Jacobs Selected as 2020 GPSC Staff Ally of the Year

University Relations

Laura Jacobs has served as chief of staff for the chancellor since 2016.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Laura Jacobs has been named the 2020 Staff Ally of the Year by the Graduate Professional Student Congress.

Jacobs, associate vice chancellor and chief of staff for the chancellor, was nominated for going above and beyond for the University of Arkansas campus and student organizations like the GPSC over the last academic year.

"Laura was selected as our Staff Ally of year because of her tireless work to ensure graduate and professional students have a seat at the table when tackling issues that impact us," said GPSC President JD DiLoreto-Hill. "Whether it was helping secure a permanent seat on Fayetteville's Town and Gown committee or working with ASG President Jared Pinkerton and I on a student town hall with the Chancellor, Laura has consistently had the best interests of GPSC in mind.

"When the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic began, this became even more valuable to graduate and professional students as Laura again made sure we had a seat at the table and provided consistent support and guidance every time it was needed. Our organization is able to function most effectively with allies like her on our campus."

Jacobs has been a driving force behind Chancellor Joe Steinmetz's COVID-19 Response Team since the outbreak of the coronavirus. With an ever-changing situation like a pandemic, Jacobs has been key in facilitating communication between university administrators, student organizations, and other faculty and staff representatives across campus. 

Jacobs first joined the university in 1998 and held several roles with increasing responsibilities, including manager of development communications, managing editor of Arkansas magazine and senior director of strategic communications. She served for more than two years as director of communications at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, then returned to university relations in early 2014 as associate vice chancellor for University Relations. She has served in her current chief of staff role since 2016. 

Jacobs is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts in English and communications and a master of education in higher education administration.

Last year, the Staff Ally of the Year award went to Associate Dean of Students Lori Lander and Assistant Director for Student Activities PJ Martinez.

The year-end GPSC awards ceremony is normally held at the end of the spring semester as part of the inauguration of the incoming staff, but due to the COVID-19 crisis and campus closures, the awards ceremony was canceled. 

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 fewer than 3 percent of colleges and 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.