Arkansas Alumni Association Names 2018 Student Alumni Executive Board

By University Relations

The 2018 executive team for the Student Alumni Board.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Alumni Association is pleased to announce the Student Alumni Board Executive Team for 2018. The nine members serve as the Board of Directors for the Student Alumni Association, the largest student organization on the University of Arkansas campus.

The students have all previously held leadership positions on the board, and six of the nine are Arkansas residents. Several of the Executive Team members are part of the Arkansas Alumni Association's Scholarship Program, which supports more than 450 current Razorback students each year.

The Student Alumni Association was created by students in 2003 and is the student chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association. It was designed to inspire loyalty, preserve University of Arkansas traditions and establish the bond between students and alumni. The group’s primary goal is to turn a four-year experience into a lifelong connection.

The following students will lead the Student Alumni Board through the 2018 calendar year:

President – Nikki Anderson, a junior from Fayetteville, majoring in economics and criminal justice. This past year she served as the Homecoming director for the board. Anderson is also a member of Phi Mu and Leadership Walton.

Executive Vice President – Emma Buckner, a junior honors student from White Hall. She is majoring in biochemistry and biology and is on the pre-medical track. This past year, Buckner was vice president of Senior Experience for the board. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Epsilon Delta and Order of Omega. She also serves as the lead chemistry and biology tutor for Class-plus.

Vice President of Alumni Relations – Ann Goebel, a junior from Overland Park, Kansas, majoring in marketing. This past year she was on the Traditions Committee for the board. Goebel is also a member of Order of Omega, Leadership Walton, and serves as the recording secretary for Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Vice President of Homecoming – Kate Truitt, a sophomore honors student from Fort Smith, majoring in accounting. This past year she served as the board’s director of Campus Decorations for Homecoming 2017. Truitt serves as treasurer of Kappa Kappa Gamma and is a peer mentor for the Walton Honors Program. 

Vice President of Marketing – Jada Gaspard, a junior from Little Rock. She is majoring in marketing on a pre-law track. Gaspard served as the assistant director of marketing on the board this past year. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Vice President of Member Engagement – Bethany Kasper, a sophomore theatre performance major from Jacksonville. This past year she served as the board’s Beat Shirt chair for membership engagement. Kasper also serves as banner chair for Kappa Delta and is a literacy volunteer with the Volunteer Action Center. 

Vice President of Member Recruitment – Nate Garcia, a junior honors student from Kansas City, Kansas. He’s majoring in kinesiology with a minor in business. The past year he has served as the board’s Senior Awards chair. Garcia also serves as a logistic coordinator for the Volunteer Action Center, as well as chaplain of Kappa Alpha Order. He is also a small group leader for Cross Church.

Vice President of Traditions – Madison McDonnell, a junior honors student from Columbia, Missouri. She's majoring in finance and economics with a minor in Arabic. She served as the Traditions App chair for the board. McDonnell is also the director of senior transition for the Razorback Foundation Collegiate Board, a member of the Booster Club, Student Ambassadors and Alpha Omicron Pi.

Vice President of Sponsorships – Anna Nettles, a junior from North Little Rock. She is double majoring in supply chain management and marketing. Nettles served as the board’s director of community outreach on the Homecoming Committee this past year. She is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and Greek Life Facilitators.

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.