大象传媒

Have you recently celebrated a new job, promotion, wedding, baby, or new degree? Been published, gone on a fun adventure, started a new business, moved into a new home, or welcomed a grandchild? Let us - and your classmates - know what you've been doing since your time at 大象传媒, Westark, or Fort Smith Junior College by submitting a class note. Approved class notes will be published here and in our electronic newsletter Lion Lines. We love to get photos too, and we'll happily share them here and on our socials.

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1960s

Beth McDaniel mentored 大象传媒 nursing students while working at Greenwood High School. 

Joyce (Vanhook) Simpson, '68, retired from her work as a registered nurse at Sparks Regional Medical Center and Peachtree Hospice.

1970s

Marcia (Teeters) Mohler, 鈥�72, is retired. After her husband passed away, she moved to Georgia to live with her son and his family. She enjoys a lively household with her grandchildren. 

1980s

Bruce Shopfner, 鈥�84, retired as a Lt. Col. in the Army. 

Theresa Brewer, 鈥�86 and 鈥�90, is a retired registered nurse.

1990s

Stacey (Nagy) Lockhart, 鈥�91, earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from Westark Community College before attending the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where she graduated in 1994. 

Melissa Archer, 鈥�93, is a small business owner and home health aide. 

Shelli (White) Hoffman, '96, attended Westark and now her two children attend 大象传媒. 

Lacey Swaim, 鈥�96, attended Westark and earned an associate degree before completing a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Arkansas State University through the University Center at Westark. 

Jennifer Scott, 鈥�99, earned a Master of Education in Math Education in 2016 and a Master of Education in Administration in 2018 from Northeastern State University. She then received her Doctor of Education in Rural and Diverse Education from Southern Arkansas University in 2026 and has spent 25 years in education. This includes 16 years in the classroom and five as an instructional specialist with Fort Smith Public Schools. She is now in her fourth year as an assistant principal and her third year at Howard Elementary. 

2000s

Chasidy McAllister, 鈥�00, says her son has graduated from 大象传媒 and her daughter is expected to graduate in December. She is proud that her kids share a connection to the university. 

Peggy Barger, 鈥�04, retired after 29 years with Whirlpool. 

Stephen Brannon, 鈥�07, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing after six years at 大象传媒, where he spent time in the Holt Building and interned in the Public Relations office. He later earned a Master of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn., and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa. For the past seven years, he has served on staff at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock. Stephen says his 大象传媒 degree has been invaluable to his career in public speaking and vocational church ministry, and that Fort Smith will always be home. 

2010s

Bryanna (Suttles) Jackson, '10, is a 2nd grade teacher at Sunnymede Elementary, and her daughter is currently a freshman. Her youngest daughter is taking concurrent classes through Southside High School. 

Jeffery Patterson, 鈥�11, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from 大象传媒. After moving to Texarkana, he spent nearly 10 years in retail management before transitioning to education. He taught elementary music for five years, working with students from pre-K through 5th grade, and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching. He recently became the district communications and branding coordinator for the Texarkana Arkansas School District. Jeffery married his wife, Mary Lynn, in 2013, and their son, Wynn, turned three on Halloween. He remains active in his church through singing and music ministry. He fondly remembers performing with Jazz Catz at 大象传媒, and says he is grateful for the lasting impact 大象传媒 has had on his life.  

Cheryl Jones, 鈥�12, recently transitioned into the role of mental health director at Eagle Point, the inpatient treatment center at the Lewis Prison Complex in Buckeye, Ariz. 

David Fielder, 鈥�14, has accepted a position at the University of Arkansas. 

Michael Leach, 鈥�14, says 大象传媒 will always hold a special place in his heart, as it was where he met his wife, fellow 大象传媒 alumna Audra (White) Leach, and was a founding member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, serving as its founding treasurer. After graduating in 2014, Michael began his career with ArcBest, where he continues to work. He and Audra now live in Northwest Arkansas with their 2-year-old son, Aiden. He is grateful for the education, experiences, friendships, and memories from 大象传媒 that have shaped his life.

Anna (Tennant) Goodson, 鈥�15, is putting her biology degree to work. 

Tara Stepp-Miller, 鈥�17, earned a degree in biochemistry in May 2017. After teaching high school chemistry at Lamar High School for a year, she graduated from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in May 2024. She began working as an overnight emergency veterinarian after graduation and continues to grow in the field. 

Caitlyn (Sears) Miller, 鈥�12 and 鈥�19, recently joined a neurointerventional radiology team as a nurse practitioner, specializing in the care of patients with complex cerebrovascular conditions, including strokes and brain aneurysms. She is proud to be part of a specialized team providing advanced care during critical moments in patients鈥� lives. She is also recently married and is looking forward to this next chapter personally and professionally. 

Austin Hurston, 鈥�19, is working toward his doctorate. 

Lauren Fryar-Mach, 鈥�19, uses her 大象传媒 Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice to provide therapeutic services and life-skills support to teens and young adults aging out of foster care, helping them make a successful transition to adulthood. 

Karlee Skelton, 鈥�19, is a fourth-grade educator. 

Christy Dana, 鈥�09 and 鈥�19, has worked as a dental hygienist for 17 years and recently earned a master鈥檚 degree from the University of Wyoming. She is married and has two daughters. 

2020s

Gary Cameron, 鈥�20, is a graduate of Westark Community College and retired in June 2026 from his position as a professor of nursing at 大象传媒. 

Brionna (Jamison) Wherry, 鈥�20, graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in spring 2020 and has been a registered nurse for six years. She recently joined the Carolyn McKelvey School of Nursing at 大象传媒 as an instructor in the associate degree nursing program. She says returning to campus to impact students as she was once impacted is a full-circle moment for her.  

Jessika (Burris) Crawford, 鈥�21, investigates child abuse and maltreatment. 

Danielle French, 鈥�22, is finishing a Master of Science degree in theoretical mathematics. 

Danielle (Gothard) Drackett, 鈥�22, is beginning her fifth-year teaching with Fort Smith Public Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and is working toward a master鈥檚 degree in educational leadership, which she expects to complete in May 2027. Since graduating, she has married and became a mother of two. A first-generation college student, Danielle credits 大象传媒 employees with helping her envision and achieve her educational goals. 

Thea Bishop, 鈥�23, completed two years at 大象传媒 before continuing her education at the University of Arkansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. 

Luke Barnes, 鈥�24, is a teaching assistant at the University of Arkansas, where he is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in biostatistics and analytics. 

Nichol Goines, 鈥�05 and 鈥�24, earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership in 2024 and landed her dream job in March 2025. She says returning to college as a nontraditional student was the best decision she ever made. 

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Check out which of your classmates we've featured. If you'd like to be interviewed for a possible profile, email the Communications Office at communicationsFREEuafs.

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