<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/news/2026/persistent-alum-turns-scientist.php" dsn="news"><pubDate>01/23/2026</pubDate><title>UAFS Alum Builds Career Through Science and Persistence</title><description>University of Arkansas - Fort Smith alum, Jordan Miesner-Davis, is helping change lives as a scientist. He helps companies develop and test safe medications for distribution. </description><author>Ian Silvester</author><category>Alumni</category><category>Arts and Sciences</category><category>First Generation</category><image><img src="/news/_images/jordan-meisner-davis.jpg" alt="UAFS alum, Jordan Miesner-Davis, works with a multi channel pipette."/></image><caption>Jordan Miesner-Davis works with a multi channel pipette</caption><tags><tag>Alumni</tag><tag>Biochemistry Concentration</tag><tag>College of Arts and Sciences</tag><tag>First Generation Student</tag></tags><archive>2026-01</archive></item>