Assistant Dean of Student Success Lisa Wood Retires From Bumpers College

Ariel Romero

Lisa Wood has been a member of the faculty for 17 years and part of the dean's office staff since 2018.

Lisa Wood, assistant dean of student success in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, has retired from the university, effective June 30.

She is remaining part of the U of A faculty, working as an adjunct professor teaching Environmental Science (ENSC 10003) for non-majors remotely each semester through U of A's Global Campus (distance education).

Wood has been a member of the faculty for 17 years, joining Bumpers College and the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences in 2012. She added duties of director of international programs in January 2018 and director of the honors program in July 2019.

Wood was promoted to assistant dean for honors and international programs in January 2020, and named assistant dean of student success in July 2023 where she has focused on overall success of undergraduate students in the college.

"Lisa retiring creates a huge void in our college's leadership team," Dean Jeff Edwards says. "I want to thank her for her service over the years, both in the classroom and as an administrator as part of our dean's office staff. Her departure leaves big shoes to fill. Fortunately, we have an outstanding team and everyone is stepping up and moving forward, and I really appreciate their dedication to our students."

Wood earned her B.S. in agronomy and her M.S. in agronomy with an emphasis in soil physics, both from the U of A. She worked as an environmental scientist at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in Delaware; and then became a partner in an environmental consulting firm where services included soil mapping and feasibility studies, wetland delineation and permitting, on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system investigations, stormwater management studies and permitting, endangered species assessments, habitat conservation plans and siting spray irrigation of treated wastewater. 

She returned in Fayetteville in 2010, earned a Ph.D. from the U of A in curriculum and instruction - science education, and became a member of the CSES faculty where she taught multiple classes, assisted in research efforts of graduate and undergraduate students, mentored honors students, advised undergraduate students and co-advised the CSES undergraduate club.

With a passion for study abroad, she led a service-learning program in Dangriga, Belize, and co-led a program to Australia.

Until a new assistant dean of student success is in place, all questions regarding international programs should be directed toward Vicky Watkins (479-575-2121, vwatkinsv@uark.edu), honors toward Isabel Whitehead-Adams (479-575-3345, iwhatehe@uark.edu) and the Waldrip Student Center toward Jody Davis (479-575-7758, kdavis@uark.edu).

In the interim, Edwards is assisting with and keeping office hours in the Waldrip Student Center in the Agri Building, and associate dean Lona Robertson is assisting with the international and honors programs.

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.