and policies that unite and support the University of Arkansas family.

From First Generation Student to Alumni Leader

Originally from Tulsa, Zimmerman began his college career as a music major at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to the University of Arkansas and changing his focus to engineering. Rather than spending his time at football games or social gatherings, due to financial constraints, his days as a student were shaped by teaching labs, writing marching band drills, and reporting on local sports, all while living in a travel trailer just outside Fayetteville.

As a first-generation college student, Zimmerman believed an engineering degree could open doors to a stable future. "I knew if I could make it through the rigors of engineering school, life would be easier after that," he said. "And that is exactly what happened. The University of Arkansas changed the trajectory of my life."

Upon graduating from the university, Zimmerman maintained a basic Alumni Association membership primarily to receive the alumni magazine and stay informed. He was encouraged by Dr. Kevin Hall B.S.C.E.'86, M.S.C.E.'90, head of the Department of Civil Engineering, to consider a life membership and become more meaningfully engaged. "Kevin Hall told me, 'If you became a life member of the alumni association, it would open up a lot more doors for you to get more involved,'" recalls Zimmerman.

Life membership became a lasting commitment to the university, resulting in leadership roles and his nomination to the Arkansas Alumni Association's National Board of Directors. "If you want to become more involved in this university, life membership is the key to opening that door," states Zimmerman.

Zimmerman's commitment extends beyond service. In 2016, he and his wife made a $250,000 gift to the College of Engineering to establish the Charles R. and Susan D. Zimmerman Scholarship in Engineering. The endowment reflects their belief that access to higher education can transform lives and families. Charles and his wife, Susan, were both first-generation college students and largely financed their own educations.

The scholarship supports first-generation engineering students with financial need, especially those whose academic records may not fully reflect their effort or potential. "I wanted to help students like me," said Charles. "Students who are balancing work and school, who may not have the support systems others have, but who are committed to finishing their degree. Even a student with a 2.5 GPA deserves that chance."

The scholarship also carries personal meaning for Zimmerman, honoring his parents' sacrifices and acknowledging the university's influence on his family's future.

"When my wife and I attended an alumni awards banquet and drove past the old plant where my father once worked, I told her, 'If my parents could see us now, they wouldn't be able to fathom the opportunities we now have,'" Zimmerman said. "College changed everything, not only for me, but for my children and grandchildren as well."

Today, as a national board member, Zimmerman finds meaning in reviewing scholarship applications that provide hands-on engagement with students' stories. "You read those applications and you are inspired," he said. "They remind you of the caliber of students coming to the University of Arkansas and the impact scholarships can have. It is humbling."

Those moments reinforce why service remains central to Zimmerman's involvement with the U of A. "My wife and I have been blessed beyond what anyone in our families ever had," he said. "It would be criminal not to give back. For me, giving begins with my church and with this university, because this university is where everything changed."

The Office of Planned Giving is available to help you create a legacy that benefits generations to come. To learn more about using life insurance as a planned giving tool, gifts in your will, or other planned gifts of any size, contact us at 479-575-7271 or [email protected].