Lion VoicesJuly 21, 2025

History Buried in the Books: Roxy Wylie

Written By: Ian Silvester

Roxy Wylie had a dream of being the next Indiana Jones, but she never expected to be 30 and facing a fall with a full schedule of classes and work. That’s what she did, though.

Instead of pulling away vines to uncover lost artifacts, Wylie pushed away self-doubt and nagging thoughts of being too old to enroll at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith to find a treasure rich with success and confidence.

Wylie discussed her ideas with a close friend and applied to UAFS. She was accepted, becoming a non-traditional, first-generation student. While still holding out hope to become like Indy, she pursued a degree in history with a minor in English. 

Along the way, she realized that preserving history wasn’t just about globe-trotting with a signature hat or the chance encounter of snake pits. It also came in the form of archiving at the Pebley Center at the Boreham Library.

“[Archives] are another aspect of history,” she said. “The library is a great intersection between all of those different interests and passions of mine.”

Wylie became the first in her immediate family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in spring 2021. Last year, she completed an additional milestone, earning her master’s degree in library science with a concentration in archive studies from Emporia State University.

Wylie worked at UAFS in various roles and departments throughout her educational journey before landing a position with the Boreham Library in 2023. In May, she was promoted to Student Success Librarian, where her experience and passion for discovery truly shine, she said. 

“I love helping students with their research and making sure they get connected to the information they need for assignments,” Wylie said. 

The job is a way for her to give back and connect with students, similar to the way she found success and confidence while she was a student, she said, noting that she found support in professors and advisors who understood the challenges she faced. 

In her role, she also taught a class to students who aimed to overcome obstacles that landed them on academic probation. This experience allowed her to become the one supporting a student seeking success and confidence.

“It was worth it to go through the challenges and be able to walk alongside others and help carry the load with them,” Wylie told her students.

She may not be attempting to outrun a boulder in an exotic jungle cave, but Wylie discovered that the Boreham Library offers valuable treasure to UAFS students who find their way inside.   

“Libraries are important for supporting the academic and research needs of the classroom,” she said. “But they also provide other things. Libraries support the human side of students and create an environment of engagement and belonging.” 

Wylie has helped organize events such as the Long Night Against Procrastination and various pop-ups. Noting that these events are a way to meet students where they’re at, Wylie said she wants students to be curious about what’s happening at the library and discover how her team attempts to address their holistic needs as students.

“We’re not the dorms; we’re not the classroom. But we are this third space, a space for students to come hang out, relax with friends, study, and maybe do some activities that they wouldn’t have the ability to do elsewhere,” she said. 

Wylie may be without a whip, signature hat, and global adventures, but she has no regrets about her role in helping preserve local history located within the Pebley Center or in helping students find resources worth their weight in gold throughout the Boreham Library.

Mostly, she wants to encourage students to say yes to opportunities and discover who they are, because at UAFS, people are willing to make an impact and help students find success, she said.

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