New Dean of Student Services and Financial Aid Appointed at UAHT

Marla Bush has been appointed as the new Dean of Student Services and Financial Aid at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana.

The Dean of Students position and Director of Financial Aid position, which Bush has held for the past three years, were combined to create the new role.

“This reorganization allows UAHT to continue to utilize Marla’s expertise in financial aid to benefit the College and our students as she serves as the Dean of Student Services,” said Brian Berry, Vice Chancellor for Student Services.

According to the Press Release, Marla Bush arrived at UAHT from East Texas Baptist University, holding several roles including Financial Aid, Institutional Research, the Graduate School, and the Provost’s Office. She earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Studies from ETBU and a Master of Education in Community College Leadership from the University of Arkansas and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning at the same university.

UAHT

At UAHT, Marla actively engages in campus committees and holds leadership positions in state and regional associations. She is currently serving as the 2024 President of the Arkansas Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators (AASFAA), granting her a spot on the Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SWASFAA) Board of Directors.

In 2023, Bush completed the Talent Pipeline Management Academy (TPM) in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She was a part of Cohort XXIII, comprising leaders selected for their grasp of local skills gap challenges and their history of implementing effective strategies.

Marla has also contributed as a legal advocate for Domestic Violence Prevention. She lives in Nashville, AR, with her husband, Jonathan, and their family of four children, Paul, Christian, Taylor, and Morgan, and one granddaughter, Katie.