Jana Hart's hometown is Coal Hill, Arkansas, which is about 15 miles west of Clarksville and the Ozarks campus. Jana says that growing up so close to Clarksville, she never thought she would want to attend the university, which was still known as "College of the Ozarks" at that time. She recalls, "I thought Ozarks was a smalltime college. It just took one visit to the campus for an activity sponsored by Student Life to change my mind!"

Jana was sold on Ozarks from that point on, and after she enrolled for her freshman year, she began working in the financial aid office as a work-study student. As she completed her undergraduate education at Ozarks (earning a BS degree in Business Administration and an Associates degree in Secretarial Science), and began work on her Masters in Business Administration, Jana continued working in the Financial Aid office. She has taken on new challenges and responsibilities which ultimately led to her promotion to Dean of Admission and Financial Aid in 2004. Jana says, "With the length of time I have spent at Ozarks, first as a student and second as an employee, it has become a very important part of my life. The employees have become a second family to me and I love being around the students. I enjoy watching their actions, seeing what the newest fashions are, and simply enjoying their energy and excitement of being young. They keep me young!"

What was it that made Ozarks such a special place to Jana? "The entire staff, faculty and students caring about each other in a family atmosphere is what makes Ozarks a special place to be," she says. "I try to treat each student and parent the same way I would want to be treated when my own children start the college admission and financial aid process."

Jana works hard to bring this philosophy into everything she does; her strong Christian values are apparent in her day to day dealings with those around her. She says, "I value the unconditional love and encouragement my family provides. It is very important to me that my children grow in a loving Christian atmosphere. Our heavenly Father has given so much comfort, strength, and protection to me; I only pray that my children will find the same."

Jana says her children's activities take up most of her spare time. "My son is involved in which ever sport is in season, and my daughter, who is four years younger, thinks that she should be involved in just as many things as her big brother. But occasionally I do find time to bowl and work on scrapbooks." She confesses, "But the hobby I enjoy most is working with my rose plants during spring and summer. I love the time it takes with pruning, spraying and caring for each plant and then watching the wonderful blooms they produce." She gives credit to her husband, also an Ozarks alumnus, saying, "I guess I had better mention my husband along with this also. He is very supportive of my work and is a wonderful father, husband and cook (I don't cook!)."