Fast 15: Maddie Hardwick

Maddie Hardwick’s path into higher education was not carefully mapped, but her impact on students and colleagues at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith has been anything but accidental.

Hardwick, who joined UAFS in 2021 as an admissions adviser, has quickly grown into a leadership role, guiding recruitment strategy while reshaping how prospective students experience the university. Her work has contributed to measurable enrollment growth, including a 6% increase in admitted students for fall 2025.

“What I do is about people first,” Hardwick said. “If we remove the person from the job, we’re never going to be effective.”

A graduate of Ozark Christian College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical justice in 2020 and later a master’s degree in strategic leadership, Hardwick began her career working in a homeless shelter before transitioning into admissions. She said that experience, along with her academic background, shaped her focus on dignity and care in every interaction.

That philosophy is evident in how she leads her team. Hardwick has cultivated an environment where staff are encouraged to connect, collaborate and support one another, often starting meetings with games or shared meals before turning to business.

“You can have fun and still be really serious about your work,” she said. “Those things don’t have to be separate.”

Her approach has helped build a culture where prospective students feel seen and valued. Hardwick said her goal is to ensure every student leaves the admissions process with clarity and confidence about their future.

Hardwick also serves on Staff Senate and chairs the Staff Engagement Committee. Through UAFS Cares, she works to identify preparedness gaps in incoming students so that support systems can be proactive.

Outside the university, her commitment to service continues. Hardwick volunteers as a chaplain with the Van Buren Police Department, providing support to officers, families and community members, often in moments of crisis and loss.

She and her husband, a law enforcement officer, are raising two young daughters, balancing family life with careers centered on service.

Whether working with students, colleagues or community members, Hardwick said her guiding principle remains to empower people to recognize their own value and potential.

“If that’s all I accomplish,” she said, “then I’ve done what I was called to do.”