Emily Treadaway will be the new Director of the Center for Nonprofits at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
Share on Social Media
Current News Stories
Treadaway Named Center for Nonprofits Director
Written By: Tina Alvey Dale
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith announced Emily Treadaway as the new Director of the Center for Nonprofits (CNP), a brand-new division of the university鈥檚 Center for Economic Development located at the Bakery District in downtown Fort Smith.
Treadaway brings a decade of nonprofit leadership and a deep commitment to community service to her new role. She has spent years with area nonprofits, including eight years with the Junior League of Fort Smith, three of which she served on the board. Most recently, she led The CALL in Crawford and Sebastian Counties, where she championed support for foster care and adoption through the River Valley and the state. Under her leadership, the organization secured substantial funding, expanded regional services, and grew strong partnerships across the community.
鈥淲orking with nonprofits really hits close to home for me,鈥� Treadaway said. 鈥淭hrough my experience seeing other nonprofits and working with foster care, I鈥檝e seen how cycles of poverty and homelessness impact families. We need to break those cycles, and building stronger, more connected communities is a start. I鈥檓 excited to work alongside the incredible nonprofits in our region to create lasting change.鈥�
As director of the CNP, Treadaway will oversee a wide range of initiatives designed to strengthen and support the nonprofit sector in the River Valley and across Arkansas. These include professional development opportunities, grant writing support, networking events, digital credentialing programs for nonprofit professionals, and more.
Her hiring follows the university鈥檚 April 2025 announcement of a $7.5 million gift endowing the center and ensuring its long-term sustainability and impact. Treadaway will oversee two strategic pillars of impact at the center: Providing direct training and support to nonprofit staff at the 亚色影库 Center for Economic Development and integrating academic expertise through a strategic partnership with the university鈥檚 Department of Social Work.
鈥淓mily is passionate about community connection, advocacy, and helping others thrive, all qualities that make her a perfect fit to lead this center,鈥� said Kendall Ross, Associate Vice Chancellor of Economic & Workforce Development. 鈥淗er experience and leadership will elevate our mission to serve nonprofits in transformative ways.鈥�
Treadaway lives in Fort Smith with her husband and two children.