Alumni | Class NotesOctober 03, 2022

Class Notes, Fall 2022

Written By: UAFS Alumni Office

Have you recently celebrated a new job, promotion, wedding, baby, or new degree? Been published, gone on a fun adventure, started a new business, moved into a new home, or welcomed a grandchild? Let us - and your classmates - know what you've been doing since your time at UAFS, Westark, or Fort Smith Junior College by submitting a class note. Approved class notes will be published here and in our electronic newsletter Lion Lines. We love to get photos too, and we'll happily share them here and on our socials.

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1970s

Gary Whisenant, ‘71, is married with three boys, 12 grandkids, and 2 great-granddaughters.

1980s

Warren Rapert, ‘81, has joined as a partner with John Casey and Associates in executive search. 

1990s

Dr. Keri Rathburn, ’92, was named as Arkansas Secondary School of the Year by the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators.

Erin Gattis, ‘95, ArcBest chief human resources officer, has been named in the top four finalists for the 2022 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award (DWLA) by the Women in Trucking Association.

2000s

Ashley Goodson, ‘09, has taken the role of director of Campus and Community Engagement at UAFS.

Stephanie London, ‘06, has a new role as assistant dean of Students for Housing and Campus and Community Engagement at UAFS.

Ashley Gerhardson,  ’07, director of Data Analytics and Institutional Research for the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, has been named to the NWA Business Journals Forty under 40 class of 2022

Qiana M. Muhammad, ‘04, married Askia (Kip) Muhammad II on Sept. 4, 2021. 

Nathan Stinson, ‘09, was a hospital IT manager from 2018- March 2020, then he worked for an MSP until November 2020. He is now working for Poteau Public Schools in the IT department.

Kayla Sidwell, ‘09, and husband, Tyler, welcomed Jensen Tyler into the world on Oct. 30, 2021.

2010s

Daniel Peek, ‘17, was promoted at the beginning of May to manager, Implementation Innovative Operations at ABF Freight. He also married his wife, Kaelyn, on May 21, 2022.

Diana Sanchez, ‘18, and her husband had their first baby, Noah, in March.

Macey Hale, ‘15, was voted Outstanding Senior Resident for Outpatient Medicine and graduated from her pediatric residency. She will be joining Utica Park Clinic in Claremore.

Kari Carbajal, ‘18, has taken on the role of Coordinator for Registered Student Organizations in the Office of Campus and Community Engagement (formerly Student Life Office) at UAFS.

Justin Martin, ‘18, graduated from Arkansas State University with his Master of Science in College Student Personnel Services.

Angela Norris-Lamon, ’11, was promoted to Senior Associate Director of Young Alumnae & Student Engagement at Barnard College.

Rhiannon Corley, ‘14, and her husband Joseph Corley, ‘12, have accepted positions teaching abroad and will be relocating to Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Coy Wineland, ‘16, started a new position as client services manager at Product Connections, a WIS International Company.

Patrick Sullivan, ’16, was promoted to manager of growth strategy with Square Trade last July.

Karen Hardie, ’16, is senior staff accountant with the city of Fort Smith.

Joshua Anderson, ’17, has a new position with the University of Central Oklahoma as Application Administrator II.

Laura Millican, ’17, completed her HubSpot Academy certification for Inbound Marketing.

Matt Calloway, ’17, has been promoted to quotations analyst at ArcBest.

Morgan Ridenour, ’17, started a new position as marketing coordinator with SWETI Marketing in Oklahoma City, OK.

Anna Tennant, ’15, and Taylor Goodson, ’15, announced their engagement on July 23.

Silanna Buyers, ’18, was promoted to senior technical recruiter at Strive Consulting in Dallas, Texas.

Christopher Wemmerus, ’17, was promoted to accounts payable specialist II at Transplace, an Uber Freight Company.

Channelle Turner, ’11, opened her new company, Restoring Inner Peace LLC, in Brandon, Florida.

Kassandra Crowder, ’17, has been promoted at Walmart to an Analyst II, Technical Program Management – Emerging Technology Walmart Global.

Morreen Klement, ’14, has been promoted to branch office administrator at Edward Jones.

Dustin Crossland, ’18, started a new position as property manager at Varsity Campus Champions Club Apartments in NWA.

Kallie (Tanner) Akinola, ’14, announced she began working for Creation in Common LLC,  as a Project Associate in the DFW area

Nycole Oliver, ’15, was selected for the Arkansas Center for Nursing’s Top 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40 for 2022 by the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Center for Nursing, Inc.

Kimble Carter, ’15, has been promoted to practice optimization partner at Ensemble Health Partners.

Bailee, ’19, and Micha Crenshaw welcomed their daughter Chandler Sage into the world on Aug. 18. She weighed 7 pounds,1 ounce, and was 19 inches.

Ntxuzone (Toto) Yang, ’18, started a new position as Maintenance Supervisor at Conagra Brands in NWA.

Alex Gravelle, ’13, has started a new position as senior manager, Strategy and Operations at Target.

Matheus Mattar E. da Silva, Business Administration, '12, has begun a new position at ArcBest as a Pricing and Supply Chain Engineer.

Makayla Rickner, 19, got engaged on April 2, 2021, and was planning the wedding for April 2, 2022.

Destiny Mantooth, ‘19, got engaged to Joshua Rogers and planned to be married on Nov. 12, 2022.

Kellie Tanner, ‘14, married Olumide Akinola in a seaside ceremony in Oahu, Hawaii, on Sept. 26, 2021.

Judy Harrington, ‘14, published her second novel on Amazon last October. A.B.I.L Returns is the sequel to A.B.I.L: Artificial Biological Intelligence Lifeform.

Jared Belt, ‘12, started a new role as Senior manager - Training and Strategy, Innovative Operations at ABF Freight.

Brias Watson, ‘16, has confirmed a rotation in Thailand during his last year of pharmacy school.

Star Harbottle, ‘14, is expecting a child on February 7, 2022.

Taylor Goodson, ‘15, has been promoted to Vice President of Commercial Banking at First National Bank of Fort Smith.

Monica Cortez Sanchez, ‘14, started a new position as New Student & Family Programs Coordinator at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.

Tony Phanouvong, ‘17, married Kim Phu, ’16, on Oct 3, 2021.

Hunter Cabe, ‘13, started a new job at Walmart as a Manager in Global Procurement, focusing on Facilities and Maintenance on Sep 27, 2021.

Travis Schluterman, ‘13, and Staci Shluterman, ‘15, got married on Sept. 25, 2021.

Lauren Andrews, ‘18, passed her AANP certification and has accepted a position with Mercy Rural Health Clinic in Paris, AR.

Ashley Hill, ‘19, received a job as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Poteau Public Schools.

Allison Thompson, ‘19, got engaged to Chris Strasser and planned to be married on Dec. 4, 2021. 

Megan Nichols, ‘15, will serve as market executive for Regions Bank.

Heather Deere, ’16, accepted a new role at CampusESP as an Account Executive.

Taylor Abernathy, ’14, has been promoted to Associate Recruiter at Tyson Foods.

Spencer Meares,  ’16,  joined Siebenmorgen and Associates in Fort Smith as a Financial Planning Assistant in April 2022.

Chance Weaver, ’11, announced he has accepted a position as Mortgage Advisor with United Federal Credit Union in Van Buren.

Raneisha Lewis, ’17, was promoted to Carrier Manager I at USA Truck effective May 2022

Jasmine Smith, ’14, Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving, is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Fast 15 Class of 2022. 

Kimberly Sayavongsa, ’12, was promoted to Senior Retail Intelligence Manager at Walmart in April.

Phillip Smith, ’15, accepted a new position as Executive Account Manager with General Transportation Inc. 

Victoria Tester, ‘17, started a new position as Category Manager at ABB.

Carla Acosta, ‘18, has been promoted to Finance Manager at Lowes in Mooresville, NC.

Steven Stone, ‘19, accepted a full-time position as Regional Manager at Mattress Clearance Center in Northwest Arkansas.

Beau Barrera, ’15, started a new position at ArcBest as a Product Owner I last April.

Megan Clark, ’11, started a new position as an Associate Project Manager at ArcBest. 

Heather Deere, ’16, accepted a new role at CampusESP as an Account Executive.

Taylor Abernathy, ’14, has been promoted to Associate Recruiter at Tyson Foods.

Spencer Meares,  ’16,  joined Siebenmorgen and Associates in Fort Smith as a Financial Planning Assistant in April 2022.

Chance Weaver, ’11, announced he has accepted a position as Mortgage Advisor with United Federal Credit Union in Van Buren.

Raneisha Lewis, ’17, was promoted to Carrier Manager I at USA Truck effective May 2022

Jasmine Smith, ’14, director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving, is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Fast 15 Class of 2022. 

Kimberly Sayavongsa, ’12, was promoted to Senior Retail Intelligence Manager at Walmart in April.

Phillip Smith, ’15, accepted a new position as Executive Account Manager with General Transportation Inc. 

Daniel Peek, ’17, is pleased to announce he has been promoted to Manager, Implementation – Innovative Operations.

Diana Gonzalez Barba, ’19, was promoted to Account Development Analyst at ArcBest.

Jordan Johns, ’16, announced she has accepted a new position as Controller for RLI Services Inc. beginning this May.

Ricky Hernandez, ’15, started a new position as Human Resources Director for Metova Inc. in May. 

Cassie (Freeman) Reihl, ‘10, was promoted to Compliance Specialist III at AGC Biologics in Longmont, Colorado.

Piper Seiter, ‘16, was promoted to Director of Business Development at BHC Insurance.

Spencer Hart, ‘15, was promoted to Manager - Corporate Strategy at ArcBest.

Kyle Beam, ‘11, started a new position as Senior Growth Manager - Consumer Lending at Arvest Bank.

Quynh Nguyen, ‘16, started a new position as TAP Career Counselor at Inverness Technologies (Army Transition Assistance Program).

Thomas Miller, ‘17, started a new position as Management Trainee at ArcBest.

Alex Ellis, ‘19, started a new position as Sr. Accountant | External Reporting at Alight Solutions.

Chelsea Calloway, ‘19, is at East Central University working on a master’s degree in psychology. She has started an online boutique called Bon Vivant Boutique while still working full-time at the Children’s Shelter.

2020s

Rachel Williams, ‘20, has accepted a position with Channel 5 NWA as a reporter.

Selena Perez, ’22, has started a new position as a Credit Analyst at BNSF Logistics.

Alex Taylor, ‘20, is excited to announce she officially joined the Motor Trend family in HOT ROD Garage this May

Andrew Greutman, ’20, was recently promoted to Staff Accountant at Waste Connections.

Kaylin Rose, ’22, accepted a full-time position at ArcBest as a Financial Services Field Support Specialist in May.

Michelle Atkins, ’22, accepted a Communications Internship at Boeing. Michelle is also the Digital Marketing Manager at Vesta Valley Farm, LLC.

Erin Rhodes, ’20, will start at Belfonte School District this fall as a fifth to eighth grade Math and Science teacher.

Joshua Scott, ’21, has been promoted to Outbound Logistics Coordinator at Mars in Fort Smith.

Carrie Terry, ‘21, was promoted to the position of Resource Development Director at The United Way of Fort Smith Area.

Emily Dyke, ‘20, is the new owner of the Shutter Bus.

Alexandria Webb, ‘22, started a new position as Human Resource Specialist at ABF Freight.

Madeleine Conway, ’20, has been promoted to Quotation Analyst at ArcBest.

Luis Negrete Becerra, 20, has a new position as Graduate Assistant (Greek Housing) at UA Fayetteville

Yessica Jaco, ’22, joined Landmark CPAs as a full-time Staff Accountant in June after

completing a stint as a Student Intern during her last semester

Joshua Scott, ’21, joined Becker Logistics, LLC as a full-time Account Coordinator

Martin Tran, '22, has enrolled at UA-Fayetteville seeking a master’s degree in Computer Science. He has also accepted a position as a Research Assistant under the US Army ERDC.

Claudia Mondragon-Barron, ‘20, got engaged in October 2020 and will marry in May 2022.

Molly Musick, ‘20, won the title of Miss Rodeo Arkansas 2022

Logan Tankersley, ‘20, married Destinee Crossland (now Tankersley) on May 29, 2021. They met at Lions for Christ campus ministry at UAFS. They started up and ran a coffee shop, and now their family has purchased a ranch and is operating that. 

Anthony Surratt, ‘20, has joined Methodist Family Health’s counseling clinic in Alma as a qualified behavioral health professional.

Kayla Hipp, ‘20, has a Master of Science degree in Cyberpsychology in December 2021. She accepted a position with ArcBest as an Invoice Audit Specialist. Prior to and leading up to this job offer, she worked in a temporary position at ArcBest as HR and Recruiting Support. She also tutors for the Upward Bound program at UAFS.

Kellie Garner, ‘21, started a new position as a graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Sean Jurczyk, ‘20, has accepted a promotion to Store Manager at Store 231 in Norman, OK. 

Michael Lay, ‘20, started a new position at Sigma Nu Fraternity as the Associate Director of Risk Reduction.

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