Alumni | Arts and Sciences | First GenerationJanuary 23, 2026

UAFS Alum Builds Career Through Science and Persistence

Written By: Ian Silvester

Behind every pharmaceutical medication, there is extensive science and persistence required to find the right compounds that can heal or limit symptoms with the fewest side effects. One of the scientists behind this work is University of Arkansas – Fort Smith alum Jordan Miesner-Davis, ’20. 

As a scientist at the biotechnology research company Eurofins PSS, Miesner-Davis leans on his education and persistence to uphold his belief in healthcare and integrity. 

Miesner-Davis came to UAFS as a first-generation student and Eagle Scout. He said he wasn’t afraid of a challenge or adventure, and UAFS provided what he was looking for and more. 

“UAFS was a place where there was always encouragement to spur my thinking and engagement,” he said. 

UAFS was also where Miesner-Davis discovered his persistence. 

After moving off campus, Miesner-Davis admitted he became lax during his first semester and paid for it for the next three years. 

“I thought that I wouldn’t need to show up to class sometimes, and I could pass,” he said, laughing at the choices he made. “Basically, I got all F’s because it was too late to withdraw, and with failing grades, it affected my financial aid. I had to work full-time to pay out of pocket to go one class at a time.” 

Undeterred, Miesner-Davis continued to persist. He diligently enrolled every semester. Work schedules were adjusted to accommodate classes, and lunches were dedicated to studying. Eventually, he said, things “just clicked” with his biochemistry studies.  

“It was like finding gold,” he said. “It was logic coming together.” 

As Miesner-Davis was making headway on his seven-year path toward graduation, another challenge presented itself. A significant problem with his car threatened to once again derail all the work he had done. This time, UAFS stepped in with financial assistance from the Student Emergency Assistance Fund to keep him on track. 

“It was phenomenal. I feel like that’s a hidden gem of the university: having resources that are always there,” he said. 

Through persistence, Miesner-Davis earned his biochemistry degree and earned a job working as a lab technician in Oklahoma. The work opened a door for a new way to continue his education. 

In 2024, Miesner-Davis earned his master’s degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Pharmacy. 

He became passionate about the integrity of the science behind medication production and wanted to keep helping others. He moved to the East Coast and was persistent in his job search, which eventually brought him to Eurofins PSS, where he supports clients with analytical testing assays at their site. In February, he will celebrate a year with the company. 

However, Miesner-Davis still isn’t finished when it comes to learning. In May, he anticipates graduating with a second master’s degree. This one will be from the University of Arizona in legal studies—a degree he calls a passion project to fulfill an itch for civic engagement and restorative justice. 

• Tags:
• Alumni
• First Generation Student
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Biochemistry Concentration