Fast facts
Rushing joins UAM from SAU Tech
Experience includes Coca Cola Refreshments, extension service
MONTICELLO — Traci Rushing was born to work in agriculture.
Rushing started May 20 as director of communications for the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. She will also serve the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Traci Rushing will be the new communications director for the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. (UAM photo by Jeff Newton)
Rushing is a communications and design specialist with over 10 years of experience with graphic and educational design, technical writing, and marketing/advertising. She comes to UAM from Southern Arkansas University Tech where she served as an instructional designer.
“I was adopted at birth and even my adoption can be tied to agriculture,” she said. “Before my adoption, my parents raised Red Angus cattle. They sold their whole herd to pay all my adoption fees.”
As a child, she was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA and was chapter president for both organizations.
“Out of high school, I decided to go down the education path and studied agriculture education at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia,” Rushing said. “After student teaching at Conway High School, I decided to continue my education by applying for graduate school.’
She earned a graduate degree in agricultural communications at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. During the summer between the first and second years of her graduate journey, she took a job as an intern for the Cooperative Extension Service, working as an instructional designer. After graduating, she was offered the job full time. The extension service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“This extension job really gave me an opportunity to maximize all of my skills in design and curriculum building but came with an extensive commute since I was living with my husband almost two hours away,” Rushing said. “Over a year later, I was offered a position with Coca-Cola Refreshments as a market development manager. I received top performance awards with the company for growing my market area.”
Rushing’s husband, Jaret, is also in agriculture, serving as the forestry instructor for the Cooperative Extension Service.
Traci Rushing said “I have loved all of my other careers, but none have allowed me to maximize all of my abilities like this position. My knowledge about agriculture and the industry gives me a stronger understanding of the inner workings of this college.
“I am very excited to be back in the U of A System and the agriculture sector,” she said.
Michael Blazier, dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, said “we’re really excited to have a communications director of Traci’s caliber.
“She has a background in agriculture and brings a wealth of expertise and experience to her role,” Blazier said. “Our faculty and students are engaged in diverse research and outreach projects statewide, and Traci is the perfect person for highlighting their good work through many media outlets.”
