Jody Davis, Rhonda Harton Earn First Bumpers College Staff Awards

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Jody Davis (left) of the Bumpers College Dean's Office and Rhonda Harton from the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Jody Davis and Rhonda Harton have been named winners of inaugural staff awards presented by U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Davis is recipient of the Excellence in Service Award for Non-Classified Support Personnel and Harton recipient of the Excellence in Service Award for Classified Support Personnel.

Davis is a member of the Dean's Office staff, serving as director of student records and part of the Student Services team. Harton is the primary office support specialist for faculty and receptionist for the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology.

Davis, who earned her bachelor's degree from Bumpers College in animal science, grew up on a small farm south of Farmington where she was reared to value all forms of education. Her father Aaron raised and trained horses and mules, and made and repaired western saddles and horse tack in his saddle shop. He was self-educated, and a true craftsman and businessman. Her mother Martha put herself through college, earning her Ph.D., and became a professor at the U of A, teaching a variety of communications-related classes. She ultimately published her own textbook, "Scientific Papers and Presentations."

After graduating, Davis was the professional assistant to Duane Wolf and advisor for his undergraduate students. Over 20-plus years, she developed her understanding of Bumpers College's curriculum and advising needs, and is now responsible for assisting with the advising needs of faculty and staff, and monitors student academic progress, ultimately approving them for graduation.

Her open-door policy, willingness to help, and encouragement of students, faculty and staff is well known throughout the college.

Harton has been employed by the U of A System for nine years and with AECT since 2015. She has more than 20 years of experience in customer service and support, and is a primary support person for faculty teaching, research and advising; maintaining student records, arranging meetings and anticipating faculty needs; and assisting with outreach, recruiting and professional development events. She has completed certification programs for Accommodating Disabilities, Building Supportive Communities: Clery Act and Title IX, Code of Conduct: Workplace Conduct and search committee training.

Harton is from Bradley County, regarded as the "tomato capital" of the state, which is also known for logging and lumber mills. She spent summers working at tomato stands and for local farmers, and developed an appreciation for farmers and agriculture at an early age.

Known as the "AECT mom," she makes personal connections with students, utilizes effective problem-solving techniques, completes many tasks with little or no supervision, schedules travel arrangements, manages purchasing, assists faculty and students with Workday, manages the tech closet, manages supplies and materials, supervises student workers, assists graduate students and assists with the FFA CDE contest hosted by the department.

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.