U of A Earns Top Honors from the Arkansas Student Affairs Association

The U of A Division of Student Affairs is proud to announce two major recognitions from the Arkansas Student Affairs Association (ArSAA), celebrating outstanding leadership and innovation within our community. 

The 2025 Dr. Mossie J. Richmond, Jr. Outstanding Leadership Award has been presented to Dr. Lori Lander, recognizing her exceptional dedication to the Student Affairs profession and her significant contributions to staff development, professional engagement and student success at the U of A. 

Dr. Lander's nomination from the division described her as "our steady champion for the Student Affairs profession," noting her commitment to introducing undergraduates to the field, supporting graduate assistants, strengthening connections to national organizations and staying attuned to trends impacting students and staff. 

As the lead for the division's People & Culture initiative, Dr. Lander has been instrumental in enhancing the staff experience. Her work includes: 

• Assessing staff sense of value and identifying key factors influencing workplace wellbeing 

• Developing a comprehensive employee recognition program 

• Aligning talent development efforts to core Student Affairs competencies 

• Elevating engagement with state, regional and national associations to strengthen professional connections and development pathways 

Dr. Lander's service to the profession spans three decades. She has been deeply engaged with the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education national organization (NASPA), College Student Educators International (ACPA), ArSAA and several housing organizations throughout her career. She is currently a member of the NASPA National Board, serves as the NASPA IV-West regional director and has contributed to the Arkansas Council for Women in Higher Education. 

Her long-standing commitment to ArSAA includes three academic years on the executive board, conference planning and presentations, and helping secure ArSAA's partnership in the recent NASPA IV-West Critical Conversations Drive-In Conference on First-Generation Student Success in April 2025. 

ArSAA has also recognized the U of A with the Outstanding Innovative Program Award for Hogs Get Hired: From Campus Work to Career Success, a groundbreaking initiative developed by Career Connections, in collaboration with Student Affairs Human Resources. Staff leaders for the project include Bri Curlin, human resources manager; Cecilee Essary, career services manager; and Michelle Muzzillo, assistant director of outreach and staff development for University Recreation + Wellness. 

This initiative transforms all student employment across campus into intentional, meaningful career development experiences. Each student position is now aligned with the university's eight Career-Ready Skills, ensuring that job duties clearly support both professional growth and academic success. 

Through hands-on workshops, supervisors learned strategies to create impactful student positions that strengthen transferable skills while meeting departmental needs. The program has: 

• Aligned 220 student positions within the Division of Student Affairs 

• Positively impacted more than 1,000 student employees 

• Provided training to over 100 managers, inspiring improvements in job design, organizational structures, pay grades, recruitment and more 

• By intentionally embedding skill development into campus employment, Hogs Get Hired has established student work as a high-impact practice that enhances career readiness and supports long-term success. 

"These honors shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done every day in Student Affairs," said Jeremy Battjes, vice chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs. "Dr. Lander's advocacy for our profession and the transformative impact of Hogs Get Hired illustrate our ongoing commitment to student growth, staff development and innovation." 

The Division of Student Affairs congratulates Dr. Lander and the Hogs Get Hired team on their well-deserved recognition and thanks ArSAA for its continued partnership and support of the important work in student affairs.