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First-Generation Student Spotlight: Erika Johnson

Arts and Sciences | First Generation | Lion VoicesDecember 10, 2025
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP student, Erika Johnson, center, walks with other Cub Camp counselors and students outside of the Stubblefield Center.

Erika Johnson, center, smiles during Cub Camp

Written By: First-Generation Committee

Erika Johnson never hesitated when her parents asked if she planned to go to college.

She knew she wanted a bachelor’s degree but had no idea how to begin, often feeling alone as she navigated the process. Starting at what she called “ground zero,� Erika did the one thing she knew would move her forward: ask for help.

“You can’t be afraid to ask for help and to be a little uncomfortable,â€� she said, explaining that while she wasn’t sure if she was asking the right person, she knew she had to keep asking questions. “That first year, I would always just email the person from Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP who had emailed me last.â€�

Erika graduated from Northside High School and was an active student there. After attending Mane Event and Cub Camp at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP – Fort Smith, she got the information she needed to dive in once fall arrived.

“If this is what you want to do, you just have to do it,� she said.

With a background in high school student council, she found a natural fit in student governance and decided to run for a role in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Student Government Association. Today, she serves as the SGA Vice President and as the Communications Director for the 2026 Cub Camp.

Despite Erika’s success at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP, her transition wasn’t without challenges.

“I was afraid I was unprepared for this experience,� Erika admitted. “Now that I’ve been here, I don’t think I was, but I did have that fear.�

She recalled feeling intimidated by the faculty at first, but those concerns quickly faded.

“Their actions prove that they want you to be successful.�

After completing a biology degree, Erika plans to pursue a master’s degree to prepare for a career in environmental conservation.

Media Relations

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.

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Rachel Rodemann Putman

  • Director of Strategic Communications
  • 479-788-7132