APW names Netterstrom Higgins 2025 Communicator of Achievement
The COA award recognizes APW members who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to the community.
By the U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
April 17, 2025
Fast facts
- Netterstrom Higgins known for ballot issues education efforts
- Served in numerous posts including APW president
- Former reporter with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Morning News of NW Arkansas
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LITTLE ROCK — Kristin Netterstrom Higgins, a public policy educator known for clearly and concisely communicating the oft-complex issues voters face at the ballot box, has been named recipient of the 2025 Arkansas Press Women Communicator of Achievement Award.
The COA award recognizes APW members who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to the community.
“Being president of APW has already been such an honor, so I’m floored by this additional recognition from my friends in APW,” Netterstrom Higgins said. “Looking at the long list of incredible women who served before me — Jamie Jones, Charlotte Schexnayder, Dorothy Stuck, Brenda Blagg, Maudine Sanders, and so many others — it’s truly humbling. Then, seeing the much shorter list of COAs — wow. I am deeply honored that APW members see something in me worthy of this recognition. Their continued belief in me propels me forward. It’s both flattering and humbling, and this is a major milestone.”
Netterstrom Higgins lives in Bryant and works as a program associate for the Public Policy Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. She plays a vital role in providing fact-based, nonpartisan voter education as part of the outreach mission of the Cooperative Extension Service. She also oversees the Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Program, which helps voters navigate complex election issues through neutral, accessible resources.
“An informed citizenry is key to the success of our American society and Kristin has truly been an asset in helping the public make sense of complex ballot issues,” said John Anderson, senior assistant vice president-extension for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “She has done much to promote civic engagement on issues that affect the entire state. Kristin is passionate about serving our stakeholders through public issues education and she is most deserving of this honor.”
“For more than a decade, Kristin has found new ways to expand the reach of the Public Policy Center's voter and ballot issues education program,” said Stacey McCullough, assistant vice president for community, professional and economic development for the Cooperative Extension Service, and director of the Public Policy Center. “She is nationally recognized as a leader in public issues education.”
“Kristin’s ability to distill complex issues into understandable, objective materials has become an invaluable service to our state. Her work is regularly referenced by journalists, civic organizations, county agents, and everyday voters alike,” said Emily Lane Smith, community engagement specialist with the Arkansas Research Center.
Netterstrom Higgins has dedicated more than two decades to journalism and public service. Before joining the Division of Agriculture in 2012, Netterstrom Higgins was a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas, where she reported on government. Previously, she worked at the Arkansas Traveler, the student-run newspaper of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, where she earned a journalism degree and a master’s degree in agricultural education and extension. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy.
A longtime member of Arkansas Press Women and the National Federation of Press Women, Netterstrom Higgins has held numerous leadership roles within both organizations. She served as APW president for seven years and currently holds the role of immediate past president, in addition to serving as the organization’s state contest co-director.
“Kristin has been an incredible asset to Arkansas Press Women, serving in nearly every leadership capacity possible,” said Angie Faller, APW president. “Her dedication to the organization and to the field of communications is unmatched, and we are honored to recognize her with this award.”
At the national level, Netterstrom Higgins is the NFPW secretary and previously co-chaired the organization’s national conference. Her contributions have significantly shaped both APW and NFPW, strengthening their mission to support and uplift journalists and communicators.
“I’ve known Kristin since she became part of Arkansas Press Women,” said Mary Hightower, chief communications officer for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Since joining, she’s poured her very heart into the organization. APW and NFPW are much elevated because of her energy, enthusiasm and effort, and I can think of no better Communicator of Achievement than Kristin Netterstrom Higgins.”
Netterstrom Higgins will be recognized by the National Federation of Press Women during its Communicator of Achievement reception on Sept. 13 in Golden, Colorado, where she will be considered for the national award among honorees from other states.
There are now two Division of Agriculture employees who have been honored with the distinguished award. Hightower was bestowed the Arkansas Communicator of Achievement Award in 2023.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
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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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu