SRMEC Staff
Director
Dr. Ron Rainey
Center Director with over 20 years agricultural economics experience with Extension programming and outreach.
rrainey@uada.edu(501) 671-2175
Associate Center Director
Lawson Connor
Connor currently serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas with research and extension appointments in crop production economics.
lconnor@uada.edu(479) 575-2072
Associate Center Director
Erica Barnes Fields
Fields serves as the Center's financial manager. Additionally, she provides research-based self-help strategies to assist farmers in reducing stress. Her experience with Extension education and outreach extends over 14 years.
efields@uada.edu(501) 671-2146
Associate Center Director
Hunter Biram
Dr. Hunter D. Biram is an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas. His applied research and extension program focuses on agricultural production and price risk management using federal crop insurance and commodity programs in the farm bill. Dr. Biram grew up in Floral, Arkansas working on a diverse family farm operation consisting of a cow-calf herd, broiler chickens, a greenhouse nursery, and a peach orchard.
hdbiram@uark.edu(501) 671-2168
Program Manager
Celise Weems
Program Manager Celise Weems is an experienced agricultural professional driven to help farmers and ranchers enhance their business operations. She promotes the Center's resources and stakeholder engagement activities across the region. She holds a Master of Agricultural Economics from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is also certified in Mental Health First Aid.
cweems@uada.edu(501) 671-2344
Communications Manager
Jamie Cousins
Cousins holds a BA in Communications from Louisiana Tech University and an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
jcousins@uada.edu(501) 646-6930
Administrative Specialist III
Marcia Smith
Smith brings 17 years’ experience serving as Administrative Office Manager in the Division of Student Affairs for the University of Central Arkansas. Actively involved in her community and workplace, Smith has held a number of roles including Staff Senator and Advisory and Diversity Board Member.
msmith@uada.edu(501) 671-2047
Administrative Specialist
Nancy Clark
Nancy retired from Transamerica Insurance after 20 years of service as the Office Manager and Sr. Executive Assistant to the President, COO and CMO. Shortly after retirement she took a position with Family Consumer and Science Dept. at University of Arkansas, Cooperative Executive Service where she worked with the CDC grants and various aspects of family needs in the state. She is currently working in Ag and Econ Business with the Crop Insurance Navigators.
nclark@uada.edu(501) 671-2094