First-Generation Student Spotlight: Erika Johnson
Arts and Sciences | First Generation | Lion VoicesDecember 10, 2025
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.
Send%20an%20EmailRachel Rodemann Putman
- Director of Strategic Communications
- 479-788-7132
- rachel.putman@uafs.edu