U of A Alumna Named Director of Science and Research Communications

Photo by Matt Reynolds

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Amy Schlesing, former deputy communications director for Sen. Mark Pryor, and award winning reporter with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, has joined the University Relations team as director of science and research communications, taking the helm from Barbara Jaquish, who retired at the end of 2014.

“Amy brings a breadth of knowledge to this position, garnered from years of work in newspapers, covering military affairs, and as a policy aid for a U.S. senator,” said Charlie Alison, executive editor for University Relations. “She has a strong knowledge of Arkansas as well as an understanding of how to effectively promote the university to a national audience. She is a great choice to lead our research communications team.”

Schlesing has more than 20 years experience in print journalism, policy development and communications, having previously worked as military policy aid and deputy communications director for Sen. Mark Pryor. She began her career in newspapers, working at the Springdale Morning News and later as military reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock where she spent more than three years in Iraq and Afghanistan as an embedded reporter covering the wars. Her reporting earned two Katie Awards from the Dallas Press Club, four Associated Press Media Editors Service to the FOI awards and a Minuteman Award from the National Guard Bureau.  

“I am excited to be back home at my alma mater and look forward to helping build the future of our university by highlighting all of the fascinating research and work being done by our students and faculty,” Schlesing said. “I’m honored to work with such an amazing group of people.”

As director of science and research communications, Schlesing will oversee publication of Research Frontiers, the university’s research magazine and website, and advance the research programs of all colleges and schools on campus through communications and media relations. She joined the Office of University Relations on March 2.

Schlesing is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. She also earned a Master’s Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Communications from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.