FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Jake Ayo has been hired as director of field placement in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas.

Ayo previously worked three years as coordinator of undergraduate student recruitment for the college. He earned a Master of Education degree in adult and lifelong learning from the U of A in December 2014.

In his new position, Ayo is responsible for coordinating placement for field experiences of students majoring in teacher education programs in the College of Education and Health Professions and for students in the music, art and agricultural education programs in other colleges at the university.

The field placement office also works with students in the new educational studies program and UATeach, in which students major in mathematics, science or engineering and minor in education. Ayo will manage the site approval process and develop new partnerships.

Another part of the position is to collaborate with all the academic programs at the university that place students at off-site learning environments.

The College of Education and Health Professions typically handles field placement of about 300 interns and 1,200 observers in more than 20 school districts each year. Student teaching interns are placed with experienced mentor teachers over a semester or year, typically in two or three rotations that cover both rural and urban schools. Other students are required to have a certain number of observational hours in the classroom.

"I'm excited to continue working as a representative of our education programs," Ayo said. "We have phenomenal students and I look forward to working with our current partners as well as expanding the placement opportunities for our students."

Ayo will work closely with Myra Haulmark, director of licensure for the college.