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UAFS alum, Jordan Miesner-Davis, works with a multi channel pipette.
AlumniArts and SciencesFirst Generation

UAFS Alum Builds Career Through Science and Persistence

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.

January 23, 2026
Portrait of Hannah Seal from the UAFS Campus Green
Business and IndustryFirst GenerationHealth Education and Human SciencesLion Voices

First-Generation Student Spotlight: Hannah Seal

Hannah Seal, a dental hygiene student, overcame the death of her mom while in elementary school to become the first member of her family to attend college right after high school. By attending the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, she can stay...

December 02, 2025
Raul Tabares, a senior business administration student at UAFS, stands in front of flags denoting the U.S. military branches at the UAFS Veterans Resource Center
Business and IndustryFirst GenerationLion Voices

Success as a Student Veteran

Raul Tabares came to the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith to earn a college degree. After seven years in the U.S. Army, he felt something was missing in his life. He found it at UAFS.

November 10, 2025
White buttons that read
First GenerationStudents

First to go but not Alone

More than half of the students who attend the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith are first-generation or the first in their family to attend college. The First-Generation Student Success Committee features nearly 30 faculty and staff - many of whom...

March 19, 2025
Jennifer Phelan, front-right, takes a selfie with her family
First GenerationStudents

First-Generation Student Spotlight: Jennifer Phelan

When Jennifer Phelan decided to return to the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, she knew doing so as a first-generation non-traditional student would come with challenges. Through the support of her family, positive attitude, and enthusiasm, she...

April 03, 2024
First-Generation and student-athlete, Hannah Boyett poses on graduation day, May 2023 in front of the Numa statue at the Stubblefield Center.
Arts and SciencesAthleticsFirst GenerationLion VoicesStudents

First-Generation Student Spotlight: Hannah Boyett

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith first-generation graduate and grad school student Hannah Boyett discusses finding her success at UAFS in the classroom and on the court.

February 08, 2024
Mayeli Rivas, UAFS junior nursing student
First GenerationHealth Education and Human SciencesLion VoicesStudents

First Gen Voices: Mayeli Rivas

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith junior nursing student Mayeli Rivas sometimes feels like Mario jumping over barrels as a first-generation student at UAFS, but the support and encouragement from her family and UAFS staff has helped her achieve...

October 26, 2023
UAFS Director of Human Relations, Mandy Keyes
Lion VoicesAlumni

Staff Voices: Mandy Keyes

Hailing from the central Sebastian County town of Hackett, Mandy Keyes, University of Arkansas – Fort Smith director of human resources, admits that attending college after high school was something other than what she planned on pursuing. She...

July 21, 2023
UAFS dental hygiene graduates, Jon Kevin Villeda (left) and Melissa Perez demonstrate how to floss teeth on testing equipment
FeaturedNewsHealth Education and Human SciencesAlumni

Clinical Boards are No Match for UAFS Dental Hygiene Students

Celebrating the graduation of 11 University of Arkansas – Fort Smith dental hygiene students is just a tiny part of what makes this class worthy of recognition.

May 13, 2023
College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences master's graduate, Jaime Vargas
EventsFeaturedNewsHealth Education and Human SciencesAlumni

College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences Celebrates Graduates

The 108th Commencement at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith began Saturday, May 13, 2023, with the graduation of more than 250 students from the College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences (CHEHS).

May 13, 2023
Caroline flips her tassel at graduation
EventsFeaturedNewsBusiness and IndustryAlumni

UAFS Spring Graduation Ends with College of Business and Industry

May 13, 2023
UAFS College of Arts and Sciences graduate Daryl McElrath
EventsFeaturedNewsArts and SciencesAlumni

Largest College at UAFS Honors Graduates

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith’s 108th commencement continued Saturday, May 13, 2023, with the College of Arts and Sciences graduating class. The more than 400 graduates of UAFS’s largest college joined the more than 50,000 UAFS alums...

May 13, 2023

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Media Relations

The UAFS Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.

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Rachel Rodemann Putman

  • Director of Strategic Communications
  • 479-788-7132
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