McMullin's Legacy Gives Arkansas Students Clear Path to Success

Jane McMullin loved everything about the U of A. A two-time graduate of the university and passionate advocate for her home state, McMullin passed away in January 2024 at the age of 72. A $100,000 gift from her estate established the Land of Opportunity Scholarship Endowment in memory of Linda Jane McMullin. Expanding McMullin’s legacy, this gift will help ease the burdens of academically successful Arkansas students with the highest financial need.

The Land of Opportunity Scholarship supports students from Arkansas, ensuring financial circumstances do not limit their academic success. The scholarship reduces the everyday costs of attending college and connects recipients to additional resources, including mentorship, academic coaching, financial planning and career development. These resources can help students succeed during their time at the university and prepare for life after graduation.

Students with high financial need often must seek outside employment to fund their tuition and living expenses. Working extensive hours can create barriers to their success and limit opportunities to fully engage in academics, internships, research and other opportunities. Students are better positioned to succeed when financial barriers are diminished and comprehensive support is available.

“We are deeply grateful to Jane McMullin's family for honoring her memory in such a generous and meaningful way,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “Jane felt a lasting connection to the University of Arkansas, and her legacy will now live on through generations of Razorbacks who will benefit from this enduring gift.”

When Jane McMullin was nearing the end of her life, her sister, Annette Smith (B.S.’72), was surprised to learn Jane had saved a substantial amount of money. “She worked her whole life, just a regular job,” Smith said. “She wasn’t the CEO of anything, although she did own her own small business for a while. She just saved her money. She was very frugal.”

Smith asked McMullin what she wanted her savings to go to when she passed, but McMullin couldn’t decide on anything specific. After her passing, Smith’s niece and great-niece were preparing for college and applying for scholarships. Smith was suddenly inspired to use McMullin’s estate to fund a scholarship. Smith said her sister loved the U of A and was a big proponent of education, and she believed this was an idea McMullin would have supported.

Smith reached out to the university to discuss options for establishing a scholarship. She liked the idea of a scholarship supporting one student’s education. After learning about the Land of Opportunity Scholarship and its impact on Arkansas students, Smith realized the initiative aligned with McMullin’s values.

“I hope this can help students enjoy life and not have to work 24/7 when they’re not in school to pay for their education. They can get a little bit of reprieve,” Smith said. “I’m happy that that’s what we did. I think Jane would be, too. She would be thrilled.”

McMullin was born in Batesville and graduated from Batesville High School in 1969. She then attended the U of A and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1973.

After graduation, she worked as a recreational therapist for the American Red Cross and the USO, eventually becoming the director of a USO center in Okinawa, Japan. She returned to Arkansas and earned a Master of Education from the U of A in 1978. She then moved to DeWitt, where she opened Jane’s Gym and taught gymnastics and exercise classes. Her clients ranged from young children to the elderly, two groups of people McMullin loved throughout her life, Smith said. McMullin moved to Pine Bluff in the mid-1990s and became the director of fitness at Trinity Village Retirement Community. She held this position until she retired to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2017.

McMullin formed friendships in DeWitt and Pine Bluff that would last the rest of her life. Although she loved to travel, McMullin always considered Arkansas home. She had friends all over the state and had a propensity to find people with Arkansas ties during her travels. She was always willing to highlight the state’s qualities and welcome visitors.

To honor McMullin’s dedication to the regions she called home, the scholarship will be given with preference to qualified students living or attending school in Independence, Arkansas or Jefferson counties. Smith said this feels like a direct connection to her sister.

“Jane’s life and legacy reflect a deep and enduring connection to Arkansas and to this university,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for university advancement. “As a two-time graduate who built her career and community in this state, her legacy now creates opportunity for students who share those same Arkansas roots. We are sincerely grateful to Jane and Annette for entrusting the University of Arkansas with a gift that will continue to shape lives for years to come.”

A devoted volunteer, McMullin served on the Arkansas Youth Council and the Arkansas Governor’s Council on Fitness and was a docent at the Clinton Library and a supporter of the Arthritis Foundation. She worked on the presidential campaigns of both Bill and Hillary Clinton and campaigns of many other local and state candidates. In retirement, McMullin volunteered at the Museum of the West and the Ambassadors of Old Town in Scottsdale.

About the Land of Opportunity Scholarship: The Land of Opportunity Scholarship campaign is a three-year initiative to further educational access opportunities for students from all 75 counties in Arkansas, improve graduation rates, create two-way engagement between the university and businesses throughout the state, and fulfill the institution’s land-grant mission to uplift Arkansas. As of April 30, 2026, the campaign has raised 69% of its goal in 49% of the time through more than $138,444,523 in pledges and commitments.

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 $3 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.