- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Donovan Launches Virtual Mentorship Program for Students and Young Professionals

John Hill — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 19:08:58 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumnus Connor Donovan has launched a new virtual mentorship platform that connects students and young adults with professionals who serve as mentors who provide education and career support. “Everyone is capable of doing great things,” Donovan said. “But sometimes we just need a little extra encouragement and direction from someone who cares about our well-being and who genuinely wants to see us succeed. I hope that Me.Mentor provides students and young professionals with the support and access to resources they need to move on to and thrive in the next portion of their lives. I just want to help people end up in a place where they are fulfilled and living comfortably doing work that they love.” Donovan is no stranger to mentorship, having served as a mentor for at-risk primary school students in Mississippi and having served as a mentor in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Donaghey Scholars Program. After graduating with his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in 2019, he spent the summer helping supervise and prepare professional development opportunities for a staff of 18 mentors through the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy, an organization which aims to improve educational achievement by all students with special attention to African American students and others who are at risk of academic failure due to socioeconomic disadvantage, or other factors. Through his different academic and professional experiences in the realm of education, and particularly through his time serving as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Student Government Association president, Donovan observed a myriad of challenges faced by students and young adults in pursuit of career attainment. These experiences inspired him to launch a mentorship program to help students and young adults identify their passions and professional interests based on their personal stories, and to help them become aware of and procure education and career opportunities based on those passions. “I wanted to build a platform where students and young professionals could connect with people from a diversity of backgrounds reflective of the world we live in,” Donovan said. “I want people to see that there are different options out there to explore their passions, whether that be through college, a certification program, an apprenticeship, or through another avenue. I’m a big proponent of reflecting on your own story because there is so much you can learn about where you are and where you want to go from your experiences – your triumphs and challenges, your likes and dislikes.” services are available to high school and undergraduate students, early career professionals, and graduate program applicants through the company’s website and app. The services include identifying and planning a career path that aligns with individual passions; putting a story in writing in the form of a resume, cover letter, or essay; and enhanced interview preparation. Instead of a business that is out solely to make a profit, Donovan is also using a business model that is also dedicated to making the world a better place. “My company is what’s called a social enterprise,” Donovan said. “We seek to generate a profit while advancing a social mission and contributing positively to the world. I attribute some of the inspiration for our social mission to my time with the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. You work with all these brilliant young people, and you see the potential they have to do some really amazing things. But through talking with the students and hearing their stories, you clearly see that not everyone has been given equal support and equal access to resources. Some of these students have had to grow up so fast that they haven’t had the privilege of being able to stop and think about their passions. This is why I wanted to build a platform that would be accessible and affordable to everyone.” As a part of its social mission, Me Mentor is committed to finding ways to offer reduced-price services to high school students from low-income families. Additionally, mentors are encouraged to offer free and/or discounted services to mentees, especially for low-income high school students. “Our long-term goal is to build up an endowment that will be solely used to cover the costs of all high school students seeking mentorship services through our platform,” Donovan said. The company is also investing in programs beneficial to students and young adults in communities around the world. A portion of every paid transaction on the platform goes toward carrying out the company’s social mission. The startup is currently building community partnerships and developing creative ways to carry out its social mission. “I use the example of a nonprofit in Little Rock called the��,” Donovan said. “Studies show that Black males often feel safer and more at ease while talking to their barber, so Lorenzo Lewis and his team are training barbers to be mental health advocates by teaching them about mental health terminology and resources that they can in turn share with their customers. I want to look for organizations around the world that are tackling issues like that. If we can begin to see the intersectionality of issues surrounding mental health, food insecurity, poverty, transportation access, and other variables and if we tackle those issues at their root, then we will tackle other issues as well.” Me Mentor is currently available only in Arkansas, but Donovan has plans to expand Me Mentor to other states this year. “Five years from now, I want Me Mentor to be able to cover the costs for a lot of local high school students and to have partnerships with initiatives that help uplift students,” Donovan said. “If we continue to develop, I can see this eventually being an international service where people in different countries can connect for intercultural exchanges and discuss what it’s like to live, learn, and work in other countries.” Donovan graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in international business in 2017 and was named the university’s top graduating senior and��winner of the Edward L. Whitbeck Memorial Award. He served as a research analyst for the United States Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, in 2018. He recently joined the Clinton School’s Social Entrepreneur Committee and is working with other members to raise awareness of social entrepreneur resources. Donovan said he worked with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center to start his business. He utilized several ��Vlog��ý Little Rock grads and connections to serve as mentors or business contractors to help design his logo, create marketing content, and develop inclusive training materials for mentors. “One of the things I attribute to my time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is the wonderful and talented people I had the opportunity to build friendships with,” Donovan said. “If you look at the mentors, several are former ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. If you look at the Me.Mentor logo, that was designed by my former CWDSA colleague and brilliant graphical designer, Laura Montalvan. I received some invaluable support from former assistant vice chancellor and diversity, equity, and inclusion expert Dr. Amber Smith while seeking to create inclusive training content for mentors, and I received a tremendous amount of helpful brand development advice from former Donaghey Scholar and marketing expert,��Marina Rutter. It’s a real team effort, and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock really contributed to that.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock grad looks forward to career in tech industry, starting orphanage

John Hill — Thu, 21 May 2020 13:26:27 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate is looking forward to a future in the tech industry, followed by fulfilling her lifelong goal of helping children.�� Mariam Bouzihay, of Jonesboro, has graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in information technology.�� In the fall, she will attend the New York University Tandon School of Engineering in the Management of Technology program to study user experience and interface design. The program is designed for college graduates and professionals who aim to make a difference in a world where economic and social advancement is increasingly dependent on integrating technology and business. Her lifelong goal, after establishing a career in the tech industry, is to open an orphanage. “My ultimate goal is to open an orphanage, but I want to have a career first,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people, and I feel if people had that one person who was there for them that they could achieve so much. A child needs a support system, so I want to be there for those children and help others.” Bouzihay’s decision to come to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was a family affair. Her older sister, Nora, attended ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a Donaghey Scholar, so, naturally, Bouzihay was intrigued. She has been an active participant in the EAST Scholarship Program at Nettleton High School in Jonesboro and wanted to continue that at her university. After being accepted as an EAST Scholar, Bouzihay has been involved in a number of community service activities. “As an EAST Scholar, you teach yourself technology skills, and you put them to use to create a service project to help your community,” she said. “During my sophomore year, I worked with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Children International. We created an after-school EAST program at Wakefield Elementary, where the students created designs for their dream playground. During my junior and senior years, I helped plan events and get volunteers for the STEM Education Center, so I coordinated events like the robotics competitions, community engineering nights, and girls coding competition.”�� Throughout her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Bouzihay has had some amazing experiences that make her stand out. She was a fellow in the Career Connections Powered by Facebook program, served as a strategic communications intern for the Judge David L. Bazelon Center of Mental Health Law in Washington, D.C., as well as an events and donor relations intern at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. Last year, Bouzihay was one of 10 U.S. college students selected for the Joseph J. Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies cultural immersion program in Qatar. Bouzihay traveled to Qatar to learn about the country’s culture, society, and economics, as well as government priorities, concerns, and needs as pertaining to Qatari-U.S. relations. “My favorite off-campus college experience was going to Qatar,” she said. “It was exciting to meet with different diplomats and consulates. We were guests of the government, and we learned about the culture and met other students and professors from the U.S. who shared the experience. We experienced things that most students will never get to see.” Her favorite on-campus experiences included being involved in activities that made a difference to the university and the community, like serving as president of the Model Arab League and the Student Alumni Board as well as serving as the chief of staff and public relations officer for the Student Government Association. “My best on-campus experience is creating connections with people and being able to give back to the university,” Bouzihay said. “I love ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I think it’s Arkansas’s best kept secret. We have so many amazing programs, and I’ve been glad to help grow and shine some light on these programs. Since my freshman year, I’ve wanted to make changes on this campus, and that has pushed me to succeed. SGA helped me gain connections on campus, like being on the reaccreditation steering committee, and learning how things work in higher education.”�� Bouzihay was thankful to a number of mentors who helped her succeed during her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “My biggest mentor is Rebecca Glazier, since I was in Model Arab League. She opened a lot of doors, and that is why I went to Qatar,” Bouzihay said. “Sandra Leitermann at the STEM Education Center has also been an inspiration to me. I really look up to her. I work very closely with Kristi Smith and Samantha Wiley in the Bailey Alumni Center in my job as a communications intern. They have given me great opportunities to grow and advice.” As someone who participated in the Upward Bound college preparation program, Bouzihay knows the importance of having a good mentor, which is why she decided to serve as a mentor to students in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy and the Student Affairs Success Initiatives. “I saw how important it was to have positive mentors and have someone to relate to you,” she said. “I always wanted to give back, especially since the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy and the Student Affairs Success Initiatives focused on minority students. Some people just need one person to listen and help them. Anyone can be a mentor, but it takes a lot to be a positive mentor. I’m a first-generation student, so I know what it’s like and how to help new students navigate the system.” While looking back at her college career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Bouzihay is grateful for the journey that has left her with a lifetime of exciting memories. “It was a learning experience. It opened doors I didn’t think would be possible or even existed,” she said. “It showed me the importance of giving back to the university and, no matter what, to give it your all. Without ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I wouldn’t have had the experiences I’ve had or met the people I have. I thank ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for that. I’m excited to move on to new experiences and use what I’ve learned these past four years.”

Graduating associate dean says ‘it’s all about the students’

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 17 May 2019 13:10:21 +0000

A well-known associate dean at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock said he is looking forward to helping the “most important people on campus” after completing his college education. Richard Harper II, associate dean of students, graduated May 11 with a Doctor of Education in higher education administration. He wears many hats on campus, serving as the immediate past president of Staff Senate and the advisor to the Student Government Association. �� “Now that graduation is over, I plan to continually live by my professional motto,” he said. “I’m here to positively impact the lives of students. The other motto I live by is that students are the most important people on campus. Without them, there would be no purpose for us to be here. I will continue to advocate for students and make sure our services are high quality and continue to be an asset for higher education.” Although he usually attends graduation as a member of the administration to show support for students, Harper said he enjoyed taking his administrative cap off for a day to enjoy his graduation just like any other student with his immediate family, cousins from Mississippi, and godparents from Texas. “This year, I was just a student, and I loved walking across the stage in front of my friends and family and just cherishing the moment,” he said. Harper’s students have known of his doctoral aspirations and have been calling him “Dr. Harper” for some time, motivating him to complete his degree sooner rather than later. “Since I am currently SGA’s advisor, it’s a very cool experience, but also scary, that I get to help shape and mold our student leaders for the future,” he said. “A lot of the students were calling me Dr. Harper before I was done and that served as motivation. I want to inspire and motivate the students as well. If you work hard, stay focused, and do the right thing, you can achieve anything you want, whether it’s in education or in life.” Harper graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Central Arkansas. He came to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2011 to pursue a Master of Arts in higher education administration. After working two years as a graduate assistant in the Office of the Dean of Students, Harper was hired full time as the assistant dean of students. “I was recruited as a graduate student by John Kuykendall, a faculty member in the higher education department at the time. I got a graduate assistantship, and I’ve been here ever since. I’m happy to be graduating and glad that chapter has come to an end. It’s been a lot of hard work, and it’s great to see my hard work actually be approved by my dissertation committee.” Harper’s dissertation, “A Wrong Made Right: A Qualitative Cross-Case Comparison Study Examining Program Influences On College Readiness, Persistence, and Student Success Outcomes at a Predominantly White University and a Historically Black College,” explored the outcomes of the implementation of the at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and Philander Smith College. The Donaldson Scholars Academy helps students who are at risk due to socioeconomic disadvantages or other factors improve their academic achievement and prepare for college. The programs include ACT Prep Express, which helps high school students in Pulaski County Special School District, Little Rock School District, and the North Little Rock School District prepare for high school graduation, the ACT, and college. The academy also participates in college fairs, hosts meetings with school counselors, facilitates college and ACT prep sessions, and offers fall retreats.

Richard Harper receives a Doctor of Education in higher education administration from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on May 11. Photo by Ben Krain.

Students can participate in the Summer Bridge Academy, a three-week residential program that prepares incoming freshmen for college-level work by eliminating the need for them to take remedial math and English courses. Students who complete the program and attend ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Philander Smith, or University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College are eligible for a $2,500 annual scholarship that is renewable for up to four years. “This program is a direct result from a 30-year plus desegregation school case,” Harper said. “Part of the settlement was that all the parties agreed that $10 million worth of funds be utilized to increase student success for minority students from Pulaski County Special School District. The students graduate high school, then come to the Summer Bridge Academy, and then they can get up to $10,000 in scholarships for four years to attend ��Vlog��ý Little Rock or Philander Smith. I call it a pipeline to student success.” Harper said he was interested in studying what makes the program successful so that it can be replicated at other colleges. “I believe that program can be replicated and can really change the narrative of underprepared students coming out of school districts,” Harper said. “When you look at this program, you see how many lives its touching, how many scholarships are awarded, and how many remedial classes are bypassed. How do they get students to bypass remediation, believe in themselves, and matriculate through college? These students are graduating at rates higher than other colleges.” Richard believes that factors like experiencing college life through the Summer Bridge Academy helps incoming students alleviate many of their fears about college. Having mentors that help them adjust to college, clearly outlined goals and expectations to progress in the program, and a group of peers to share their experiences all help students succeed in college. “High school students are often told that if you don’t get a high enough ACT score or do well enough in school that college is not for you,” Harper said. “You almost get trapped in another life. If you get these students in a specialized program that helps with academic, social, and financial problems, it exposes them to a different way of learning. We found that students respond well to that. They bypass remediation, do well in their college courses, and persist to graduation. At the end of the day, that is what we are here for.”

Smith named Arkansas’s ACT College and Career Readiness Champion

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 12:54:21 +0000

Amber Smith, assistant vice chancellor of student experiences and director of the, has been named a 2019 ACT College and Career Readiness Champion for the postsecondary professional category.�� ACT is recognizing professionals for their work to advance college and career readiness for all. Champions are high school seniors, K-12 professionals, postsecondary professionals, and workforce professionals who are making a positive impact on their communities through their efforts to advance college and career readiness. The ACT College and Career Readiness Champions are individuals across the country who support ACT’s mission of education and workplace success. “I was honored and surprised. When you are doing work for students, you do it because it needs to be done,” Smith said. “My goal was to create an innovative experience for students to learn how to be successful on the ACT. What I found is that a lot of the preparation programs out there did not appeal to the students I focus on. I work with a lot of underserved and underrepresented populations. I was looking for a culturally relevant pedagogy to enhance student performance on standardized tests. When we couldn’t find it, we created our own, ACT Prep Express.” The Donaldson Scholars Academy helps students who are at risk due to socioeconomic disadvantages or other factors improve their academic achievement and prepare for college. The programs include ACT Prep Express, which helps high school students in Pulaski County Special School District, Little Rock School District, and the North Little Rock School District prepare for high school graduation, the ACT, and college. “We created an experience that goes to high schools driven by music and games,” Smith said. “We are dealing with high school students, and we want them to have fun. We start the morning with a parent breakfast, and we have recruiters from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, ��Vlog��ý Pulaski Tech, and Philander Smith College. The speakers explore the concepts of the ACT through different sessions. We wanted to help students decrease the anxiety associated with standardized tests and empower them with real test-taking strategies. Students don’t understand that they don’t have to know everything, that there are strategies that can help them score higher on tests. Then we end the day with an engaging activity, like an obstacle course, that allows them to review what they learned.” More than 400 high school students have participated in the ACT Prep Express program since its inception in 2017. Of those, more than 70 percent said they feel more confident in at least three of the four subject areas covered for exam preparation. The academy also participates in college fairs, hosts meetings with school counselors, facilitates college and ACT prep sessions, and offers fall retreats. Additionally, the Summer Bridge Academy is a two-week residential program that prepares incoming freshmen for college-level work by eliminating the need for them to take remedial math and English courses. “We are very proud of what Amber has been able to achieve with the Dr. Charles W. Donaldson Summer Bridge Academy initiative,” said Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, vice chancellor for student affairs. “She has continued to develop the program so we can reach many more high school students and increase their access to higher education. Her work, along with her team, is making a big difference in the Little Rock community.” Smith is a graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and a master’s degree in student affairs. She also earned a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology from Capella University. She started her career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2011 as interim assistant coordinator of the African American Male Initiative and Teaching Enhancements Affecting Minority Students programs. Prior to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she worked as a corporate trainer, educational presenter, and psychology instructor. ACT State Councils comprised of education and workforce professionals from all 50 states serve as the selection committee and select one champion per category for each participating state. “We all know inspiring individuals who work tirelessly for the advancement of college and career readiness for all students,” said ACT Senior Vice President of State and Federal Programs Scott Montgomery. “The ACT College and Career Readiness Champions initiative lifts up their stories so that more people can be inspired to find their own path to success through the motivation and determination of the seniors, K-12, postsecondary and workforce champions leading the way.”

Graduating student wants to be a mentor for others like him

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 11 May 2018 13:09:54 +0000

For Nigel Spears, serving as a mentor has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.�� He understands how important it is for young people to have positive role models in their lives, so he has volunteered as a mentor for the African American Male Initiative and Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. �� “My dad was in the U.S. Army for 22 years and wasn’t really around when I was growing up,” he said. “He was gone for months and years at a time. I didn’t have any male figures that I felt comfortable looking up to. I want to give back to those who are in the same situation as me. I understand that feeling like you have no male to live up to is hard, especially for African-American men. There are a lot of things you miss out on. If I can be the one that an African-American male wants to model themselves after, if I am able to influence them in any positive way, I want to be that person.” Spears, a native of Fort Smith and a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, will graduate May 12 from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in applied communication. After graduation, he plans to earn a master’s degree in applied communication from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and then attend seminary school. Spears plans to work as a motivational speaker, trainer, and consultant for mediation conflict, social media, conflict management, and customer service. “I want to see everybody be successful in life,” he said. “I want to give back to my community.” In 2017, Nigel Spears found himself at a point in life where nothing seemed to be going right. “I wasn’t talking to my family. The relationship I was in was going south. I didn’t have a job, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do in my life. I was in a horrible space,” he said. He credits Dr. Gerald Driskill’s class with giving him a new lease on life. “I took Dr. Driskill’s Human Communications Concepts class, and it saved my life,” he said. “Taking his class made me realize how much I needed to grow. It gave me a reality check. I learned the foundations and the principles of self-reflecting, being able to look at yourself and be honest with yourself, and how to fix the problems going forward. His class is what laid the foundation of how I operate my relationships today. I say it saved my life because without those core principles, I probably wouldn’t be here today.”��

Photo of Nigel Spears by Ben Krain.

Spears funneled his new life lessons into a motivational video series called SELFISH, which stands for Self, Expand, Language, Forgiveness, Invest, Strategy, and Hone. “In the period between me dropping business finance as a major and finding applied communication, I had to reevaluate myself,” Spears said. “I had to figure out who I was. There are a lot of people, especially students, who live their lives for other people. You have to be able to know who you are, what you want to do, and how to accomplish that.” Spears’ project caught the attention of his applied communication professors. “Nigel won our departmental Making a Difference award in 2017 for his work in developing a video series focusing on showing teens and young adults how to incorporate positive communication into their relationships and their environment,” said Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, chair of the Department of Applied Communication. “His messages impart practical advice about the impact of such things as word choice in dealing with conflicts.” The catch phrase of Spears’ video series is “Salute Your Struggle.” He believes that every struggle in his life has helped him become the person he is today and wants to help others to embrace their struggles as well. Spears started at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in the Summer Bridge Academy, a three-week residential program aimed at preparing incoming freshmen for college-level work by eliminating the need for them to take remedial math and English courses. He built good relationships with Jonathon Bobo and Kalan Horton. He also worked as an aide for the Green Dot Program and interned as a patient advocate at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He also credits his fraternity brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha for helping him become a leader and providing a support system. Spears is also thankful to his “school mom,” Kristen McIntyre, Chatham-Carpenter, Mia Phillips, Melissa Johnston, and girlfriend, Marqueashia Thompson, for helping him through his ��Vlog��ý Little Rock journey.