Known for her unwavering commitment to academic excellence and faculty advocacy, Matson has left an indelible mark on the university community.

鈥淭his is a bittersweet time for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his has been a good place to work. I鈥檝e liked it in many ways, especially in the earlier years when it was growing. It felt like there was a lot of opportunity.鈥�

While she was finishing her dissertation with the University of Minnesota, Matson first came to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as an adjunct instructor in 1983. By the following year, she was hired as an assistant professor in the Department of English.

鈥淭hey were hiring so many people in the English Department at the time because they had gotten approval for a new master鈥檚 degree in technical and expository writing (TEW),鈥� she said. 鈥淭here were six people teaching in the TEW program when I first started, and that was before we even had a bachelor鈥檚 degree.鈥�

She served as the freshman composition coordinator from 1986 to 1992, and it was a fast-paced position.

鈥淚n those days, we had about 100 sections of freshman composition every semester,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e taught classes from seven in the morning to nine at night. At the time, you couldn鈥檛 even find a room for all these comp sections. I would often wander campus looking for empty classrooms. The biggest problem was finding enough teachers.鈥�

Eventually, Matson approached Chancellor Jim Young in the late 1980s, and the department hired 12 full-time instructors to cover the many composition courses. By 1992, Matson had changed roles and was taking a turn at administration by serving as associate vice chancellor of academic affairs in the provost鈥檚 office.

鈥淢y primary role in that position was faculty development,鈥� she said. 鈥淏y 1995, the university was required by our regional accrediting body (then called North Central, and now called Higher Learning Commission) to start assessing student learning outcomes. This was a very stable time for the university. I worked in that position for nine years, and I think there was one dean change in that time. When my second son was born in 2000, my oldest son also started first grade. That is when I decided to go back to teaching so I could have a more flexible schedule and be with them after school.鈥�

While Matson had been working in the provost鈥檚 office, the Department of English had undergone a major change and split into two departments. Instead of returning to the English Department, Matson joined the faculty of the newly established Department of Rhetoric and Writing.

鈥淲hat I really like about being at the university is the fact that every 10 years or so I could change and do something different,鈥� Matson said. 鈥淚 loved everything I did. I鈥檓 not a faculty member who totally focuses on a single subject matter. Over the years, I have published and presented on so many different topics. And I鈥檝e become involved in so many different projects on campus, from writing across the curriculum to exploring the county鈥檚 wastewater systems.

It was fun to become the freshman comp director and take on a new challenge. I loved going to the provost鈥檚 office to learn more about administration. Later, when I  returned to teaching, I started teaching the first composition classes online, and I provided training to other teachers.鈥�

Matson joined the William H. Bowen School of Law鈥檚 part-time law program in 1989 and graduated with her Juris Doctor in 1995. While Matson never practiced law, she had hoped to become a university attorney, but the University of Arkansas System didn鈥檛 have campus attorneys at the time, and with her husband鈥檚 job as the co-owner (with his brother) of a construction company, she couldn鈥檛 move.

鈥淚 kept my law license active until last year,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 regularly taught a legal writing class, and I worked with many pre-law students.鈥�

Matson has also been highly involved in Faculty Senate and has served multiple terms since the 1980s. She鈥檚 been a continuous member since 2012 and served as vice president since 2013, before becoming president in 2022. The same year Matson donated $25,000 to create an endowed student scholarship named in honor of her parents, the late Judith and Jerome Liebman, that benefits rhetoric and writing students.

Once she retires, Matson is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and two sons, Cameron and Jared, as well as getting more involved in her synagogue, Temple B鈥檔ai Israel, where she is a board member.

鈥淚 am especially interested in studying for a Bat Mitzvah, which I didn鈥檛 have when I was 13 because the practice was out of favor in Reform Judaism at the time. Now, a lot of adults are doing it. It means that I will be studying for a year, learning enough Hebrew to lead a service. It鈥檚 exactly what I love to do, study and learn.鈥�

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University Assembly will be a hybrid event with an in-person meeting taking place in the Nursing Building Auditorium Room 205 and a synchronous virtual meeting via Zoom.

Voting for the election of the new president of Faculty Senate will take place from 3:15-5 p.m. through both paper and virtual ballots. The nominees for president are Dr. Angela Hunter, professor of English, and Dr. Thomas Tudor, professor of management.

The assembly will include reports from Faculty Senate President Joanne Matson, Chancellor Christina Drale, Provost Ann Bain, Staff Senate President Belinda Nix, Student Government Association President Jacob Ray, Director of Athletics Frank Cuervo, and the Graduate Student Association.

Additionally, Workday Project One Manager Cody Henslee will give a report on the Workday Student implementation, while LaTonda Williams, associate vice chancellor of human resources, will give a report on the staff salary study.

A link to the virtual meeting and the agenda for University Assembly can be found on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock .

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This resounding success not only showcases the collective spirit that defines the university but also highlights the enduring commitment of its community to invest in the institution’s mission and future.

鈥淭his accomplishment is a testament to the dedication and generosity of our campus community,鈥� said Dr. Aresh Assadi, director of Counseling Services and chair of the Campus Campaign. 鈥淩eaching this participation level is not only a numerical success but also speaks to the sense of unity and commitment among our employees. I believe that boosting internal participation is crucial as it positively impacts our external fundraising efforts, creating a strong foundation for the university’s growth and development.鈥�

Reaching this goal speaks to the shared belief in the transformative power of education and the collective impact of small acts of giving. Altogether, nearly 350 university employees donated to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock during 2023.

“The spirited engagement of our dedicated faculty and staff in the Campus Campaign goes beyond monetary contributions,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淭his wholehearted internal support significantly fortifies our university’s standing as we approach external donors for major gifts. It communicates a compelling message 鈥� that those intimately connected to the university are wholeheartedly committed to its mission. This collective investment not only enhances our credibility but also amplifies our appeal when seeking external funds. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the staff, faculty, and administrators who played instrumental roles in organizing this year’s campaign. With the capable assistance of Laterika Tooks and Kristi Smith, it became a total team effort. Witnessing such collaboration makes me immensely proud to be a Trojan.”

The university owes a special thanks to the dedicated employees who helped lead the Campus Campaign effort across campus. Campus Campaign Steering Committee members included Assadi, Mark Baillie, Shelia Brooks, Sikia Brown, Jessie Burchfield, Anthony Buttrum, Katrina Christopher, Reed Claiborne, Shannon Collier-Tenison, andre cummings, Joe Felan, Tyler Harrison, Carrie Phillips, Derek Slagle, Judy Staley, Joanne Matson, Brandy Dixon, and Emily Bell.

Campus Campaign Ambassadors included Katie Helms, Dawn Johnson, Sadie Lea, Monica Meadows, Leisa Myles, Vanessa Whitman, Angela Willis, April Chatham-Capenter, Mercades Parker, Bobbie Handcock, Salina Ables, Reteisha Byrd, Morgan Leyenberger, Mohammad Goodarzi, Keith Harris, Mary French, Rachel Mercado, Belinda Nix, Cynthia Dedner, Al Baker, Jennifer Lampkin, Anne Turner, Grace Zafasi, and Mary Tillman.

鈥淭he dedication of our Steering Committee and Campus Ambassadors was evident throughout the campus, and I had the opportunity to observe the effort they invested behind the scenes,鈥� said Laterika Tooks, director of annual giving at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚 feel fortunate to collaborate with numerous faculty and staff members who are enthusiastic about their roles and committed to the development and achievement of this university.鈥�

A total of 18 campus departments achieved 100 percent giving in 2023, which is 50 percent more than 2022.

Those departments include Alumni and Development, Applied Communication, the Bursar鈥檚 Office, the Chancellor鈥檚 Office, Concurrent Enrollment, Counseling Services, Disability Resource Center, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Financial Services, Institute of Chief Data Officers, Mail Services, Marketing and Communications, Office of Military Student Success, Sequoyah National Research Center, Study Abroad, Student Retention Initiatives, Testing and Student Life Research, and the Trojan Transition and Assistance Center.

Bobbie Handcock, a web content specialist who served as a campus ambassador, said that she likes to donate to causes like the Trojan Food Pantry or to help buy caps and gowns for graduating students.

鈥淚 work at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and I鈥檓 also a graduate student,鈥� Handcock said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to see things from a student鈥檚 perspective and talk with my classmates about challenges that they may face. I know how important it is to have support 鈥� both financially and academically. The Campus Campaign generates funds to help students succeed and reach their goals.鈥�

As a campus campaign ambassador, Handcock explained how a gift to the university is an investment in future leaders, innovators, and professionals.

鈥淏y donating, you can help provide scholarships, financial aid, and resources to students who might not otherwise have the means to pursue a college education,鈥� Handcock said. 鈥淏y contributing, you can help feed someone who is hungry or clothe someone who needs business attire for a job interview. I shared ways that they could support the campaign, including purchasing a legacy brick, giving to an area that means the most to them or giving a gift-in-kind such as to the Trojan Career Closet. I encouraged them to remember that it doesn鈥檛 matter what you give, as long as you give.鈥�

The gifts are a part of the Centennial Campaign, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 fundraising campaign to raise $250 million in celebration of the university鈥檚 100-year anniversary in 2027. The Campus Campaign was part of a cumulative fundraising year that netted more than $22 million for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Visit to learn more about the Centennial Campaign.

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University Assembly will be a hybrid event with an in-person meeting taking place in the Nursing Building Room 206 and a synchronous virtual meeting via Zoom.

The assembly will include reports from Faculty Senate President Joanne Matson, Chancellor Christina Drale. Provost Ann Bain, Staff Senate President Belinda Nix, Student Government Association President Jacob Ray, and Graduate Student Association President Imraul Emmaka.

Additionally, Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs, will give a report on university enrollment, and Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement, will give a report on the status of the Capital Campaign.

A link to the virtual meeting and the agenda for University Assembly can be found on the .

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University Assembly will be a hybrid event with an in-person meeting taking place in the Engineering and Information Technology Building Auditorium, Room 142, and the synchronous virtual meeting via Zoom.

The assembly will include reports from Chancellor Christina Drale, Provost Ann Bain, Staff Senate President Ross Bradley, Student Government Association President Thomas Forcum, Graduate Student Association President Imraul Emmaka, and University Assembly and Faculty Senate President Joanne Matson.

Additionally, Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs, will give a report on current efforts to increase enrollment, while Jerry Ganz, vice chancellor for finance and administration, and Leslie Hutchins, associate vice chancellor of facilities management, will give a report on the status of construction on campus.

A link to the virtual meeting and the agenda for University Assembly can be found on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Faculty Senate website.

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