Growing up, Allyson Twiggs Dyer dreamed of becoming a Lady Razorback basketball player. That dream came true when the University of Arkansas offered her a basketball scholarship in 1990. Once she received the opportunity to attend the University of Arkansas, “there was no doubt” that’s where she belonged. Dyer had always loved the traditions of the university and its Razorbacks, so to be able to play in both Barnhill and Bud Walton arenas, she felt “honored to wear the red and white uniform.”
This love and dedication for sports, which she strongly exemplified during her time at the university, has translated into her professional career as well. Obtaining her degree in broadcast journalism, Dyer chose to pursue other ventures, but insists that the invaluable lessons and skills she learned from professors Dale Carpenter, Larry Foley and Hoyt Purvis, have helped her in her current profession. She now works as director of the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau, helping to “promote Fayetteville as a tourist destination.” In the eight years she has spent working for the bureau, she has continued to work closely with the University of Arkansas and its athletic program.
“We work very closely with the athletic department on events and we work with various departments on trying to bring meetings and conferences to Fayetteville,” she said. The Bureau also works to plan events and festivals in the Fayetteville area, allowing people to become more knowledgeable about the area and its residents.
Apart from her position as director of the Visitors Bureau, Dyer serves on the board of directors of Pagnozzi Charities, an organization dedicated to paying for various sports-related programs and leagues, such as football, basketball, baseball and gymnastics, in the Northwest Arkansas area. “The charity makes it possible for kids in Northwest Arkansas to play sports,” she said.
As busy as Dyer may seem, she still finds the time to give back to the university. Her decision to join the Arkansas Alumni Association was never viewed as a “choice,” she claims. As a former student athlete, Dyer recognizes the opportunities that being a Lady Razorback brought her upon graduating in 1995. Her connection to the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Alumni Association and its athletic programs has continued to open doors for her through the years. Her involvement as an A+ Annual Member of the Arkansas Alumni Association led her to serve on the board of the Razorback ‘A’ Club, an organization for former student athletes, and as a member of the Razorback Foundation, working to promote university athletics and student scholarships. The importance in staying connected to the University of Arkansas makes her feel that by being a member, she is able to help other students, making it all “well worth it.”
