Felisha Weaver

Arkansas Tech University
Director of Publications & Creative Services

I live on a cattle farm with my husband in the small town of Perryville, Arkansas. I’ve served as the Director of Publications & Creative Services at my alma mater, Arkansas Tech University, for more than eleven years. As part of a centralized Marketing & Communications office, I now focus on prospective student marketing and university & presidential brand initiatives.

I haven’t always been a designer. I actually have a unique background because I never attended art school. I have a journalism degree with an emphasis in PR. But, I really wanted to be a graphic designer. I spent 4 years as a newspaper editor and paginator before I switched to higher ed, where I had the freedom and support to cultivate my skills as a designer. I’ve been in higher ed for 14 years now, and I believe the grit and determination it took for me to learn my craft without a traditional education provides me with a unique perspective that can benefit UCDA. Because of my Journalism//PR background, I have a keen awareness of how form and function can work together for great, effective design. I am also goal-oriented and driven to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines, (it’s the journalist in me)!

I found UCDA with my then colleague (and now UCDA president) Liz Underwood. We attended our first conference in 2014 in Long Beach and never looked back. UCDA is the ONLY place I have ever connected with others so similar to me! I’ve loved hearing & learning from others—it’s been reaffirming to meet so many people dealing with the same challenges as me. I began volunteering and later joined several volunteer committees in an effort to get plugged in. I served as conference co-chair for the 2020 (virtual) conference and am chair for 2021 in Denver!

In my spare time, I’m working on my graduate degree from ATU in Student Affairs Administration. I have a daughter and son-in-law, 2 bonus sons and 2 fur babies. I enjoy reading (when I have time) and I love weightlifting but hate cardio. I also own a screen-printing shop in my hometown!