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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates Staff Achievements

John Hill — Fri, 14 May 2021 17:12:26 +0000

Evonne Hair, a student program coordinator for the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, will always remember 2020 as a milestone in her life.�� Last December, she graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in applied communication after taking college classes for 16 years. “It was a milestone for me to complete my bachelor’s degree,” Hair said. “I’m the second out of six kids to graduate. I couldn’t celebrate my graduation last year because of COVID but I’m celebrating now.” Having started her college education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2004, Hair said she had exhausted financial aid options and had been paying for her education while working full-time at the university for years. Hair is one of five ��Vlog��ý Little Rock staff members who received the Staff Senate Scholarship in 2020, and the money helped pay for her final semester of college at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. However, it was one final act of kindness that got her over the home stretch. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has been a great help during this time,” Hair said. “Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter and Steve McClellan, God rest his soul, gave me the last $1,500 I needed to finish. That’s the reason I was able to get my degree.”

Mary Tillman

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Staff Senate celebrated the achievements of Hair and other staff members during a Staff Senate Award Recognition event on April 30. The event recognized staff members who won Staff Achievement Awards, received scholarships, completed an educational achievement, and were celebrating work anniversaries and retirement in 2020 and 2021.�� Mary Tillman, administrative support manager for MidSouth, said ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s atmosphere has been an inspiration during her career. “There is nothing like the atmosphere of what happens when you are surrounded by all these educational opportunities,” Tillman said. “That is what has kept me here for 15 years.” Joan Reed, higher education institute program coordinator for the School of Nursing, is celebrating her 20th anniversary at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Time flies when you are having fun,” Reed said. “There have been a lot of changes at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock over the past two decades. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a lot to offer. What has really helped me is participating in the fitness classes we offer.”

Tina Medlock

Tina Medlock, director of communications at William H. Bowen School of Law as well as this year’s recipient of the Staff Achievement Award for Personal Growth, has enjoyed learning new skills and building camaraderie with her colleagues at the law school. “I have so much fun working with people at Bowen and getting to learn new things that it doesn’t even feel like work,” Medlock said. The event, along with the Staff Celebration Week activities, were hosted by the Staff Senate Awards Committee that includes Jenn McDannold, Shannon Gwinn, Samantha Wiley, Cody Henslee, Rosalie Shahan, Cadence Baize, Jordan Breckenridge, Serifatu Walton, and Anissa Sonia-Williams. Visit the Staff Senate website to all of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock staff members celebrating milestones and achievements during 2021. Evonne Hair is pictured in the upper right photo. All photos taken by Ben Krain.

Reed, Rigby, Medlock selected as 2021 Staff Achievement Award Winners

John Hill — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:36:48 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Staff Senate honored three of its staff members for excellence in the areas of service to the university, community service, and personal growth. Heather Reed, director of student retention initiatives, has received the Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Award. Additionally, Kelly Rigby, project coordinator, has received the Staff Achievement Award for Community Service. Tina Medlock, director of communications at William H. Bowen School of Law, has received the Staff Achievement Award for Personal Growth. “The Staff Senate are very excited for our annual Years of Service Awards,” Staff Senate President Cody Henslee said. “Chancellor Drale was kind enough to expand this year’s top category awards to $3,000 over our previous year’s $2,000 per category. We are delighted to be able to honor members of our staff for all of their hard work and to afford them an award of this value as a token of our appreciation and support for their continued contributions to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The three winners will receive a $3,000 award distributed via payroll distribution. More info about the Staff Achievement Award winners: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Award Heather Reed, director of student retention initiatives and leader of the CARE Team, has received the 2021 Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Award.

Heather Reed

The award recipient is described to be an individual who is distinctive in service through committees, special events, implementation of creative ideas or support and encouragement of others. “Heather is a caring, dedicated, creative problem-solver, and strategic builder of support networks to help students thrive at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Dr. Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. “She exemplifies the ideals of the Ben Fry Service Award. I am honored to recommend her.” A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Reed has 20 years of experience helping students succeed in college drawing on her time in housing/residence life, learning communities, crisis management, mentoring, judicial affairs, first-year experience, and success coaching. She has served as an assistant dean at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and now focuses on building and leading the SRI team. Reed is passionate about student success/retention and believes in reducing barriers for students to achieve success. A colleague of Heather’s writes that the team she is “not just supporting the students, but also supporting one another – forming a community of care that touches all levels of the organization.” Staff Achievement Award for Community Service Kelly Rigby, project coordinator at the William H. Bowen School of Law, has received the 2021 Staff Achievement Award for Community Service. This award recipient is described as an individual who has been particularly successful in organizing community events or had major achievements in civic, service, or specialty organizations/events.

Kelly Rigby.

“At least twice a week, Kelly tells me about a function or event happening in support of a local nonprofit,” said Ashley Nipp, alumni and development associate. “She advocates for causes she believes in and has demonstrated success in organizing community events. An exemplary event, Little Rock Zoo Wild Wines, was voted the best fundraising event in the state by AY Magazine readers. Kelly is the chair for this spectacularly successful event for the second consecutive year, previously holding the position of vice chair for two years and a committee member in 2015.” Wild Wines is the largest fundraiser that supports the Arkansas Zoological Foundation, the nonprofit organization raising funds for the growth and development of the Little Rock Zoo. More than 1,500 participants are expected to attend this year’s event on April 26 and 27. The funds will be used to help build a new conservation and play area at the Little Rock Zoo’s education building. “Lucie’s Place is another organization where Kelly dedicates her time and energy to foster a more inclusive, welcoming community within Little Rock,” Nipp said. “Lucie’s Place has a mission to ensure lifelong acceptance, stability, and success for LGBTQ young adults experiencing homelessness in Central Arkansas. Kelly has served for three years as a member of the organization’s advisory group, helping to plan and execute fundraising events such as the annual Lucie’s Place Cabaret at The Studio Theatre and the Drag Benefit for Lucie’s Place at South on Main.” In addition to the Little Rock Zoo and Lucie’s Place, Rigby is an active member of planning committees for multiple events for other community organizations, including the annual Garden Party for Planned Parenthood and the Cattle Barron’s Ball in support of the American Cancer Society. Staff Achievement Award for Personal Growth

Tina Medlock

Tina Medlock, director of communications at William H. Bowen School of Law, has received the Staff Achievement Award for Personal Growth. The award winner is described as an individual whose scholarship, research, or creative talent has been particularly outstanding. Theresa Beiner, dean of Bowen, described the enthusiasm that Medlock applies to her position. “Tina first voluntarily assumed the Law School’s communications duties while also maintaining another job at the Law School,” Beiner said. “She eventually was officially placed in the position of Director of Communications. With a background in expository and technical writing, Tina is entirely self-taught in a variety of social media platforms and other communications software and systems. In the last year, she made a major pivot to increase our visibility virtually due to the pandemic. She is well-qualified for this award based on growth in skills and creativity she has shown over the past several years.” In the past year, Medlock completed the Digital Marketing Certificate Program with ��Vlog��ý-Pulaski Tech and Facebook.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to honor staff members during Staff Celebration Week

John Hill — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 21:10:36 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock will honor the hard work and achievements of its staff members during Staff Celebration Week April 5-9. Staff Senate will announce the winners of the Staff Achievement Awards. A $3,000 award will be given to the top staff member in each of three categories: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, community service, and personal growth. “The staff members are a vital part of the success of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Staff Senate President-elect Jenn McDannold. “The Staff Achievement Awards highlight our staff members’ incredible commitment to the university and community through hard work, service, and dedication.” Staff Senate will also announce the winners of the Staff Senate Scholarship and Jerry Crittenden Employee Book Scholarship. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community is encouraged to join the celebration of staff members by highlighting offices that have gone above and beyond in the past year by filling out a, join the conversation on the, and share your staff stories on social media using #WeHeartOurStaff. You can also visit a Sodexo eatery on campus, write a message for staff members, and then place it on the Trojan logo cutouts at Starbucks, Wow Café, and more. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Staff Senate will host a Staff Awards Celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, April 30, in the Donaghey Student Center, where award winners and staff members celebrating work anniversaries, retirement, and educational achievements can drop by to pick up their awards and certificates and have their picture taken. The members of the Staff Awards Committee behind the celebrations include Cadence Baise, Jordan Breckenridge, Serifatu Buford, Shannon Gwinn, Cody Henslee, Jenn McDannold, Anissa Sonia-Williams, and Samantha Wiley.��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold University Assembly Oct. 9

John Hill — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 21:27:29 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold the University Assembly meeting virtually at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The assembly will include a state of the university address by Chancellor Christina Drale as well as addresses by University Assembly and Faculty Senate President Amanda Nolen, Provost Ann Bain, Staff Senate President Cody Henslee, Student Government Association President Landon DeKay, and Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor of student affairs and chair of the COVID Emergency Response Team. In new business, the University Assembly will vote on a motion to make the Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC) a standing University Assembly committee. The original IEC was formed in 2018 to assist with the university’s reaccreditation process. The reconfigured committee will promote continuous improvement at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock through the review of cost units for effectiveness, efficiency, and mission centrality, as well as serve in an advisory capacity to the chancellor and cabinet of the university. The IEC will also determine a schedule for university-wide review, with all units being reviewed at least once every five years. In old business, the University Assembly will take a second vote on an amendment to the constitution that allows the Faculty Senate to be reapportioned every two years by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. The modification up for vote is to give the Faculty Senate Executive Committee the authority to conduct such an extraordinary census in the event of a reorganization of existing colleges. A link to the virtual meeting, the agenda for University Assembly, and the minutes from the April 10 meeting can be found on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Faculty Senate website. The link to join the meeting will go live at around 12:40 p.m.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock announces finalists for 2020 Staff Achievement Awards

John Hill — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 13:54:58 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Staff Senate has announced the finalists for the 2020 Staff Achievement Awards. A $2,000 award will be given to the top staff member in each of three categories: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, community service, and personal growth. “The staff members are a vital part of the success of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Staff Senate President-elect Cody Henslee. “The finalists for the Staff Achievement Awards highlight our staff members’ incredible commitment to the university and community through hard work, service, and dedication.” The three categories for nominations are:

Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock – Recognition will go to an individual who is distinctive in service through committees, special events, implementation of creative ideas or support and encouragement of others.
Community Service – Recognition will go to an individual who has been particularly successful in organizing community events or had major achievements in civic, service, or specialty organizations/events.
Personal Growth – Recognition will go to an individual whose scholarship, research, or creative talent has been particularly outstanding.

The winners of the Staff Achievement Awards as well as the Staff Senate Scholarship and Jerry Crittenden Employee Book Scholarship will be announced in May. For more information, contact Cody Henslee at cahenslee@ualr.edu. The finalists include: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Geneva Galloway, administrative specialist III, Donaghey Scholars Program
Ronda Petray, assistant to the dean, College of Education and Health Professions
Russ Riegel, client support manager, Information Technology Services

Community Service

Eileen Devereaux Dailey, business consultant, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Sabrenna Rodgers-Lee, director of finance, College of Social Sciences and Communication

Personal Growth

Kaycee Greenwood, interim director of military student success, Military Student Success Center
Colleen Godley, ERP business analyst and developer, Information Technology Services
Tara Kittrell, psychiatric nurse practitioner, Counseling Services

Henslee elected 2020-21 Staff Senate President

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:14:10 +0000

An Information Technology Services staff member will serve as the next president of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Staff Senate.�� Cody Henslee, applications support and maintenance specialist, will serve as president-elect during the 2019-20 year, before becoming president in July 2020.�� “It’s an honor to take the position of president-elect,” Henslee said. “When I first started on campus as associate director for housing facilities, I was jokingly called ‘Randy’s son’ all the time because my father had worked in housing. I don’t think anyone used my name. So now it’s nice that I’ve built my own reputation over the past five years, and my hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.”�� Henslee earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2013 and a master’s degree in education in 2016. He worked in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as an imaging specialist for three years before accepting a position with the Office of Financial Aid as an advisor. He joined IT Services in 2019.�� He became active in the Senate in 2016 to gain professional experience and to advocate for staff members on campus. He has been involved in campus committees, including the blood drive, staff awards ceremony, professional development, and Helping Hands.�� “I enjoy the opportunity to be a voice and advocate for staff. I enjoy the camaraderie and being tied to the pulse of the university,” Henslee said. “There is a lot that goes on at this university. Being aware provides so much more flexibility and allows you to be more helpful. I get to hear and experience the university from a variety of perspectives, rather than just my own. It’s a rewarding experience.”�� As Staff Senate president, Henslee plans to focus on building resources and connecting with staff members.�� “As president, one of the things I would like to do is leverage some of our free resources to build something for the staff, whether that be Blackboard resources or social events,” he said. “I want to build a connectedness during this time when people feel unsure. I want to give them a bright spot and let them know that someone is advocating for their needs and interests.”�� Henslee lives in Alexander with his husband, Paden, cat Cheddar, and dog Fosse. In his free time, he enjoys photography, music, and anything related to technology.�� “I would like the staff to know I am an open book, I’m very approachable, and I can be very personable,” he said. “While at work, I like to say I am on. I used to be a restaurant server, so I have the mindset of getting things done and being very outgoing. I am a primarily positive and warm individual. I always try to focus on my commitments and pull my weight.”

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates Staff Achievements