Janet Collins, who has worked with students in the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences since January 2022, has been named the college's director of career initiatives.

Collins will collaborate with faculty, staff, students and employers to coordinate and communicate career education and readiness opportunities. She will develop and implement strategies to increase employment opportunities for students and recent graduates; coordinate employer recruiting on campus, speakers in classes and employer information sessions; and facilitate seminars, industry tours and trainings for faculty and students.

The position reports to both Bumpers College interim Dean Jean-Francois Meullenet and U of A's Office of Career Connections.

"I am a proud graduate of Bumpers College, and being given the opportunity to connect students and employers to improve career outcomes for our college is very exciting," Collins said.

As Bumpers College's career counselor, she educated students on career competencies considered by employers; provided students and alumni reviews and assistance with resumes, cover letters, mock interviews and job searches; made career-focused presentations to students and faculty; served as a career coach for Career Track Razorback, a curriculum assisting students with professional competencies; and assisted U of A's Career Development Center and the college with workshops, tours and presentations related to student-employer connections and networking.

"We are excited to have Janet join Bumpers College in this role," Meullenet said. "This is a new position for her, but certainly one she knows a lot about after assisting in various functions and roles with our students and employers for 18 months. This position connects students and graduates to companies and individuals across the state, the country and around the world. We look forward to her continuing to develop relationships with our students and many industry partners as graduates begin their professional careers and students gain experience through internships."

Collins has also worked as a consultant/recruiter for the Texas Division of the Rogers Group, as a counselor with Woodland School in Fayetteville, as director of therapeutic day treatment and director of education for the Ozark Guidance Center, as a principal with Prairie Grove Middle School and as a curriculum and federal programs director, counselor and middle and high school administrator in the Lavaca School District.

Collins, who began in her new role on June 1, earned her bachelor's degree in human environmental sciences education from Bumpers College, a master's in counselor education from Arkansas State University and ADE school/district leadership certification through coursework from Harding University and the University of Central Arkansas.

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.