Spotlights

Alyzah McGlasson serves as the SAU+AmeriCorps VISTA Fellow for the Foster Care Initiative and Muleriders Serve programs at Southern Arkansas University. Her goal is “to provide support and assistance to the foster care community found both on and off campus, along with recruiting and uplifting those Muleriders who serve their community through our Volunteers Service.” Alyzah was inspired to join after seeing the impact of VISTA projects firsthand. “I had already met many individuals who were a part of the program and got to see how their projects affected my personal life. For instance, I knew how impactful the Mulerider Market was, and I wanted to be part of something that would make as big of a difference as that.” She first learned about AmeriCorps VISTA as a student. “Back in undergrad, I was attending track practice, had two different

On Thursday, March 6th, 2025, the Reynolds Rotunda at Southern Arkansas University was filled with energy, creativity, and heartfelt performances, all thanks to VISTA Fellow Bailey Cole and Dean Dr. Carey Baker’s Healthy U initiative. The event, named Unplugged Coffeehouse, sought to bring together students, faculty, and staff for an evening of connection without the distractions of our ever-present phones. The main goal of the Unplugged Coffeehouse event was simple but impactful: encourage the SAU community to step away from their devices and engage in meaningful, face-to-face interactions. In today’s digital age, it’s all too easy to get lost in the screens of our phones and forget the joy of spending quality time with one another. This event provided the perfect opportunity to reconnect with one another, share stories, and enjoy a night of entertainment in a more mindful, unplugged

In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, twenty-six SAU+AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows rolled up their sleeves and gave back to the Magnolia community on January 20, 2025. Inspired by Dr. King’s legacy of service, the Fellows dedicated their time and energy to two vital community projects: the SAU Community Garden and Compassion’s Foundation, Inc. At the SAU Community Garden, VISTA Fellows worked tirelessly, planting seeds, and tilling in ground gardening plots. Ryan Wells SAU Community Garden Fellow stated, “Thanks to the SAU VISTA Fellows, the SAU Community Garden was able to start over a thousand seedlings for planting in the future.” These seedlings will mature and help fulfill the garden’s mission to provide fresh, nutritious food to students in need. Once harvested, the produce will be made available through SAU’s Mulerider Market, the University’s free food