Featured | NewsOctober 13, 2021

Men of Excellence Crowdfunding Campaign Launches

Written By: Rachel Rodemann Putman

This week, the UAFS Men of Excellence (MOX) program launched their first crowd funding campaign. The organization aims to assure, encourage and motivate male students during their time at UAFS and beyond.

Contribution to the campaign will help cultivate a new generation of River Valley leaders by providing much-needed funding for campus programming, conferences, professional development, travel, recruiting, marketing, and business attire. In addition, your donation will help our students be successful citizens on campus and beyond.

"Men of Excellence is much more than a mentorship program," said John Blue, Executive Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at UAFS. "Any young man choosing to lead a life exemplifying manhood in its highest form are welcome to participate." 

Blue noted that men experienced a higher education enrollment decline twice as steep as women during the pandemic, and total male undergraduate enrollment fell by 8.9 percent in spring 2021 compared to the previous spring.

According to Inside Higher Ed, men of color enrolled in higher education institutions at particularly low rates amid a pandemic in which Black students and their families disproportionately suffered from COVID-19 infection, job loss and financial strains. Enrollment for Black men dropped 14.3 percent in spring 2021 compared to the previous spring.

“Men of Excellence will assist with breaking the stigma of how men on campus are viewed," said current president and founding member of MOX, Glenn Brewer II.  "Men of Excellence also has the potential to do great things not only for the campus, but for the entire City of Fort Smith and the River Valley region through potential community service opportunities.”

Men of Excellence is an initiative run through the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This is just one way the office is fulfilling its mission which is to advance the University of Arkansas Fort Smith’s diversity efforts through access, engagement, partnership, and transformational experiences that foster belonging.

To contribute to this campaign or learn more, click the button below! 

Contribute to the MOX Campaign!

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• ODEI
• MOX
• Men of Excellence