Page 50 - 2026 VB Community Profile

EDUCATION

Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley emphasized Department of Social Work. expand on the already impactful work of
the campaign’s impact on both the In addition to training, endowed funds River Valley Nonprofits, a local network
campus and the broader River Valley. will allow the center to award annual that began in 2020 to help the more than
“This campaign allows us to lean fully mini-grants to regional nonprofits and 1,000 nonprofits who call this region
into the heart of our mission—to educate provide access to operational resources home to navigate the challenges of the
and to uplift both our students and our and advanced technology platforms COVID-19 pandemic. Initially formed
community,” Riley said. “We believe that support service delivery, client through informal meetings among
in giving every student, regardless of management, impact measurement, nonprofit leaders, the group became
background or circumstance, a real fundraising, and data analysis. a registered 501(c)(3) in 2024 and is
chance at success, because we know the Complementing this work, the working closely with UAFS to lay the
tremendous difference they’ll make once partnership with the UAFS Department groundwork for the new center.
they leave our campus.” of Social Work will expand the center’s New Scholarship Program
For more information about the reach into academic research and announced
campaign or to make a gift, visit our workforce development. Through an UAFS also rolled out a new
website uafs.edu/intrepid-ambition. endowed nonprofit faculty position in scholarship program for transfer
Anonymous $7. 5 million the social work department, applied students which the admissions team
gift launches UAFS Center research initiatives, and paid student knows will be competitive to any other
for Nonprofits internships, the center will link university program offered in the state of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas – Fort expertise to community needs. The and across the region.
Smith announced a transformational $7.5 collaboration will prepare UAFS students All in all, UAFS continues to move
million gift on Wednesday, April 2, which for careers in the nonprofit field while forward with a plan for growth that will
will endow a comprehensive Center helping local organizations expand their lead the Fort Smith region to a brighter
for Nonprofits (CNP) at the university. capacity to serve. future. For more information, visit the
The anonymous gift, one of the largest As services are built, the center will university’s website at uafs.edu.
in UAFS history, was unveiled during
the public kickoff of the university’s
$85 million comprehensive campaign,
Intrepid Ambition.
The CNP rounds out the suite of
services at the UAFS Center for Economic
Development (CED) at the Bakery District
downtown, with dedicated training
and community-building offerings for
nonprofit organizations across the River
Valley. Emily Treadaway, formerly the
Executive Director of The CALL, was
chosen as Directory of the CNP. Van Buren, AR
“The Center for Nonprofits is a natural
extension of the work we do every day
at the CED, equipping organizations
with practical tools to grow, adapt, and
lead,” said Kendall Ross, associate vice • Home • Auto • Life • Business
chancellor for economic and workforce
development and head of the CED.
“This gift allows us to apply that same
expertise to the nonprofit sector,
where the impact is deeply human and Bob Odiorne
profoundly local. We’re honored to hit
the ground running.”
The CNP will support nonprofits through (479) 262-2108
two focus areas: Providing direct training
and support to nonprofit staff at the UAFS bobo@odiorneinsurance.com
Center for Economic Development and www.odiorneinsurance.com
integrating academic expertise through a
strategic partnership with the university’s

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