News Stories
17cºÚÁÏ News
Success as a Student Veteran
Raul Tabares came to the 17cºÚÁÏ - 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 17cºÚÁÏ.
November 10, 2025
The ‘Aha’s’ of Teaching: Dr. Sarah Winterberg
Dr. Sarah Winterberg is an associate professor of English at the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith. She is the first person from her hometown of Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, to have earned a Ph.D., and since 2007, she has been committed to her pursuit...
October 31, 2025
Finding Identity at 17cºÚÁÏ: Kendrix Holcomb
Kendrix Holcomb, an admissions advisor at the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith, arrived as a student with the goal of reinventing himself. The self-proclaimed introvert made it a priority to come out of his shell and encourages others to do the...
October 15, 2025
Jarren McAllister: The Tears of Adversity
Jarren McAllister, a healthcare administration graduate student and men's basketball player at the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith, suffered back-to-back-to-back ACL injuries before turning to his faith and education as a way back to the court.
September 26, 2025
Abby Summitt and When the Ball Stops Bouncing
17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith senior biology major Abby Summitt details how an injury almost cut her playing career short and how basketball has helped her academically in her pursuit of dental school.
September 19, 2025
Study Abroad Dream Come True: A Summer at Oxford
Hailey Hadley, a junior at the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith, spent the summer studying abroad at Oxford University's Lady Margaret Hall.
September 12, 2025
Home Among the Halls: Joe England
Joe England, resident director for the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith's Lion's Den, has been at the center of ensuring the dorms are a home away from home for first-year students since 2021.
August 08, 2025
History Buried in the Books: Roxy Wylie
At the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith, student success librarian Roxy Wylie uses her love of discovery and adventure to help students find success.
July 21, 2025
Conducting the Rhythm of Teaching: Dr. Alex Zacharella
Dr. Alexandra Zacharella has been a staple of the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith's music department for nearly 20 years. Music is in her DNA, and she has a passion to share it with students.
June 25, 2025
Eighteen Years and Counting with Stephany Dobbins
Stephany Dobbins has called the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith home for the last 18 years. As coordinator for new student and family programs, she looks forward to welcoming students to the "Lion Family."
June 18, 2025
DeJon Jordan: Practicing What He Preaches
DeJon Jordan, the assistant director for TRIO STEM at the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith, shares how he ensures students succeed at 17cºÚÁÏ.
June 09, 2025
Road to Ph.D.: Kaleb McLaughlin’s Risk and Resolve
Kaleb McLaughlin, a senior geosciences student, will graduate from 17cºÚÁÏ on May 10 before heading to Gainesville to begin a master's to Ph.D. program at the University of Florida. If you asked him where he'd be when he graduated from 17cºÚÁÏ a few years...
May 06, 2025
Delayed but not Defeated, Troy Rodriguez Earns 17cºÚÁÏ Degree
First-generation student Troy Rodriguez will graduate from the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith on May 10 with a degree in business administration. The accomplishment comes after stepping away from school before returning two years later.
May 05, 2025
Nigel Otero: Turning Opportunities into Inspiration
When Nigel Otero came to the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith, he did so knowing it was an opportunity he wouldn't squander. Now, as an advising coordinator for the College of Business and Industry, he's working to inspire students to achieve...
March 31, 2025
Cataloging Resources: How Andrea Parton Became the Librarian She Was Meant to Be
17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith Discovery and Access Librarian Andrea Parton never intended to follow in her dad's footsteps. As a librarian, she does the job she was always meant to have.
March 31, 2025
Lion Voices: Embry Thornton
Embry Thornton talks about 17cºÚÁÏ and what they have done to help him achieve his dream of being a teacher.
January 24, 2025
Lion Voices: William Perrigo
Recent 17cºÚÁÏ graduate William Perrigo, mentions his time at 17cºÚÁÏ and speaks on his fondest memories. He talks about why he chose 17cºÚÁÏ and what he plans to do with his newly attained degree.
January 17, 2025That's the way the Cookie 'Crumbl's
17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith student Jackson Kindy manages to juggle a full-time job as the general manager of Crumbl Fort Smith and a full course load in business administration.
December 20, 2024
Six-Strings and Shakespeare
17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith Professor and Director of the Myles Friedman Honors Program, Dr. Dennis Siler, has a knack for seeing raw potential - whether in a piece of wood destined to become a guitar or a student poised to achieve greatness.
December 17, 2024
'I'm ready. I'm prepared.': How Braden Nguyen Leaves 17cºÚÁÏ
Braden Nguyen, a senior psychology student at the 17cºÚÁÏ - Fort Smith, reflects on his time at 17cºÚÁÏ and how the university has prepared him for whatever lies ahead.
December 06, 2024Popular Topics
Media Relations
The 17cºÚÁÏ Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.
Send%20an%20EmailRachel Rodemann Putman
- Director of Strategic Communications
- 479-788-7132
- rachel.putman@uafs.edu