Duncan Named New Coordinator of Bumpers College Student Recruiting

Photo by University Relations

Dausen Duncan

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Dausen Duncan, a former state president of the Arkansas FFA, has been named coordinator of undergraduate student recruitment for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

Duncan, who started on Dec. 19, moved to the U of A after holding recruiting and admissions positions at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

“I'm incredibly excited to begin this new chapter in my life,” said Duncan. “I’ve always been passionate about education, helping people, and the agricultural, food and life sciences industries – and now I have the opportunity to mesh all three together in this new role.”

“It’s exciting to have Dausen join our team,” said Bumpers College Dean Deacue Fields. “He knows the state, and his background with FFA and 4-H is a natural fit. He is eager and will be proactive in reaching students and parents. The college offers a vast array of programs, from agriculture, food, science and business to education, nutrition, hospitality, apparel and more. He will be visiting students and schools about our majors and careers, as well as our pre-professional programs for medical, veterinary and optometry school.”

Duncan is the initial contact for prospective students interested in a Bumpers College undergraduate major. He develops and manages a pool of prospective students, and plans and implements recruitment strategies utilizing market research and ongoing trend analysis to set goals and monitor progress.

He also creates initiatives to promote and encourage interest from prospective students throughout the state, plans for and represents the university and college at recruitment events on and off campus, designs and coordinates events on behalf of the college, and serves as a liaison to the Office of Admissions.

“After spending most of my life in Central and River Valley Arkansas, I'm happy to make this move to Northwest Arkansas and be able to meet and connect with prospective students, their families and other individuals from across all of Arkansas and out of state,” said Duncan. “My experiences with Arkansas FFA and 4-H, as well as experience with recruitment, will play key roles in meeting students who are interested in pursuing degrees related to Bumpers College. I want prospective students to know that I, and Bumpers College faculty and staff, are here solely for them and I am thrilled to meet them soon.”

At Arkansas Tech, for most of 2017 he was an admissions officer in the Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment. He was promoted to visit day coordinator on Dec. 1, 2017.

As visit day coordinator, duties included analyzing trends in student recruiting and retention, serving as the initial contact for prospective students and coordinating campus visits.

As admissions officer, responsibilities included visiting schools, speaking to groups and meeting with school officials throughout the state and recruiting and communicating with more than 2,000 prospective students at open house, classroom, lunchroom, academic signing day and award day events.

Duncan, who is from Bee Branch in Van Buren County, earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from ATU in 2016 and his master’s degree in college student personnel in 2018.

He is a member of the National FFA Alumni Association and the Disney College Alumni Program.

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.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.