Laykyn Rainbolt, a U of A graduate of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, has been named the college's coordinator of undergraduate student recruiting.

Rainbolt, who started on April 17, was an honors student and earned bachelor's degrees in agricultural communications and animal science in 2022, graduating magna cum laude with a 3.98 grade point average.

"When prospective students walk out of my office, I want them to know that any dream is possible if they put the work in, and Bumpers College is here to support them every step of the way with all the opportunities they can imagine," Rainbolt said. "I want students and their families to know that I, in addition to rest of the faculty and staff, am eager to meet them and show them why I'm passionate about Bumpers College." 

She was completing the Career Leadership Program with Simmons Foods when she accepted the position. She was working with poultry, pet food and animal nutrition processing plants.

After graduating, she worked as a communications intern at Simmons, assisting in designing corporate communications packages.

"I want to change the perception of the University of Arkansas that students across the state may have," Rainbolt said. "Coming from the rural, small town of Marshall, Arkansas, people told me I would not like Fayetteville or the university for various reasons. I want to show each and every student, from freshman to transfers to nontraditional students, that they do have a place in Bumpers College if they put the work in. Both from my time as a student to now working here, I know the faculty and staff want students to succeed, and they will go far out of their way to ensure that happens. Bumpers College is so much more than an education opportunity. Although a very good education, Bumpers College is a community full of faculty, staff and peers who genuinely care about each other. Being the land-grant university of the state of Arkansas, students have limitless opportunities to participate in undergraduate research, study abroad trips and so many other education-enhancing experiences while still getting our family-like atmosphere. Personal connections to professors, open door policies, hands-on learning and the focus on professional development are a few of my favorite things about our college for our students."

In her position, Rainbolt is the initial contact for prospective students interested in a Bumpers College undergraduate major. She develops and manages a pool of prospective students and plans and implements recruitment strategies utilizing market research and ongoing trend analysis to set goals and monitor progress. She also creates initiatives to promote and encourage interest from prospective students throughout the state, plans and represents the university and college at recruitment events on and off campus, designs and coordinates events on behalf of the college and serves as a liaison to the Office of Admissions.

"We are very excited to have Laykyn in this position," Jean-Francois Meullenet, interim dean, said. "She is a recent graduate, and this is her college, her university and her state. She has a good understanding of who we are and what students in this state and region need to know when considering choices for majors, careers and colleges. Laykyn is also from a smaller town and transferred from a community college, so she will be able to relate to anyone in similar situations. She's going to be a great representative for us in building relationships with potential students, their families, teachers and counselors throughout the state. She ran our booth at the state FFA Convention last month, so she's already meeting people and making contacts."

Rainbolt also manages the college's ambassadors, a group of students who work on-campus and off-campus events; represent the college to prospective students, parents and alumni; and serve as examples of what it means to be a Bumpers College student.

She has first-hand knowledge, having served as the college's lead ambassador in 2021-22, which included managing the other students, attending national trade shows, leading student tours and learning more about the college.

"Serving as an ambassador during my time as a student lit a passion in me for sharing about the college I love with prospective students, and being able to come back and make a career out of that passion is literally a dream come true for me," she said. "I truly believe 'U of A' is 'YOU of A' because the opportunities are at your fingertips here. Returning to the family I built in my time as a student feels like the story of 'this little piggie sang wee wee wee all the way back home' to Bumpers College." 

Rainbolt will be able to personally connect with transfer students from community colleges and other universities. She attended North Arkansas College in Harrison, earning an associate of agriculture degree in animal science and NAC's zoology outstanding graduate award, both in 2019.

"My experiences of growing up in rural Arkansas and transferring to the University of Arkansas allow me to connect with students in similar situations because I've been there," Rainbolt said.  "I know the challenges of being the first generation to graduate from a four-year university. It's hard to overcome some of those situations, but I'm so glad I can use my experiences to help ease the challenges for those students I meet in this role. I am so excited to see students, like myself, who doubt that their dream of attending the U of A is not out of reach with the support of Bumpers College."

Other work experience includes stints as a communications intern with Equestrian Bridges and as communicators coordinator for the Experiential Learning Lab in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology.

As a student, Rainbolt, who earned the college's John W. White Outstanding Student Award in 2022, was president of U of A's chapter of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, president of U of A Collegiate 4-H, vice president of U of A's Cattlemen's Association chapter, communications coordinator for the Bumpers College Honors Student Board, philanthropy co-chair of the Sigma Alpha Iota professional sorority and a member of U of A's FFA Supporters and Alumni chapter and the animal science academic quadrathlon team.

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 few 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 and Economic Development News.