Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences alumna Mandy McClendon has been appointed the new senior director of communications and marketing for the college, effective Aug. 25. She will provide key leadership for the college's communications and marketing team and serve as an adviser to the Fulbright College Dean's Office.

McClendon joins the Fulbright College at a pivotal moment, as the college continues a strategic planning exercise that will inform communications and marketing efforts that drive the college's mission as a vital public good.

"We are so excited that Mandy has joined the team," said Brian E. Raines, dean of Fulbright College. "We are building a bold new vision for Fulbright College, and that requires a bold and visionary communications and marketing leader."

"Mandy brings a wealth of proven expertise leading public, private and non-profit organizations. Her experience, along with her personal experience as a Fulbright graduate, makes me optimistic and excited for what we can accomplish together for Fulbright College."

McClendon comes to the U of A from Walmart Inc. where she most recently served as a senior manager on the company's global communications team focusing on sustainability, energy and technology. Before Walmart, she led communications and marketing for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, as well as public information and marketing for the city of Austin, Texas.

As a native Arkansan from Benton, her return to the U of A campus feels "truly like a full-circle moment."

"It feels incredibly meaningful to return to the place that gave me so much," McClendon said. "Fulbright College shaped so much of who I am, setting me up not only for a rewarding career, but also giving me rich experiences and relationships that have lasted for years."

"To come back as part of the Fulbright College team feels like a homecoming—and a chance to give back," she added.

McClendon comes from a family of educators and considers her time in the Fulbright College life-changing. As a student, she experienced study abroad that taught her global perspectives, gained knowledge and discovered skills that helped launch her career and helped her grow as a person.

"That transformational experience drives how I think about communications and marketing for the college," she said. "It's not just about promoting programs or sharing facts — it's about the real, human stories that capture the life-changing impact Fulbright has on its students. I look forward to sharing those stories, inspiring pride and inviting others to see themselves as part of the Fulbright story."

McClendon graduated from the U of A in 2013 with a B.A. in English literature and a minor in political science. She also holds a Master of Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin's Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. She lives in Fayetteville with her husband and two young sons.