Jill Rucker, associate professor of agricultural communications and agricultural leadership in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, has been accepted into U of A's UARK Leaders Program for 2021-22.

The program, developed by the Office of the Provost, the vice chancellor for finance and administration, and human resources, helps develop leaders who work together to ensure the success of the university's vision, mission and values.

Rucker is a member of the faculty in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology. Rucker has earned the Bumpers College Alumni Society Outstanding Advising Award and the U of A System Division of Agriculture Jack G. Justus Award for Teaching Excellence, both in 2019, U of A Outstanding Faculty Member honors from the Associated Student Government in 2016, and several awards from the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists.

"This is an exciting time to be mentored by the top leaders on the University of Arkansas campus," Rucker said. "I am excited to learn from their leadership experience and gain insight into the role of administration in higher education. I look forward to developing both professionally and personally through this leadership opportunity."

The leaders program advances U of A's mission by retaining talent and strengthening skill sets of new, existing and potential leaders through connections and collaborative projects focused on providing solutions to key university challenges.

It includes structured learning opportunities, resources and tools to strengthen each participant's leadership style, networking opportunities from a variety of disciplines and departments, an action learning project in a team setting and the opportunity to work directly with an executive coach to develop action plans to strengthen leadership skills.

The program runs from November through May.

Rucker led the development of AECT's agricultural leadership concentration and the curriculum, which began as a minor in 2016.

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: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.