Kordsmeier to Take Helm of UADA Communications
Nick Kordsmeier has served as director of research communications since 2021
By John Lovett – Dec. 8, 2025
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The new chief communications officer for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture comes to the position with a science background — useful for a land-grant organization built on discovery and bringing those discoveries to those who can use them.
Nick Kordsmeier, director of research communications since 2021, will become chief communications officer for the Division of Agriculture in January, overseeing internal and external communications efforts for the division’s Cooperative Extension Service and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. He succeeds Mary Hightower, who retires at the end of 2025 after 23 years with the division.
“Nick is known for his good judgment, and he’s a great problem-solver, organizer and technically proficient in many communications areas, from video and audio to the written word,” said Deacue Fields, head of the Division of Agriculture. “I know Nick will rise to the occasion and continue meeting the division’s needs of staying in touch with the public and telling the stories around our land-grant mission.”
Following three years with a global environmental consulting firm, Kordsmeier began his career with the Division of Agriculture in 2017 as a visual content specialist. He served as interim director of research communications from 2019 to 2021. Kordsmeier holds bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and physics, and a master’s in operations management, all from the University of Arkansas.
As the director of research communications, Kordsmeier has adapted his STEM background to overseeing strategic communications with a staff that serves about 150 Division of Agriculture faculty members by directing development of news releases, videos, publications, web content and strategic plans, as well as signs and displays for research centers.
Fields said Kordsmeier has been integral in the development of the Division of Agriculture’s updated Strategic Plan.
Kordsmeier routinely offers communications professional development training for staff and faculty on media relations and communications tools ranging from photography and podcasts to writing and the ethical use of AI. He has won numerous awards from national communications organizations including the National Agricultural Alumni Development Association and the Association for Communication Excellence.
“The Division of Agriculture is doing outstanding work for the people of Arkansas, and I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to support our faculty, staff and extension agents in this new role,” Kordsmeier said. “Since I started with UADA in 2017, I’ve come to love our mission to strengthen Arkansas and its people, and communications plays an important role in achieving that mission. I’m excited to work with our incredible team of communications professionals to build on our current communications successes and find new ways to serve our audiences better.”
To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on 𝕏 at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on 𝕏 at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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