’60s
Joseph Mahan ’61 was named the 2019 Tennessee Dealer of the Year by Ally Bank Time magazine.
Ted Yotter ’66 is a 2020 UCA Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He was an All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference catcher for the Bears in the mid-1950s.
’70s
Wanda (Humphries) McDaniel ’76, ’78 retired from Bryant Public Schools after 39 years. She served as elementary school principal at Salem, Bryant and Hurricane Creek, all in the Bryant School District.
Jack Bell ’77 was elected to the UCA Alumni Association board. His term began July 1.
Dr. Jackie Paxton ’78 is currently a professor of curriculum and instruction and program director for the special education master’s program at Arkansas Tech University. He has also had several short stories published in the science fiction and Western genres.
Gregory “Greg” Dunseath ’79, ’80 is a 2020 UCA Sports Hall of Fame inductee. Dunseath was an All-American and two-time All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference golfer at UCA in the 1970s.
Kelley Erstine ’79 was appointed as a member of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Inc. National Committee. He serves as CEO for the company.
’80s
Dr. Nancy (Berryman) Reese ’80, professor and former UCA Department of Physical Therapy chairperson, was named dean of the UCA College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Barry Lueders ’82 has been awarded the 14th annual Buddy Harding Award for the 2019-20 academic year. He is also a former coach at Conway High School.
Charlie Strong ’82, former head coach at the University of South Florida, has been hired as a defensive analyst at the University of Alabama.
Ed Spaeth ’83 was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. His appointment expires Sept. 1, 2023.
Kim Crissler ’84, ’95 was elected to the UCA Alumni Association board. His term began July 1.
Brenda (Russell) Herring ’85 retired from the Arkansas Air National Guard on May 4 after 28 years of service.
Ronnie “Ron” Isom ’85 has been hired as vice president of Business Development at TruSkin.
Lori (Hawkins) Case Melton ’85 was elected to the UCA Alumni Association board and began her term July 1.
Lisa Birdwell Anderson ’86 started a new role as regional vice president, covering Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kansas and Missouri, at Corporate Spending Innovations based in Bonita Springs, Florida.
J. Kelly Robbins ’86 has been selected as the new executive director for the Arkansas Rice Federation.
Bret Carroll ’89, ’96 has been elected to serve a three-year term on the American Public Power Association board of directors.
Randy Milligan ’89 has been appointed chairman of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants in Little Rock.
Anthony Gardner is a 2020 UCA Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He was a four-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American and four-time All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference sprinter in track and field for the Bears from 1989-92.
Blake Swears was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board. His appointment expires June 30, 2021.
’90s
Teresa Adams ’90, a fifth-grade literacy teacher at Cabot Middle School South, was named Cabot Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year this year.
Scott Schwartz ’90, ’93 is a 2020 UCA Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He was an All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference receiver for the Bears on teams that went 40-5-1 during his playing days in the late ’80s.
John Tate ’90 received the Pi Kappa Alpha National Chapter Advisor of the Year award for his 25 years of service to the Pi Kappa Alpha Epsilon Phi Chapter.
Mary Jean Campo ’92 was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas Technology Equipment Revolving Loan Fund Committee. Her appointment expires June 30, 2022.
Dr. Arch Jones Jr. ’92, ’08 was promoted to executive director at Natural State Laboratories.
Susan (Miller) Davenport ’93 was named Arkansas Managing Partner for BKD Certified Public Accountants & Advisors.
Karen (Freeman) Shaw ’94 was selected for Leadership Arkansas Class XV, a program operated by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas.
Cindy Hudson ’95 and Donald Webb ’96, owners of Francis M. Fine Jewelry, received the award for 2020 Best Retail Business in Conway from the Conway Chamber of Commerce. They were also named a semi-finalist by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for the 2019 Best Jewelry Store in Arkansas.
Amy Meins ’95 was promoted to vice president of marketing and communications at Colliers International.
Brent Miller ’95 was promoted to creative lead at The Communications Group in Little Rock.
Michelle Rupp ’96 was promoted to chief communications and strategy officer at Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care.
Kristi (Morris) Thurmon ’97 was recognized on Arkansas Money & Politics’ Future 50 list.
Dr. Kelley Todd ’97 was hired as chair of the Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus business technology program.
Lorrie (Payne) Trogden ’97 was recognized on Arkansas Money & Politics’ Future 50 list.
Bryan Williams ’97 was appointed by CHI St. Vincent as the new chief nurse executive.
Erin (Kocourek) Simpson ’98, ’99 was hired as executive vice president and chief risk officer of Encore Bank, based in Little Rock.
Blake Broadaway ’99 was promoted to the newly created role of chief commercial officer at Safe Foods Corp.
Holly Ruth Gale ’99 received the 2020 Faculty Award of Excellence at Arkansas Tech University.
Sean McCarron ’99 will serve as a senior safety manager at the Center of Toxicology and Environmental Health’s North Little Rock headquarters.
’00s
John Ford ’01 was awarded the Alumni Brother of the Year Award for the South Central Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. at the 2020 Special Province Council. He was also elected to the province’s board of directors.
Dr. Cameron Good ’01 helped to design an intubation box to protect medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Patricia “Tricia” (Embrey) Smith ’01, ’03 has been named dean of the Schedler Honors College at UCA.
Patrick “Brent” Taylor ’01, J.D., has been named president and CEO of Citizens Bank & Trust Co.
Daniel Burkhead ’02 was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas Home Inspector Registration Board. His appointment expires Jan. 26, 2022.
Jennifer (Bowers) Francis ’02 was appointed by Bryant Public Schools as the new assistant principal of Bethel Middle School.
Nathan Poston ’02, ’06 has been promoted to member at Landmark PLC.
Heide (Pingley) Harrell ’03 is director of Marketing and Business Development at Rose Law Firm. She is also an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree for 2020.
Jeremy Jeffery ’03 has been named chief financial officer at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff.
Dr. Leah (Starnes) Lowe ’03, ’06, ’13 is the 2020 recipient of the Margaret Moore Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member award from the American Physical Therapy Association. She is also assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at UCA.
Julie (Hall) McCallister ’03 was named an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree for 2020. She is also president and senior environmental scientist at Engineering, Compliance, & Construction Inc. in Little Rock.
Morgan David Hager ’04 has been honored as one of Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40 for 2020.
Jacob Hudson ’04 has been promoted to market president at Bank of Oklahoma Financial, based in Fayetteville.
Rachael (Borengasser) McGrew ’04 is an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree
for 2020.
Joshua “Josh” Neal ’04 has been promoted to mortgage loan manager at Arvest Bank.
Wesley “Aaron” Nolan ’04 was hired as the weekend breaking news anchor for “News Nation,” a new project in Chicago for WGN America.
Dechantria Wallace ’04 was selected by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as the Outstanding Academic Advisor of 2020. She is also a counselor in the College of Education & Health Professions Advising & Support Center.
John Albritton ’05, ’06 has been promoted to bond director at Landmark PLC.
Karen “Betsy” (Turner) Baker ’05 is an honoree of Little Rock Soiree’s 2020 Class of Women to Watch.
Andrew “Luke” Brown ’05 is an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree for 2020. He is also head of analytics and support at Crews & Associates Inc.
Dr. Michaela Curran ’05 was awarded a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Iowa College of Public Health in April.
Leslie (Clothier) Futrell ’05, ’10 is a 2020 UCA Sports Hall of Fame inductee. She was a four-time All-Gulf South Conference shortstop for the Bears (2002-05) and the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year.
Amanda (Morgan) Hoelzeman ’05 was recognized on Arkansas Money & Politics’ Future 50 list.
Jessaca (Brockinton) Hope ’05, ’16 began a new career as a neurosurgery nurse practitioner with the CHI St. Vincent Arkansas Neuroscience Institute.
Michael Pierce ’05, ’07 has been promoted to member at Landmark PLC.
Katie (Boone) Pipkin ’05 is an honoree of Little Rock Soiree’s 2020 Class of Women
to Watch.
Dr. Austin Porter III ’05 is an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree for 2020. He currently serves as injury epidemiologist in the Arkansas Department of Health.
Rachel (Martin) Schichtl ’05, ’06 was named a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She serves as clinical instructor and director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics and Nutrition at UCA.
Tim Bowen ’06 is an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree for 2020. He is also hospital administrator at Baptist Health-Conway.
Paul Bradley ’06, ’10 was recognized with the 2020 Young Business Leader of the Year award by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. He was elected to the UCA Alumni Association board, beginning his term July 1.
Jonathon “Blake” Frazier ’06 was an honoree of the 2020 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40, presented by the Arkansas Center for Nursing.
Jasmine Greer ’06 is a recipient of the Individual Artist Fellowship award, presented by the Arkansas Arts Council.
Matthew Rush ’06 was named the executive vice president of Wealth Management for Strategic Financial Partners on May 18.
Rebekah (Gardner) Fincher ’07 was an honoree on Delta Zeta Sorority’s 35 Under 35 recognition program.
Marie (Allen) Gieringer ’07 is an Arkansas Business Chief Financial Officer of the Year finalist for the Nonprofit Organization CFO category.
Jennifer “Jensyn” (Hyman) Hallett ’07, ’09 was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas Minority and Women-Owned Business Advisory Committee. Her appointment expires April 30, 2025.
Leighton Hardin ’07, ’08 has been named the new head coach for the Wampus Cat Baseball Program at Conway Public Schools.
Jason Keith ’07, ’10 is an Arkansas Business CFO of the Year finalist for the Small Private Company CFO category.
Greg Walker ’07, ’08 has been promoted to member at Landmark PLC.
Nicholas “Drew” Williams ’07, ’09 has been selected for Leadership Arkansas Class XV, a program operated by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas.
Mayci (Smith) Blankenship ’08 was named senior public relations account executive at Mangan Holcomb Partners/Team SI.
Almer “Wes” Dyson ’08 was elected to the UCA Alumni Association board. His term began July 1.
Adam Finch ’08 is the new certified physician assistant for Radiology Associates PA in
Little Rock.
John “Matt” Porter ’08 was officially named the new head football coach for Atkins High School on Aug. 10.
Dr. T. Kale Gober ’09 has been hired as vice president of Advancement at Grand Canyon University.
Rachel (Brown) Homard ’09 had her first novel, “The Green Triangle,” published by Glenfinnan Publishing.
James Hopper ’09 is the new director of programs at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
in Morrilton.
Dr. Brian Kennedy ’09 has joined the inpatient hospitalist team at Conway Regional Health System.
Zachary “Zach” King ’09, ’10 has been named senior vice president and chief financial officer at USA Truck Inc. of Van Buren.
Mindy (Sanders) Lee ’09 graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2019 with a Doctor of Pharmacy.
Tyler (Young) Williams ’09 was an honoree on Delta Zeta Sorority’s 35 Under 35 recognition program.
Kristen (Griggs) Kennon is an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree for 2020. She is also the owner of iRealty Arkansas.
’10s
Chris Bell ’10, ’11 was promoted to vice president of Finance and Administration at Today’s Power Inc. He was also recognized on Arkansas Money & Politics’ Future 50 list.
Dr. Robyn (Smith) Everson ’10, ’13 is a 2020 UCA Sports Hall of Fame inductee. She was the Southland Conference Setter of the Year twice as well as the SLC Freshman of the Year.
Holly (Threm) Goslin ’11 was awarded the annual Outstanding Faculty Award at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.
Sara (Massana) Hurst ’11 is an honoree of Little Rock Soiree’s 2020 Class of Women to Watch.
Alexandra “Allie” Brown ’12 is the new director of digital marketing for Jenkins
Enterprises.
Amber Haydar French ’12 has been promoted to client adviser at Arvest Wealth Management.
William Jones IV ’12 is an honoree for Arkansas Business’ 20 in Their 20s for 2020.
John “Jack” Phillips IV ’12, ’15 has been promoted to Senior Manager I – Global Ethics Governance at Walmart Corp.
Adam Tullos ’12 has been promoted to director of preconstruction for Kinco Constructors in Little Rock.
Leo Cummings III ’13 was recognized on Arkansas Money & Politics’ Future 50 list.
Jennifer (Adams) James ’13, ’18 has joined Baptist Health Urgent Care in Little Rock as a nurse practitioner.
Julie Rowland ’13 has joined Baptist Health in Fort Smith as an advanced practice registered nurse.
Christopher “Chris” Diaz ’14 is an honoree for Arkansas Business’ 20 in Their 20s for 2020.
Maria Kramer ’14 was elected to the UCA Alumni Association board. Her term began July 1.
Andrea Zekis ’14, ’18 has accepted a position as a health communications specialist for the Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
Garrett Bock ’15, ’17 has been hired as the head baseball coach at Lakeside School District.
Mariah (Fletcher) Camp ’15 was hired as a practice manager at Conway Regional Health System.
Bridget (Jennings) Fortenberry ’15, ’19 accepted a position as the director of human resources at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in Little Rock.
Madison Leach ’15 is the new head coach for the girls and boys basketball teams at Bald Knob School District.
Leslie (Impson) Mann ’15 was promoted to director of Physician Network Development at Conway Regional Health System.
Jonathan Pennington ’15 graduated from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University.
Jordan Arrington ’16 joined the WER design team as an interior designer.
Alexander Howell ’16 graduated from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University.
Tyler Langley ’16, an Arkansas State Police trooper recruit, received his certified law enforcement certificate. He is assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.
Kayla McIntosh ’16 has been hired as the student success coordinator at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark campus.
Corey Parks ’16, ’18 is an honoree for Arkansas Business’ 20 in Their 20s for 2020. He serves as the vice president at Conway Development Corp.
Grace (Barre) Rains ’16, ’17 was selected for Leadership Arkansas Class XV, a program operated by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas.
Alexander Battaglia ’17 was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.He is using the ETA to teach English in a Madrid high school during the 2020-21 academic year.
Jacob “Jake” Gaither ’17 was hired as the business development manager at Keet O’Gary Construction.
Emily Reynolds ’17 was hired as an account manager for Unified Network Information Services (UNIS) Fulfillment and Transportation.
Korbyn Freeman ’18 received his certified law enforcement certificate. He is assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.
Megan (Black) Foshee ’19 is an honoree of the 2020 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40, presented by the Arkansas Center for Nursing.
Hayden McCormick ’19 was hired as a staff accountant at Mcllroy Keen & Goodman LLP in Little Rock.
Taylor Oberg ’19 was hired as a staff accountant at Mcllroy Keen & Goodman LLP in Little Rock.
’20s
Reagan Heffley ’20 has joined the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas as director of communications.