About Dr. Rosilee Walker Russell
The UAFS Academy of the Arts is a preparatory division of arts activities for students from pre-school through high school in the areas of music, theatre, dance, and art. Classes and activities meet after school, in the evenings, and on the weekends. We began in the fall of 2006 with seventy students and now serve over 800 students each semester. The purpose of the Academy is to provide exceptional artistic training to students of all ages, levels, and socio-economic backgrounds. Our hope is to build life skills within each student that will equip them to be successful young people and adults. Students from many area school districts participate in our programs and we have an outstanding professional faculty to work with the students.
What do you miss about being a kid? I miss playing outside and the freedom being a child brings. There seems to be less time constraints when you’re a kid, and I loved that.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? I used to have a dirt bike when I was a kid, and I loved popping wheelies and doing jumps on it. When I was three years old, I jumped into our neighborhood ditch for a swim and about gave my parents a heart attack!
If you had a year off, what would you want to do? I’d record a piano CD.
What do you think about every day? Staying in God’s will for that particular day, and doing my best to serve and encourage others.
What was your first job? In high school I worked one summer at an Orange Julius.
When was the last time someone surprised you? My wonderful husband, Phillip, is always surprising me with lovely gifts and great chocolate!
What makes you nostalgic? My parents were older when they had me, and are no longer living. Many people in Fort Smith knew my mother, the late Clois Walker. I was very close to both my mother and dad and miss them terribly. My mother even prayed for me to play the piano before I was born and my dad always wanted a little girl.
What was the first car you owned? A brand new 1980 Chevy Camaro Z-28.
If you had to pick one place in Fort Smith to show a tourist, where would it be? UAFS.
Favorite food from your childhood? Spaghetti-O’s.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you? Most people don’t really know that I was a total athlete. I played basketball, tennis, ran track, played softball, and participated in swimming. I was ranked third in high school singles tennis in the state of Montana, which is where I grew up, and made the seven-member tennis team at Baylor University.
Where was your last road trip? Atlanta.
Favorite song from your teen years? I liked a lot of England Dan and John Ford Coley music.
What’s the last movie you saw? We just watched Runaway Train.
Three things you want to accomplish before you retire? I hope to have the opportunity to lead several more Bible studies, record a CD of sacred music, and I hope to have the opportunity to continue to build a fine arts program and make a major difference in the arts for children, young people, and college students.
If calories didn’t count, what would be in your most decadent meal? Chinese food followed by a fabulous chocolate dessert!
What’s the best part of your job? Watching young people develop and connect with others — I see them develop life skills that give them confidence and will take them through life. I love meeting all of them and getting to know them as well.
Where’s your favorite spot in Arkansas? Belle Point in downtown Fort Smith. It’s where Phillip proposed to me!
What’s the best thing about spring in Arkansas? The beautiful azaleas.
What’s the most sentimental thing you own? My mother’s jewelry and my dad’s hats.
What’s been your biggest accomplishment? Completing my Doctorate in Piano was a milestone. Also, the opportunity to create an arts program for young people has been tremendously rewarding.
Words to Live By:
I believe that it is important to serve others and respect others for their unique abilities. Life is about people!
2 things Dr. Wood can’t live without:
- Chocolate
- My Bible
