Recognition

UAFS Snags Global Gold

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith earned two global awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, an international organization of higher education professionals.

CASE awarded a Grand Gold award in the student-oriented digital campaign category for the university’s Mental Health Monday campaign and a Silver award for the university’s 8-bit Web Launch video.

“Public, regional institutions are known for having small numbers of professionals and limited resources available in their departments of Marketing and Communication, and UAFS is no exception. For this reason, it is an even bigger achievement for UA-Fort Smith to win two CASE Circle of Excellence Awards,” said Dr. Riley. “I am particularly proud of the team for winning the Grand Gold award in a student-oriented category.”

UAFS’s Mental Health Monday campaign used interactive elements built into Instagram Stories to engage directly with students struggling with their mental health, forming one-onone connections and sharing campus resources.

Rachel Putman, associate director of strategic communications, and Shandreka McCullough, class of 2021, who served as communications student assistant during her time at UAFS, created the campaign and sent hundreds of messages in response to its success.

The university’s Web Launch video included an 8-bit character modeled after Dr. Riley who navigates a bluethemed retro-style videogame to announce the redesigned UAFS.edu site, bringing a responsive design to a modern, mobile-friendly website. The video, also created by Putman, features an original MIDI score by her husband, Cory Putman.

In 2022, CASE received more than 4,500 entries from 636 institutions in nearly 30 countries.

Biz Journal Notes UAFS Employees

Numerous UAFS staff members earned ranks in Northwest Arkansas Business Journal lists that acknowledge the brightest lights in busines this year.

Dr. Latisha Settlage, Dean of the College of Business and Industry at UAFS, was named to the eighth annual class of Women in Business.

Jasmine Smith, ’14, Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, was named to the Fast 15, a list of business leaders younger than 30.

Christy Williams, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, was named to the Forty under 40 list, which recognizes young leaders making a mark on their industries.