School of Human Environmental Sciences To Host Reception for Three Retirees

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Left to right: Kathleen Smith, Nancy Simkins and Kim Neyman

The School of Human Environmental Sciences will host a reception for three retirees at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Maudine Sanders Commons, rooms 108 and 109, in the Home Economics Building. The reception is being held for Kathleen Smith, teaching associate professor of apparel merchandising and product development; Nancy Simkins, departmental administrative manager; and Kim Neyman, departmental operations manager, who all retired over the summer.

Smith taught in higher education for 30 years with more than 22 of those at the U of A in the School of Human Environmental Sciences. Simkins has been with the U of A for 30 years, the last 15 in HESC. Neyman worked for 45 years in HESC.

The retirement reception is 3:30-4:30 p.m. with remarks at 4 p.m. Please RVSP to katiew@uark.edu by October 27.

Kathleen Smith is from Northwest Ohio and taught for 30 years in higher education, including 22 consecutive years at the University of Arkansas in the School of Human Environmental Sciences. Smith joined the U of A in 1999 as an instructor, was promoted to assistant professor in 2008 and then to teaching associate professor in 2014. She served as HESC assistant director in apparel merchandising and product development from 2014-2019. She earned an associate's degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in 1976, a bachelor of science degree in clothing and textiles from Ohio State University in 1977, a master of science degree in clothing and textiles from the University of Arkansas in 1993 and a doctorate of education degree from the U of A in 2008.

Nancy Simkins grew up on a Grade "A" dairy farm east of Springdale and worked at the University of Arkansas for 30 years. She earned a bachelor of science degree in office administration and served in several offices on campus, including Human Resources, Special Events, Women's Athletics, Admissions, and Engineering before spending the last 15 years in the School of Human Environmental Sciences.

Kim Neyman, moved to Fayetteville from Kent, England, in 1975 and began working as an hourly clerk typist in October 1976 in what was then the Home Economics Department. The following July she was hired into a full-time position and continued serving the school of Human Environmental Sciences in accounting until her retirement. She is a 2006 Phi Beta Kappa honors graduate with a bachelor of arts in geography.