JBU News & Information

SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (June 2, 2025) – Amy Fisher, chief human resources officer at John Brown University, has been selected as one of 12 professionals nationwide for the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources’ (CUPA-HR) 2025-26 Emerging CUPA-HR Leaders program.

The yearlong program identifies emerging leaders in higher education human resources who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the profession and a desire to shape its future.

The 2025-26 Emerging CUPA-HR Leaders program will be led by exceptional current and past CUPA-HR national board leaders and national office staff, and the new cohort will serve July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Fisher has served at JBU since 2007 and currently oversees human resources, risk management, government relations and Title IX compliance. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and holds an MBA from JBU.

“Amy’s selection is a well-deserved recognition of her professional excellence and the significant impact she has made at John Brown University and beyond,” said Kim Hadley, JBU executive vice president. “She has earned the respect of colleagues across Arkansas and the nation through her leadership, strategic insight and unwavering integrity. We are delighted to see her selected for this distinguished program.”

CUPA-HR serves more than 40,000 HR professionals and higher education leaders at nearly 2,000 institutions and organizations across the country and abroad. The association provides knowledge, advocacy, resources and professional development to support workforce and organizational excellence in higher education.

For more information about CUPA-HR, please visit https://www.cupahr.org/.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.

SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (April 7, 2025) — John Brown University and 90.9 KLRC have launched a new radio station called 100.3 Real FM in Northwest Arkansas.

100.3 Real FM is a unique contemporary hit radio format playing a mix of refreshing mainstream and Christian pop and hip-hop from artists like NF, Forrest Frank and Lecrae. The station has been serving listeners as an online stream and mobile app since September 2017 but has now made the jump to terrestrial radio.

“We are thrilled to bring 100.3 Real FM to the airwaves of Northwest Arkansas,” said Ansen Bayer, program director for 100.3 Real FM. “This expansion will help us reach a new audience in Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and beyond, including parts of northeast Oklahoma and southwest Missouri, all in service of KLRC’s mission to share hope in Jesus with as many people as possible.”

Bayer will also host afternoons on 100.3 Real FM. The syndicated Brant Hansen Show with Brant and Sherri will air during mornings. Isaac Weaver, who previously worked at KLRC, will return to host middays, and Zoe Moody, who spent time at KLRC while a student, will host evenings. John Brown University work-study and practicum students will be heard from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.

90.9 KLRC hosted a special one-day, on-air fundraiser for NWA Gives Day on Thursday, April 3, to help fund the launch of the new station, and KLRC listeners generously donated over $61,000 in just a 12-hour period.

For more information on Real FM, listeners can tune in to 100.3 FM, download the Real FM App or visit real.fm. 90.9 KLRC and 100.3 Real FM are ministries of John Brown University.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.

90.9 KLRC is a top radio station in Northwest Arkansas that shares hope in Christ through positive and uplifting contemporary Christian music. A seven-time winner of the Christian Music Broadcaster's national "Station of the Year" award and a winner of the National Association of Broadcaster's Marconi Award for Religious Station of the Year, KLRC has been making a Positive Difference in Northwest Arkansas since 1983. KLRC can also be heard at 101.1 FM in Fayetteville, Van Buren, and Fort Smith, 99.1 in Bentonville, 103.5 in Springdale, and online with the KLRC App and at KLRC.com.

SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (March 18, 2025) – Sarah Grace Smith, a senior English major and honors student at John Brown University, has been recognized with an academic prize for exceptional academic performance during the Fall 2024 Scholars’ Semester at Oxford University in England.

Run by Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford, the highly competitive program requires students to be enrolled in a university honors program and have a minimum 3.7 GPA. Through JBU’s partnership with Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford, Smith participated in the semester-long program in the university’s acclaimed tutorial system.

Each year, JBU sends two to three honors students to participate in the Scholars’ Semester at Oxford. The program is made up almost entirely of students from institutions within the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).

As a registered visiting student of Oxford University, Sarah Grace received weekly, one-on-one instruction from expert scholars in disciplines including history, literature, languages, philosophy, musicology, art and science. Smith was one of six students who received an academic prize after being nominated by their tutors.

"It was truly a joy to study alongside wonderful peers in such a beautiful city," said Smith. "The time and investment I received from Oxford tutors was a true gift that helped refine my thinking and writing. I am incredibly grateful for the support and encouragement from JBU professors that allowed this experience to happen."

SCIO is a research and educational institute in Oxford, producing and supporting scholarship in a recognized centre of international educational and scholarly excellence. It offers semester and summer undergraduate programs, organizes large-scale pedagogical projects, manages research initiatives and supports the research work of scholars.

Through partnerships with North American and international institutions, including JBU, SCIO advances the scholarly development of undergraduates, graduates and faculty.

"The award was not a surprise for those of us who know her," said Ryan Butler, Ph.D., director of the Honors Scholars Program. "Sarah Grace is such an excellent thinker and student, and we're delighted that she's received recognition."

For more information about JBU's Honors Scholars Program, please visit jbu.edu/academics/honors/.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.

Siloam Springs, Arkansas (March 11, 2025) – Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson will visit John Brown University on Tuesday, March 18 to speak on the relationship between faith and public service. The event, hosted by JBU’s Center for Faith and Flourishing, will include remarks from Hutchinson followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

The event is free and open to the public.

What: Discussion on Faith and Public Service, including Q&A
Who: Gov. Asa Hutchinson
When: Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m.
Where: John Brown University, Simmons Great Hall A/C

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.

SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Feb. 17, 2024) – John Brown University has named Emily Moore, Ph.D., the university’s next dean of the College of Education and Social and Behavioral Sciences, effective Feb. 1.

As dean, Moore will supervise the academic programs within the college—teacher education, psychology, family and human services, political science, and graduate counseling—as well as teach courses.

“I am excited to move into the role of dean of the College of Education and Behavioral and Social Sciences," said Moore. "The college has an amazing faculty and academic staff. I look forward to the opportunity to serve each one of them as they continue their excellent work, both in our traditional undergraduate student body and in our phenomenal, recently CACREP-accredited graduate counseling program.”

During the spring semester, Moore will transition into her new position while transitioning out of her current roles as dean of student care and director of the JBU student counseling center.

“Dr. Moore has been a dedicated member of the JBU community for many years, and her extensive experience, leadership, and vision make her the right choice to lead the college,” said Norwood. “Emily brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to JBU's mission, and a collaborative leadership style that I am confident will benefit the college's students, faculty, and staff.”

Moore has served in various roles at JBU, including as the dean of student care and the director of the JBU student counseling center since 2018. Moore's 29 years of experience in the mental health field include serving in a variety of private practice settings and providing care to students as a counselor for the JBU Student Counseling Center for 10 years.

Moore has a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Tulsa, a master's in marriage and family therapy and community counseling from JBU, and a doctorate from Denver Seminary in counselor education and supervision.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.