Alison Taylor

Alison Taylor serves as Executive Director of Alumni Relations at the University of Central Arkansas, where she leads efforts to connect, celebrate, and engage over 80,000 alumni and friends across Arkansas and beyond. Since joining UCA in 2019, Alison has brought fresh energy and strategic innovation to the university’s alumni engagement efforts by creating programs that strengthen lifelong connections between graduates and their alma mater. Alison holds a B.A. in English as well as master’s degrees in College Student Personnel and Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Her career in higher education spans more than 15 years, with a deep focus on alumni relations, advancement, and institutional pride.

At UCA, Alison has launched several signature initiatives, including the Bears Supporting Bears alumni business directory, relaunched the Bear Necessities alumni e-newsletter, and the UCA BearLink, an online mentorship platform for alumni and students. Her leadership emphasizes accessibility, creativity, and the power of shared experience—bringing together alumni from all backgrounds through events, storytelling, and community-building platforms.

Alison believes that strong alumni engagement strengthens not only a university but the state as a whole. Under her direction, the UCA Alumni Association has expanded its outreach, emphasizing service, leadership, and advocacy among graduates across Arkansas. Her work directly supports the mission of public higher education and the role institutions like UCA play in shaping the future of Arkansas. Known for her collaborative leadership style and understanding of the educational and civic landscape, Alison is passionate about creating opportunities for people to lead, serve, and grow.

Alison can often be found cheering on the Bears, supporting small businesses, or helping graduates rediscover what it means to be a part of the UCA family—because for her, “Once a Bear, always a Bear” is more than a motto, it’s a mission. A proud native Arkansan, Alison lives in Greenbrier with her husband, Earnest, and two sons, Parker and Wyatt.