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Andrea Parton, the discovery and access librarian for the Boreham Library at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, stands in the lobby next to a new display of video games
Lion Voices

Cataloging Resources: How Andrea Parton Became the Librarian She Was Meant to Be

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Discovery and Access Librarian Andrea Parton never intended to follow in her dad's footsteps. As a librarian, she does the job she was always meant to have.

March 31, 2025
Mae Jemison in Space
Arts and SciencesCommunityFeatured

Mae Jemison, First Black Woman in Space, to Speak at UAFS

Dr. Mae Jemison, author, astronaut, entrepreneur, and prolific leader in the fields of science and exploration, will speak at the University of Arkansas—Fort Smith on Wednesday, April 9, at 6 p.m. in the Reynolds Room of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus...

March 28, 2025
From 1927, a photo of Fort Smith High School, now Darby Middle School, which was the first classes of UAFS were held.
CommunityIntrepid Ambition

A Legacy of Courage

The story of Fort Smith is one of endurance, evolution, and grit—and UAFS has been there through every chapter, turning moments of hardship into milestones of progress. As the region faces the future, it does so with a partner that has never wavered,...

March 26, 2025
A man programs a piece of robotic equipment in an advanced manufacturing engineering lab
Business and IndustryIntrepid AmbitionNews

Advancing Manufacturing

UAFS is laying the foundation for the next era of industry in the River Valley—equipping students, workers, and employers with the tools, training, and talent to lead in an advanced manufacturing economy. From engineering labs to apprenticeship...

March 26, 2025
Nighttime at the UAFS Center for Economic Development at the Bakery District
CommunityIntrepid Ambition

Empowering Our Economy

The UAFS Center for Economic Development is a pillar of our community. By equipping the workforce, empowering entrepreneurs, and supporting the region’s most vital industries, the CED is building more than economic momentum—it’s building a...

March 26, 2025
A UAFS psychology professor, Dr. Nicha Otero, browses a stack of books she has in front of her while sitting at a table on the second floor of the Boreham Library.
FeaturedHealth Education and Human SciencesIntrepid Ambition

Researching Resilience

Dr. Nicha Otero is rewriting the narrative of what student success looks like—one classroom, one breakthrough, one act of belief at a time. Her research is rooted in resilience, but her impact runs deeper: she’s creating space for students to...

March 26, 2025
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Jordan Mader, works with students in a chemistry lab as they mix and measure liquid compounds
AlumniArts and SciencesIntrepid Ambition

Preserving Our Future

UAFS students and faculty are driving scientific breakthroughs with urgency and focus. In the fight against microplastic pollution, they’re not waiting for answers—they’re creating them. They’re transforming curiosity into world-class research...

March 26, 2025
An image of nurses in blue scrubs working
AlumniHealth Education and Human SciencesIntrepid Ambition

Uplifting Patient Care

Lindsey France is a lifeline. Every shift, every patient, and every step she helps someone take is a testament to the training, resilience, and compassion that define UAFS nurses. She’s not just meeting the standard—she’s redefining it. And...

March 26, 2025
UAFS Bell Tower
Chancellor

Campus Update, March 21, 2025

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley provides an update as UAFS heads into Spring Break.

March 21, 2025
Jaylin Barroso (left) and Kimberly Villagrana stand in front of the UAFS Bell Tower holding a flag for Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., or SIA, the newest sorority to UAFS.
NewsStudents

Legacy through Sisterhood

This semester, the University of Arkansas—Fort Smith became the latest colony for Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., or SIA, thanks to the years of hard work and dedication of seniors Kimberly Villagrana and Jaylin Barroso.

March 19, 2025
White buttons that read
First GenerationStudents

First to go but not Alone

More than half of the students who attend the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith are first-generation or the first in their family to attend college. The First-Generation Student Success Committee features nearly 30 faculty and staff - many of whom...

March 19, 2025
Students with IEEE check out machinery inside the James W. Trimble Lock and Dam.
Business and IndustryStudents

Field Trip Offers Insight to Engineering Careers

Students from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith's Institution of Electronics and Electrical Engineering chapter recently visited the James W. Trimble Lock and Dam in Barling, Arkansas, for a first-hand look at engineering careers.

March 18, 2025
Zach Gramlich at the Capitol
AlumniBusiness and IndustryIntrepid Ambition

Zack Gramlich: Leading from Home

Zack Gramlich isn’t waiting for change—he’s building it. In the classroom and in the Capitol, he’s turning belief into momentum, showing the next generation what’s possible when you lead with purpose and stay rooted in your community. UAFS...

March 18, 2025
Michael Lander, sophomore music history major, and his speed cube in the UAFS Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center
EventsNewsStudents

Calling All (Rubik's) Cubers

Michael Lander, a sophomore music history major at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, is bringing his love of Rubik's cube to the Fort Smith Convention Center for the first ever Arkansas Championship on March 29-30.

March 14, 2025
Mayor McGill shakes hands at a UAFS Democracy Project event.
CommunityEventsFeatured

State of the City Slated March 17

Fort Smith Mayor George McGill will deliver the 2025 State of the City Address at 6 p.m. Monday, March 17, in the Reynolds Room of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center.

March 10, 2025
Three students from UAFS plant grass on a beach in Pensacola, Florida, during an Alternative Spring Break trip.
Students

Building Student Leaders

Student leadership programs at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith aim to help students graduate with a degree and a resume that sets them apart.

March 07, 2025
Four UAFS nursing students stand on the steps inside of the Arkansas Capitol during the 2025 Nurses Day at the Capitol event.
Health Education and Human SciencesNews

Voices Heard at 2025 Nurses Day at the Capitol

Nursing students from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas, on February 13, for the annual Nurses Day at the Capitol.

March 07, 2025
UAFS Bell Tower
Chancellor

Campus Update, March 7, 2025

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley provides a campus update on Friday, March 3, 2025.

March 07, 2025
International Women's Day, 2025. Theme is #AccelerateAction
CommunityEvents

International Women's Day Celebration Slated for March 6

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Cultural Network will celebrate International Women's Day on March 6. The holiday, which has been recognized for more than 100 years, will be celebrated globally on March 8.

March 04, 2025
The UAFS satelitte office at the Fort Smith Bakery District
Business and IndustryFeaturedNews

Barrett Named Director of ASBTDC at UAFS

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith announced Ty Barrett as the new director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center Regional Office. With more than 30 years of experience in finance and community banking, Barrett brings...

March 04, 2025

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The UAFS Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.

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Rachel Rodemann Putman

  • Director of Strategic Communications
  • 479-788-7132
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