Department of Communication at the University of Arkansas

Congrats to Mayor Molly Rawn on being a 2026 recipient of the department’s Outstanding Alumni Award! Mayor Rawn graduated with a degree in Communication in 2008. Her career began as the Director of Development at the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter. From 2010-2013, she worked in concurrent roles at the University of Arkansas as the Fulbright College Associate Director of Development and at KUAF Public Radio, where she was the Director of Major Gifts and Membership. She then served as the CEO of Experience Fayetteville where she was responsible for a $6.1 million dollar budget. In 2025, she was sworn in as the Mayor of Fayetteville and has the distinct honor of being the first woman elected to this position. During her time in office, Mayor Rawn has emphasized managed growth, accessible housing, and the essential role of modernized infrastructure in shaping a thriving community. Thanks for your service to the Fayetteville community and for showing our students that there really is no limit to what you can achieve with a COMM degree!