Moncrief to Head Leadership Fort Smith

December 6, 2007

Julie Woods Moncrief is the new executive director of Leadership Fort Smith, announces Dr. Arleene Breaux, vice chancellor for university relations at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.

“The Leadership program is excited to bring Julie on board, and we believe she will bring a new vitality to this important program,” Dr. Breaux said.

Moncrief grew up in Fort Smith, moving here with her family in 1966 and attending Fort Smith public schools from kindergarten through high school. She attended Hendrix College for two years and received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1983. While living in Little Rock, Moncrief was director of publications for Heifer International.

Since returning to her hometown in 1994 with her husband and two daughters, she has served as a community volunteer, a freelance writer, coordinator of “America’s Promise —The Alliance for Youth,” executive director of the Fountain of Youth Adult Day Center, and events coordinator for the Bost Foundation. She is a 2001 Leadership Fort Smith graduate and is currently vice president of the Zonta Club of Fort Smith.

“My Leadership Fort Smith experience was a wonderful eye-opener to how our community works and what its goals and dreams are,” Moncrief said. “I am honored to have this role in partnership with UA Fort Smith and with all the great people in the community who want to advance Fort Smith.”

Moncrief will report to Dr. Breaux and will work closely with the Leadership Fort Smith Board of Advisers and the LFS Alumni Association Board of Directors. Her responsibilities include designing and implementing the annual program that begins in August each year and securing financial sponsorships for the program sessions, scholarship assistance and other expenses.

Leadership Fort Smith provides an issues-oriented education to the 25 participants selected for the program each year, with the goal of empowering them to become active and effective community leaders.

Moncrief, who begins in mid December, replaces Jackie Krutsch, who became executive director of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce in October.