FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Amanda Davis has joined U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences in a new position as eastern Arkansas regional recruiter.

Davis and her husband operate a small cow-calf operation along with a 200-acre row crop farm in Paragould, and she is involved with local youth-led agricultural organizations.

As a regional recruiter, Davis serves as a liaison between Bumpers College and the U of A, and prospective students in the entire eastern portion of the state. Davis, who works under the direction of Coordinator of Undergraduate Student Recruitment Dausen Duncan, schedules informational visits with area high schools, attends local college/career fairs and collects information on prospective students in the region. Davis will be working with high school counselors, agriculture teachers, science teachers, 4-H agents and other members of the communities.

"When I came on board (May 2018), one of the first things I recognized was we needed a greater presence across the entire state," said Bumpers College Dean Deacue Fields. "Agricultural industries are strong up and down the eastern side of the state, and those are students and families we need to connect with. Amanda has already been very visible and is getting our messages out there, and we're looking forward to seeing results with more students from those areas. We're now in the process of adding another regional recruiter to do the same thing in the southern part of the state."

"Amanda has done a lot since joining the recruitment team," Duncan said. "She has attended college and career fairs, professional expos, youth meetings and has been visiting high schools. I'm thrilled to have her on the team and representing Bumpers College. Her knowledge base of Eastern Arkansas and the agricultural, food and life sciences industries have been tremendous additions to our efforts in reaching prospective students and their families in that region."

Davis is visiting with students and families in 26 counties, including Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Saint Francis, White and Woodruff.

"Amanda is serving 26 counties as a Bumpers College and University of Arkansas resource to prospective students from Eastern Arkansas," Duncan said. "Being a resident of that part of the state, her personal experiences with the ag, food and life industries are key in connecting with prospective students interested in us."

Davis, who started last fall, earned her bachelor's degree in plant science with an emphasis in agronomy and a minor in soil science from Arkansas State University.

She has worked as a quality and production supervisor with Peco Foods and as a soil conservationist with Natural Resources Conservation Services.

Davis is involved with the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, Arkansas Women in Agriculture, Northeast Arkansas Horse Show Association and the National Barrel Horse Association, among others.

Students and families in those counties interested in connecting with Davis can reach her at ascarrel@uark.edu or 870-450-5360.

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. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

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 2.7 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.