UCA announces director of Student Life

Jaclyn Austin

By: Kyra Waller
Office of Media Relations 

The University of Central Arkansas has hired Jaclyn Austin as director of Student Life. 

In this role, Austin will oversee general Student Life operations, oversight of all RSOs and Greek Life, Co-chair the Homecoming Committee, advise the LEAD Team and co-advise IDEAL Freshman Leadership program, and aid staff in the management of Welcome Week activities, Family Weekend Funfair, Purple Society, Leadership Summit, The Big Event, Student Involvement Awards and Homecoming.

“UCA is a unique place that many call home, just as it did when I got to campus in the fall of 2009. The chance to return to Conway and UCA in 2021 was one I’m thankful to have gotten, and now to be able to lead Student Life for the foreseeable future is something I will be forever grateful for,” said Austin. 

Austin began her UCA journey as a freshman in 2009. During her time as an undergraduate, she was involved in Housing and Residence Life and Greek Life. She graduated in August 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in addiction studies and immediately started graduate school and served as a graduate assistant for the Office of Student Life. Austin graduated with a Master of Science in college student personnel administration in May 2015. Following graduate school, Austin moved to Lubbock, Texas, and worked as a residence life coordinator at Texas Tech University before returning to UCA in July 2021 as associate director of Student Life.