FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Heather Parks has been named project specialists for scholarships, development and external relations in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Parks will implement, coordinate, direct and maintain the Bumpers College scholarship program, including preparation of new scholarship agreements, maintenance and monitoring of existing scholarship agreements, and maintaining regular contact with donors and students.

"Student success is very important to me, so one of the aspects of this position I am most excited about is the opportunity to help students reach their goals and be successful at the University of Arkansas," said Parks. "This is an amazing opportunity, and I look forward to working with the Bumpers College team to provide excellent student support."

She joined the Bumpers College Dean's Office staff in January 2016 and worked in the student services group as an administrative assistant while completing her degree. Parks earned her bachelor's degree from the U of A last May in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on agricultural business, communications and sociology, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in sociology.

Bumpers College offers approximately 500 scholarship each year worth more than $760,000. The college awards more scholarship support, per student, than any other college on campus, and more than 70 percent of students who apply are awarded at least one scholarship.

The scholarship application period for 2019-20 is now open. The deadline to apply is Feb. 15.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

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.