Alumni | Arts and Sciences | Business and Industry | Featured | Health Education and Human Sciences | Intrepid AmbitionDecember 08, 2025

2025: An 'Ambitious' Year for UAFS

Written By: Ian Silvester

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith began the year with one thing in mind: Be ambitious. 

The university was ambitious in its pursuit of student success, ambitious in community partnerships and engagement; ambitious in its efforts to bring the future to UAFS. 

These goals all began with the announcement of the university's largest fundraising campaign in its nearly 100-year history: Intrepid Ambition. The title was chosen to reflect the spirit of UAFS and the people it serves, evoking a resolute fearlessness and willingness to put in the effort to achieve success. As Rachel Putman, director of communications at UAFS, said, “Intrepid Ambition is who we are.” 

While every story from the past year demonstrates how UAFS, its students, faculty, staff, and alumni strive to be ambitious, the following are among the best that represent the tireless pursuit of success in 2025: 

Intrepid Ambition Campaign Launches 

The $85 million fundraising initiative, set to conclude in 2028 with the university’s centennial, is designed to reshape access to education, elevate academic excellence, and power economic development across the River Valley. 

“An $85 million goal isn’t just ambitious—it’s necessary,” said Blake Rickman, vice chancellor for university advancement and executive director of the UAFS Foundation. 

The campaign is centered on building pathways to debt-free education, investing in the people who turn classrooms into launchpads, and partnering with the region's economic drivers to build a workforce that’s ready for tomorrow, Rickman said. 

During the campaign’s launch, an anonymous $7.5 million gift was announced. The transformational gift will endow the university’s Center for Nonprofits, rounding out the suite of services at the UAFS Center for Economic Development.  

In July, Emily Treadaway was named the new Director of the Center for Nonprofits. With a decade of nonprofit leadership and a commitment to community service, Treadaway has the tools necessary to lead dedicated training and community-building offerings for River Valley nonprofit organizations. 

Undergrad Research Opportunities 

UAFS prides itself on promoting undergraduate research across all disciplines while still being a teaching-focused campus. Student research was on full display all year. 

UAFS hosted the 18th Annual Student Research Symposium, where students from all three colleges presented their findings. Winning research projects focused on topics ranging from Japanese internment in Arkansas to the evolution of the trumpet, tracing groundwater in a karst aquifer in Michigan, and the future of artificial intelligence in dentistry.   

In addition to the research symposium, this year introduced a new monthly event highlighting students' and faculty research. The Research Den, held at the Bakery District, welcomes the entire community to learn about and discuss various research topics without all the jargon. 

UAFS recently received nearly $100,000 in grants funded by Arkansas INBRE, or the Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence. The microbiology program was awarded $50,000 to equip a new shared research lab to support two new assistant professors. 

Record-Breaking Increases 

More students than ever are choosing UAFS over other institutions. For the third consecutive time, the UAFS admissions team attracted a record number of prospective high school students to Den Day. In the fall, more than 600 students visited UAFS, where they learned about majors, met with faculty, and learned about nearly two dozen Registered Student Organizations.  

Students who chose to attend UAFS at Den Day were invited to Accepted Students Day, which saw the largest turnout since the event began in 2022. At Accepted Students Day, students got a head start on class registration and scheduling advising appointments. 

“This is a day where it kind of ‘clicks’ for them,” said Maddie Hardwick, assistant director for recruiting. 

Roughly 17% of admitted students who registered for Accepted Students Day were out-of-state, demonstrating UAFS’ growth and reach beyond the region. 

As classes approached, the university held three new-student orientations, or Mane Events. Once the semester began, the number of first-year undergraduate students enrolled at UAFS reached its highest level since 2020. The fall student body included more than 4,370 non-concurrent undergraduates, more than 1,030 of which were first-year students—an increase of 15% from 2024. 

Putting Students First 

As the student population at UAFS grows, ensuring a positive experience is paramount. The university was once again nationally recognized for being one of the best institutions.  

UAFS was again named a Military-Friendly School, earning a Silver Designation. The honor recognizes the university’s responsibility to serve and support service members, veterans, and their families by providing opportunities and resources. Additionally, in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, UAFS ranked No. 6 among Best Colleges for Veterans. 

The same report also ranked UAFS No. 34—up 24 places—among Regional Colleges in the South for Social Mobility. This category measures how effectively institutions enroll and graduate Pell Grant recipients.  

“Our mission has always been to transform lives through education, and this leap in our social mobility ranking affirms that we are achieving exactly that,” said Dr. Terisa Riley, chancellor of UAFS.  

An example of the university’s commitment to social mobility came in the form of news in July. The U.S. Department of Education renewed grant funding for UAFS TRIO programs, totaling more than $2.7 million. Both TRIO SSS and TRIO STEM will receive $1,361,820 of grant funds for the 2025-2030 cycle, providing a variety of essential and free support services for nearly 300 students a year from low-income families, first-generation college students, or those with disabilities. Leading the TRIO STEM program is DeJon Jordan, who was named the program's new director just weeks before the renewal announcement. 

Educational Partnerships 

This past year, UAFS established and continued significant educational partnerships to ensure the university fulfilled its part of the Intrepid Ambition mission to be a driver of the future of the workforce. 

On August 25, UAFS and the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education signed a new affiliation agreement that guarantees qualified UAFS students an admissions interview for graduate programs at ACHE.  

“We know that the demand and need for health care is going to go up,” said Dr. Shadow Robinson, UAFS provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “At a university committed to social mobility, we want to see our students get those amazing jobs.” 

On Sept. 3, Robinson was part of the renewal of UAFS’s 24-year partnership with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The renewed memorandum of understanding kept the joint 2+2 engineering programs in mechanical and electrical engineering and accompanied the launch of UAFS’s first standalone four-year engineering degree. 

“Partnership and collaboration like this are what make the U of A system so strong, combining the statewide mission of the U of A and UAFS’ deep commitment to the River Valley to offer these educational opportunities,” Robinson said. “These engineering programs will continue to ensure that the River Valley and Fort Smith are locations where high-tech industry can grow and flourish as we keep the best and brightest right here in the River Valley.” 

Academic Excellence 

This fall, six UAFS degree programs celebrated their academic excellence through reaccreditation. 

The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering reaccredited the Associate of Applied Science in Electronics Technology, Associate of Applied Science in General Technology-Welding, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology, and Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership. ATMAE accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, ensuring that accredited programs meet rigorous standards in quality, transparency, and continuous improvement.  

UAFS also earned reaccreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design for both baccalaureate programs in its Department of Art & Design, the Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design, through the 2033-2034 academic year.  

“NASAD Accreditation helps us maintain direct communication with and responsibility to national-level professional peers and standards, and communicates this accountability clearly to our colleagues, students, and community,” said Katie Waugh, professor and department head of Art & Design. “It also provides us tools for advocacy, self-review, and improvement within our institution.” 

Reaccreditation signifies that UAFS programs continue to meet or exceed standards, thereby enhancing credibility and competitiveness. 

Keeping the Community Safe 

In recent years, an increase in opioid-related overdoses, especially if fentanyl is involved, has dominated newsfeeds. UAFS ramped up its fight against the opioid crisis through educational training programs for employees and students. 

UAFS Police Chief Ray Ottman said the best way to minimize the risk is to educate people on what to look for in the case of a possible overdose and how to safely help. During trainings, Ottman encourages attendees to download NARCANsas or ReviveAR to have helpful resources in the palm of their hand.  

“When someone is empowered and supported, they may get help for a loved one, a friend, or somebody that they know,” Ottman said. 

In October, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin hosted training for his One Pill Can Kill initiative at UAFS. The training showcased the statewide effort to educate college students about the deadly risks of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills. Attendees received Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits. 

UAFS provides two vending machines on campus that dispense free Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal medication, and equips every building on campus with an opioid rescue kit and an AED. 

Providing Support During Times of Uncertainty and Giving 

A 43-day government shutdown gripped the nation and left millions of Americans reeling. In response to community-wide uncertainty about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, UAFS stepped up, in collaboration with the Dave Stevens Lions Pride Pantry, the River Valley Regional Food Bank, and the UAFS Foundation, to distribute nearly 200 boxes of food to students and employees. Each box included frozen ground beef and nonperishable food items. 

Not long after the shutdown ended, the Thanksgiving holiday came, and with it was UAFS’s annual Thanksgiving dinner giveaway. 

The tradition of helping students feed their families over the holiday break continued with more than 150 holiday meals distributed. Each meal included either a whole turkey or ham, and all the sides and snacks. 

People Make UAFS Special 

From music to IT, the people of UAFS are what make the university feel like home, and a place to find an identity. But it’s the students who breathe life into what makes UAFS so special. 

This year, students took their studies to the Rocky Mountains and Oxford, and even volunteered to work with children in Oaxaca, Mexico. Even after graduation, Lions make their impact felt. Proud UAFS alumni took a ride through history, while another dove into their family’s history of zookeeping through film.  

In the classroom, our students thrived. Hundreds of students made the Chancellor’s and Dean’s Lists, but it wouldn’t be possible without the professors who teach the content. This fall, UAFS was honored to be represented by not one but two professors who received Teacher of the Year awards in their respective fields, nursing and mathematics. 

#RunToTheRoar: UAFS Athletics 

UAFS Athletics made strides during its first year in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Women’s basketball ended the season eight games above .500. The team fell to Missouri Western in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals, ending one of the best seasons for the team under head coach Ryan McAdams. Senior Abby Summitt said she is poised to be one of the team’s leaders as they look to repeat success in their second season in the MIAA. 

Men’s basketball is off to its best start under head coach Zane Gibson. Jarren McAllister, a senior graduate transfer, recently came up with a game-sealing block with five seconds left in overtime. He is contributing in his second season with the Lions after suffering three-straight season-ending knee injuries. 

Off the court, UAFS Athletics inducted five new members into the Coach Louis Whorton Hall of Fame. Athletics also celebrated Daniel de Mondesert, ’20, as one of the youngest coaches in Major League Baseball. 

The Face of Campus 

As the year comes to an end, UAFS celebrates a new beginning. The Windgate Art & Design Building has been undergoing a nearly 19,000-square-foot expansion and visual arts renovation since late 2024.  

In late November, a visible milestone was reached with the completion of a new public entrance. 

“This new entrance and signage space signals our commitment to build a supportive and welcoming creative community centered in the Windgate Art & Design Building,” said Katie Waugh, professor and Art & Design department head. “It’s fitting that the first completed stages of this project are a new entrance and enhanced facilities for public exhibitions; we are visually announcing our invitation to join us in learning, looking, and making.” 

Construction continues on the east side of the building, with the entire expansion project expected to be fully completed by the summer of 2026. Once complete, the Windgate Art & Design Building will have an expanded exhibition space, a new Art Collection Study Room, a Book Arts Center, which will help establish UAFS’s national leadership in the field and reflect a broader educational philosophy that values both process and craft, and a new café and outdoor terrace. 

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• College of Business and Industry
• College of Health Education and Human Sciences
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Community
• Athletics
• TRIO Programs