The campaign closed with 44.43% participation, surpassing the established goal of 37% and marking the highest participation rate in more than five years. A total of 510 faculty and staff members contributed $221,374.42 in support of scholarships, academic programs, and other institutional priorities.

鈥淔aculty and staff give because they believe in the work happening here and in the students who benefit from it,鈥� said Dr. Shelia Brooks, campus campaign chair. 鈥淲e see the university鈥檚 impact every day, and giving back is one way we can support that work and invest in our students鈥� success.鈥�

Over the past three years, the Campus Campaign has seen steady year-over-year growth in both faculty and staff participation and overall giving, culminating in a record-setting year in 2025.

Nine departments achieved 100% participation during the campaign:

• Alumni and Development
• Chancellor鈥檚 Office
• Counseling Services
• Disability Resource Center
• Health Services
• STEM
• Emerging Analytics Center
• the Jody Mahony Center for Gifted Education
• Marketing and Communications

A key factor in this year鈥檚 success was the faculty-led nature of the campaign. As campus campaign chair, Dr. Brooks took an active, visible role by visiting departments and speaking directly with colleagues about why faculty and staff giving matters.

鈥淒r. Brooks鈥� leadership resonated across campus,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for advancement. 鈥淗er perspective as a faculty member helped reinforce the value of participation and encouraged broader engagement.鈥�

The campaign also benefited from a more intentional approach to engagement. This year鈥檚 Kick-Off Breakfast included role-play scenarios and a question-and-answer session designed to help participants feel more at ease talking with colleagues about giving. A dedicated lunch for campaign ambassadors provided additional opportunities for connection and collaboration across departments.

The campaign鈥檚 results reflect growing engagement across campus and set the stage for continued momentum in the year ahead.

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University officials launched the 2025 Campus Campaign on Sept. 26 by announcing the members of this year鈥檚 steering committee and setting the latest fundraising total. Leaders emphasized that a push for employee participation not only reflects confidence in the institution but also strengthens student success.

鈥淭his campaign is about something simple but powerful: participation,鈥� said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor of alumni and development. 鈥淓very gift matters, no matter how big or small. These gifts are for the betterment of our university, because they believe in the future of our university.鈥�

When the Centennial Campaign began in 2001, only 6.5 percent of employees contributed. Today, that number has more than tripled to 20.7 percent. The goal for 2025 is to raise that to 37 percent, according to campaign chair Dr. Shelia Brooks.

Brooks, a clinical assistant professor of nursing and the first faculty member 鈥� as well as the first African American female faculty member 鈥� to lead the initiative, praised the recent growth in on-campus support. A 1994 alumna, Brooks said faculty and staff giving sends a powerful message to the broader community.

鈥淓very time we give, it shows why we believe in the university,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淚t shows that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is not just our workplace, but our community.鈥�

Faculty and staff contributions are eligible for the Enduring Opportunity Matching Challenge, which doubles gifts to needs-based scholarships. Donations can also be made through planned giving, Alumni Association memberships, legacy bricks, , Trojan Champion awards 鈥� which provides direct support for Little Rock students, and gifts to this fund count toward the campaign goal. Other ways to support the campaign include in-kind donations to university support programs like the Career Closet or the Trojan Food Pantry.听

Stacy Pendergraft, co-director of the School of Literary and Performing Arts, highlighted how her department used a Trojan Champion Award to create a new teaching track that supports crisis management agencies with trained actors and writers. 

鈥淭his is one of many ways supporting the Campus Campaign benefits both students and the work being done on campus,鈥� Pendergraft said.

As part of the campaign kickoff, the university announced the 16 members of the 2025 steering committee, including Brooks; Dr. Joe Felan; Judy Staley; Dr. Rachel Eells; Dr. Barbara L鈥橢plattenier; Dr. Anindya Ghosh; Jennifer Moody; Alicia Dorn; Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison; Dr. Aresh Assadi; Anthony Buttrum; Emily Bell; Katrina Christopher; Quaneshia Hamms; Dr. Carrie Phillips, and Brandy Dixon.

The committee represents departments across campus and is tasked with leading the effort toward 100 percent employee participation.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to far exceed that 37 percent,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淭hanks to the Enduring Opportunity Scholarship, gifts can be doubled. This creates an immediate impact on our students and builds the long-term momentum we need.鈥�

Vice Chancellor for Advancement Christian O鈥橬eal underscored the significance of employee giving. 

鈥淲e know people have many demands on their giving, but what makes this campaign different is that our own people鈥攆aculty and staff鈥攁re stepping up. That kind of internal investment shows unity and makes our historic campaign stronger from the inside out,鈥� he said.

For more information about the Campus Campaign, contact Smith at klsmith4@ualr.edu or 501-916-6435.

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Brooks, a clinical assistant professor of nursing, is the first faculty member, as well as the first African American female faculty member, to lead the annual faculty and staff giving initiative. For her, the role is both an honor and a responsibility.

鈥淲ithout faculty and staff support, we can鈥檛 expect the outside community to have a buy-in on what we do here,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淓very dollar can make a difference, while every gift shows that we believe in the mission of our university.鈥�

A Journey Rooted in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock

Brooks鈥� connection to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock runs deep. She earned her associate degree in nursing in 1994, returned two decades later for her bachelor鈥檚 degree, and then continued on to graduate studies, all while working raising a family with two sons. She joined the faculty in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing with her both clinical expertise and a passion for teaching.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen firsthand how much this university has grown,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淲hen I was a nursing student, our program shared half a floor in the Engineering Technology and Applied Sciences Building. Today, we have a state-of-the-art building and the largest program on campus. That growth was made possible by people who believed in us and gave back. Now it鈥檚 my turn to do the same.鈥�

Brooks and her husband, Anthony, are lifetime members of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association and longtime supporters of the university. Their family business, Platinum Drywall, has also contributed to campus growth and student opportunities through campus building projects and student internships.

In addition to her work at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Brooks is active in numerous service organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She also serves on the board of Home for Healing, is an associate member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and a member of the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas.

Her leadership was recently recognized statewide when she was named one of the 100 Great Nurses of Arkansas for 2025.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect the recognition but I feel honored and grateful for the opportunity to assist in positively impacting our university,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 do this work for accolades but for my love for people and serving our community. Nursing allows me to help others in their most vulnerable moments and to teach students how to offer that same compassion.鈥�

Looking Ahead to the Campaign

The Campus Campaign encourages faculty and staff to support 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock through payroll deduction, one-time gifts, or in-kind contributions. Participation has grown significantly since the campaign began in 2001, with about 35 percent of employees contributing last year.

鈥淔aculty and staff are in the grit of it,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e see firsthand the struggles and successes of our students, and we know what it takes to make this university a success. By giving, even in small ways, we鈥檙e showing that we believe in our students and in the future of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥�

Brooks is especially enthusiastic about campus events like Taste of Little Rock, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 premier culinary event, which combines community engagement with great food and fundraising for student success. She also looks forward to sharing her own story as a way to encourage others.

鈥淚 am excited to lead this campaign and to show how far we鈥檝e come as a university,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f we all give a little, together we can do so much more for our students, our colleagues, and our community.鈥�

You can find out more about the Campus Campaign and how to donate by visiting the Campus Campaign website.

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For the first time, donations from new donors will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25 by 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Chancellor Christina S. Drale, increasing the impact of contributions and further supporting campus initiatives and student success.

鈥淭his match will provide a powerful incentive for new donors to participate in the Campus Campaign, knowing that their contribution will have an even greater impact,鈥� said Laterika Tooks, director of annual giving. 鈥淲e want to thank Dr. Drale for her continued support.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has a goal of reaching 40 percent employee giving for 2024. As an added incentive, the Office of Alumni and Development will provide lunch in the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center to the first five departments and units who achieve 100 percent employee giving.

The Campus Campaign highlights the power of collective giving, with employees playing a key role in enhancing campus resources and opportunities for students.

鈥淚 support the Campus Campaign because of all of the students I meet who have different stories, different needs for our scholarships, and who are very appreciative of your support and the scholarships they receive,鈥� said Campus Campaign Chair Anthony Buttrum, scholarship coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. 鈥淲hat we do is about building relationships with one another, with our students, and with people in the community to help us with our goal of providing students with a great education. It is my hope that we will show our support for the university, and it will help bring in additional scholarship dollars and donors for our university.鈥�

The support of university employees also plays a significant role in showing 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumni, friends, corporations, foundations, and community partners that the university is worthy of their support.

鈥淲e are in the middle of the Centennial Campaign, and our goal is to raise $250 million by the university鈥檚 100-year anniversary in 2027,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淵our support is very important to the success of this campaign. When faculty and staff show their support for the university, it sends a powerful message to the community, alumni, and partners. It demonstrates our collective belief in the institution鈥檚 mission and inspires others to invest in the future of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alongside us.鈥�

The university owes a special thanks to the dedicated employees who help lead the Campus Campaign effort across campus. Campus Campaign Steering Committee members include Dr. Aresh Assadi, Emily Bell, Dr. Sheila Brooks, Jessie Burchfield, Anthony Buttrum, Reed Claiborne, Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison, Katrina Christopher, Alicia Dorn, Dr. Joe Felan, Dr. Anindya Ghosh, Brock Hime, Dr. Barbara L鈥橢plattenier, Dr. Carrie Phillips, and Judy Staley.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important for us as employees and faculty members to show our enthusiasm and support for the university because we are setting an example for others to support the university,鈥� said Dr. Joe Felan, associate professor in the School of Business, who has been on the committee for four years.

Campus Campaign ambassadors include Salina Ables, Dr. Al Baker, Sydney Ambrus, Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, Alex Fountain, Mary French, Amanda Ginger, Dr. Mohammad Goodarzi, Dr. Katie Helms, Dawn Johnson, Sadie Lea, Monica Meadows, Rachel Mercado, Chloe Moses, Belinda Nix, Mercades Parker, Madison Schalk, Vanessa Whitman, and Grace Zafasi.

鈥淚 am so excited to be a Campus Campaign ambassador and represent the Office of Communications and Marketing,鈥� said Sydney Ambrus, social media coordinator and videographer. 鈥淚t was important to me to be a part of the Campus Campaign to not only serve as a liaison between our office and Office of Alumni and Development, but to give back and invest in the community here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. The Campus Campaign supports our students, faculty, and staff. Every dollar counts towards growing our programs, aiding in research, and faculty development.鈥�

Tooks also recognized Dr. Aresh Assadi, director of Counseling Services, for his many years of service as Campus Campaign chair by making a donation to Counseling Services in Assadi鈥檚 honor.

鈥淒r. Assadi has served as Campus Campaign chair for six years, and we appreciate your tremendous support for the university,鈥� Tooks said. 鈥淲e know suicide prevention is incredibly important to you, so we have made a contribution in your honor for suicide prevention efforts at the university.鈥�

There are many ways for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock employees to get involved and show their support for a part of the university that has a special meaning to them. A donation to a scholarship, planned gift, Alumni Association membership, legacy brick, season tickets, becoming a Trojan Champion, and gifts to any area of campus counts as part of the Campus Campaign.

For more information about the Campus Campaign, contact Tooks at lstooks@ualr.edu or at 501-916-6439 visit .

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鈥淚 am really excited for this opportunity,鈥� Tooks said. 鈥淚 feel that Staff Senate gives staff members a voice and an opportunity to make a difference on campus. I am looking forward to making connections and building relationships with other staff members across campus.鈥�

As chair of the Campus Campaign, Tooks first became involved in Staff Senate when she would speak to the group about campus giving and volunteer opportunities. She now serves as chair of the Fundraising Committee and the Staff Awards Committee, which selects the Staff Achievement Award winners and runs the annual Staff Awards Ceremony.

鈥淭hrough my work with the Campus Campaign, I鈥檝e had the opportunity to make connections across the campus,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y new role in Staff Senate will help me build on those connections and grow as a person. We are in the middle of our Centennial Campaign, working to raise money for scholarships, student support, program excellence, and the living and learning environment. I look forward to showing our community what a difference 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock can make.鈥�

Tooks, a native of Camden, joined the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Office of Alumni and Development in 2022. As director of annual giving, she is responsible for the management and implementation of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Foundation鈥檚 annual giving program. She is already on track to double yearly giving efforts through the campus campaign. Earlier this fall, she was named to Arkansas Business鈥� 2023 Class of 20 in Their Twenties, which puts the spotlight on talented young leaders in the state鈥檚 business and nonprofit community.

She is an active member of the community, serving as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategic planning committee, the Hope (Helping Overcome Poverty through Education) scholarship committee at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Children International, and the Friends of City Parks Conservancy. She also serves as a board member for the Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and a member of the Program Committee for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV.

Tooks has a passion for working with community nonprofit organizations. She is a member of the Alliance Ambassadors Program for Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and participated in the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association鈥檚 Walk to End Alzheimer鈥檚 in 2021. She has a goal to build a community garden close to where she lives in Alexander and is working with the Arkansas Community Foundation on this project.

Tooks earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2017. Prior to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, she worked as an event sales manager at Embassy Suites by Hilton Little Rock and as a constituent events manager for the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association.

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