Thomas-Wells completed internships with the Arkansas Travelers, the Arkansas Activities Association and the Air Force Recreation League 鈥� experiences that built his confidence, confirmed his passion for the industry, and solidified his decision to pursue a career in sports. 

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Thomas-Wells has built a strong foundation in leadership, program planning, and facility management. Throughout his coursework he has learned about policy development, risk management, and event operations 鈥� all of which help him in his day-to-day responsibilities. 

Now, he鈥檚 working on a capstone project focusing on evaluating the youth programs at Little Rock Parks and Recreation against National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) standards.The project is designed to strengthen local programs, with an emphasis on the importance of stronger coaching education, and training. Through his research, Thomas-Wells is helping provide a structured, sustainable model that can help Little Rock Parks and Recreation align more closely with NRPA standards and enhance the overall quality of its youth sports programs. 

Working with 85 children ages 4-12 requires organization, teamwork, and preparation behind the scenes. Thomas-Wells鈥� typical day starts with reflecting on the previous day鈥檚 programs and identifying ways to improve. From there, he prepares for the day ahead 鈥� coordinating practices, organizing equipment, and getting facilities ready for use. Most evenings include youth sports practices 鈥� usually consisting of flag football, basketball, and soccer 鈥� to ensure programs run smoothly and every participant has a positive experience.

鈥淐oaching plays a major role in shaping young athletes,鈥� Thomas-Wells said. 鈥淚f we can provide better guidance and resources for coaches, we can create a more positive environment where kids feel supported, encouraged and motivated to keep playing.鈥�

For Thomas-Wells, his work is about more than sports 鈥� it鈥檚 about making sure the next generation of kids has the same positive experience that first inspired him.

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After the birth of her daughter, she took her first teaching position in kindergarten, a step that would ultimately reshape her path. She later returned to school to earn a master鈥檚 degree in teaching and went on to teach sixth-grade literacy. It was there, in the quiet moments when students sought her out during lunch and recess to share their struggles, that it became clear her true calling extended beyond the classroom.

鈥淲hen I was teaching, I became more interested in the students鈥� social well-being than academics,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t became my passion to help them. Those moments made me realize how much they needed dedicated one-on-one support,鈥� she added. 鈥淭ime I often couldn鈥檛 fully give in a classroom setting.鈥�

That realization became the turning point. Wolfe earned a master鈥檚 in counselor education from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, pursued additional coursework to qualify for licensure, and has been licensed by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) since 2015. After three years as a K-12 school counselor, she joined Mainline Health Systems in 2023 as a behavioral health consultant for the Warren School-Based Clinic. That position brought her full circle back to the community where her story began, back home in Warren.

The instinct to connect didn鈥檛 fade when she left teaching; it deepened. Her years in the classroom gave her something most counselors don鈥檛 have: an insider鈥檚 understanding of what teachers face every day, allowing her to hold space for those demands while helping students process their experiences, reframe difficult situations and consider new perspectives.

Wolfe credits her time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with sharpening the skills that now define her work: flexibility, real-time responsiveness and the ability to collaborate within a school system. Among those who left a lasting mark was Dr. Dawn Harris, who has since passed away. 

鈥淗er impact on my development as a counselor was profound, particularly in her group therapy course,鈥� Wolfe said. 鈥淚 vividly remember her sharing her experiences serving as a counselor with the Red Cross during 9/11, which brought a powerful real-world perspective to her teaching.鈥� 

To this day, Wolfe still uses a grief counseling handout Harris provided and continues to share it with others in her work.

What makes the school-based clinic model so powerful, particularly in rural communities like Warren, is precisely what it eliminates: the barriers that have long kept mental health care out of reach for students who need it most. Transportation, cost and a shortage of local providers have historically made consistent care nearly impossible for families in underserved areas. By embedding services directly inside the school, that equation changes entirely. Support becomes part of the daily environment rather than something families have to seek out, schedule around or afford. For Wolfe, that physical presence also means something deeper, the ability to check in frequently, respond in real time and build the kind of trusting relationships that make meaningful progress possible. Without that access, many of the students she serves would go without mental health care altogether.

For Wolfe, the work is deeply personal and a way to give back to the community that shaped her. She measures success not only in clinical outcomes, but in quieter moments like a student gaining confidence, taking a small step forward or simply feeling safe enough to speak. Despite the emotional weight the work can carry, she remains hopeful about the future of mental health care in Arkansas, encouraged by a generation of young people more willing than ever to ask for help and support one another. 

鈥淏eing part of that shift where mental health care is becoming more visible, accepted and accessible gives me a lot of hope for the future,鈥� she said.

To students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock considering a similar path, her advice is direct, the same advice she gave her own daughter, who is currently enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淭his is an incredibly rewarding path, but self-care is essential,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he work can be emotionally demanding, and prioritizing your own well-being is not a luxury 鈥� it is what sustains you and helps prevent burnout over the long term. Embrace every opportunity to connect with others, learn from mentors and gain hands-on experience. Seeing the difference you can make in students鈥� lives and in your community is a powerful reminder of why this work matters.鈥�

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Seven weeks and six surgeries later, Guzman lost his right foot. That experience pushed him to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in sport management at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock while continuing his work with Little Rock Parks and Recreation.

Before moving to Little Rock in 2025, Guzman had spent nearly a decade working in Corpus Christi, Texas, including five years in municipal parks and recreation. Originally from Lockhart, Texas 鈥� a town he jokes is 鈥渓egally required鈥� to call itself the barbecue capital of the world 鈥� Guzman had been searching for a challenging opportunity that would help him grow professionally.

Little Rock Parks and Recreation offered that chance.

鈥淚 felt like I could come in here and use my skill set to develop and improve some of the things they were doing,鈥� Guzman said. 鈥淏ut also learn from them in areas where I wasn鈥檛 as strong.鈥�

Not long after arriving in Arkansas, Guzman developed a severe infection in his foot and was hospitalized at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Over the next seven weeks, he underwent multiple surgeries before doctors ultimately amputated his right foot to stop the infection.

Despite the circumstances, Guzman said the support he received from coworkers and the Little Rock community left a lasting impression.

Even though he had only worked for the city for two weeks, he kept his paycheck and insurance coverage. His coworkers even donated crisis leave hours and checked in on him while he recovered.

鈥淭he people in the city really supported me 鈥� without even knowing me,鈥� Guzman said. 鈥淧eople were donating hours they had accumulated just to help me get through that situation.鈥�

During those weeks in the hospital, Guzman began thinking about how to use the time productively.

His path through higher education had already been unconventional. Guzman returned to college at age 38 and earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication studies from Texas A&M University鈥揅orpus Christi in 2017.

While recovering in Little Rock, he began thinking about graduate school.

鈥淚鈥檇 never considered getting my master鈥檚 degree,鈥� Guzman said. 鈥淚t was never something on my radar. But since I had the time, I thought, 鈥榃hy not?鈥欌��

He enrolled in the Sport Management graduate program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in fall 2025. Now in his second semester, Guzman is taking nine credit hours each term online while continuing to work full time for the city.

Guzman utilized the Get Your Feet Wet scholarship, which helped make his decision easier. The program allows prospective graduate students to take their first course at a reduced cost, giving them a chance to see if graduate school fits their schedule and goals.

鈥淭hat scholarship tells people, 鈥楬ey, give it a shot,鈥欌�� Guzman said. 鈥淚f it works with your schedule and you like it, you keep going. If not, you鈥檙e not out a lot of money.鈥�

Guzman said the scholarship helped remove some of the financial uncertainty of returning to school later in life.

鈥淕oing back to school can be a scary thought,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut programs like that give people the opportunity to try it and see if it works.鈥�

He said faculty members such as Dr. Katie Helms, associate professor in the School of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation, have been supportive as he balances work and school.

鈥淢y professors have been outstanding,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey understand that we鈥檙e adults with careers and responsibilities that affect the community.鈥�

Helms said Guzman brings valuable real-world experience to the classroom.

鈥淩ecreational sports opportunities for communities illustrate the human development side of sports, where sports are used to enhance our health, happiness, and human potential,鈥� Helms said. 鈥淛oe pursues this higher purpose of sports in his daily work at Little Rock Parks and Recreation, and I’m glad that he chose 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to further his professional development and commitment to it.鈥�

In class, Helms said Guzman often shares insights from his work at Southwest Community Center and youth sports programs across the city.

鈥淗e has also been a valuable resource for student involvement in sports facilities and programs through tours, experiential opportunities, and internships,鈥� she said. 鈥淚’m honored to call Joe a professional colleague and hope to collaborate with him on many projects to come.鈥�

Dr. Jonathan Farrar, adjunct professor in the sport management program, said Guzman鈥檚 leadership and commitment stand out in the classroom.

鈥淛oe Guzman has been an amazing student and a joy to have in class,鈥� Farrar said. 鈥淛oe communicates exceptionally well and consistently looks for ways to support those around him. You can clearly see in his work how passionate he is about what he commits himself to.鈥�

Farrar said Guzman frequently connects classroom discussions with real-world examples from his work with Little Rock Parks and Recreation.

While working toward his degree, Guzman continues to manage several responsibilities with Little Rock Parks and Recreation. During the major winter storm that blanketed Little Rock in snow for more than a week in January, he and his team helped turn Dunbar Community Center into an overnight shelter for residents who needed a warm place to stay.

鈥淒unbar Community Center was an overnight shelter for about 12 nights,鈥� Guzman said. 鈥淢y role was to make sure we had staff there 24 hours a day.鈥�

As Recreation Programs Coordinator, Guzman oversees several community centers across Little Rock, including Dunbar, Stephens, West Central, and Southwest Community Centers. His goal is to expand how those spaces serve their neighborhoods.

鈥淢y biggest focus right now is making our community centers less of a recreation center and more of a community resource,鈥� Guzman said.

Programs vary depending on neighborhood needs, from tutoring and holiday events to health fairs and outreach initiatives. At Southwest Community Center, staff partnered with Exalt Academy of Southwest Little Rock to host a coat drive that provided winter coats to dozens of students. The center has also hosted Spanish Bingo nights designed for the area鈥檚 Hispanic community.

鈥淚t鈥檚 offering the community a place to go where they may not otherwise have access to things they need,鈥� Guzman said.

Guzman is also helping rethink how youth sports programs operate within the city. As a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) through the National Recreation and Park Association, he works to align Little Rock鈥檚 programs with national standards while introducing new approaches to participation.

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to break the gatekeeping of sports,鈥� Guzman said. 鈥淭here needs to be something for everybody.鈥�

For Guzman, the lesson from the past year is simple.

鈥淛ust because you get an obstacle in your way doesn鈥檛 mean your life鈥檚 over,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to adapt to it.鈥�

And when he eventually walks across the stage with his master鈥檚 degree, Guzman hopes his story sends a message.

鈥淚f I can do it, y鈥檃ll can do it,鈥� he said.

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After spending much of his life as a player, his curiosity shifted behind the scenes 鈥� driven by a desire to learn how teams are built, supported, and developed. That passion for growth, both his own and others鈥�, led him to pursue a Master of Science in Sport Management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and into a role developing student-athletes on and off the court.

A 2025 graduate of the program, Triplett has stayed connected to the game that shaped him, seeking to understand what it takes to run a successful program.

鈥淲hat originally drew me to the field was my passion for wanting to learn and grow within sports,鈥� Triplett said. 鈥淚 had always been interested in what it takes to run a team from the front office and managerial perspective.鈥�

That interest grew during his time in the Sport Promotion program, where he gained a behind-the-scenes perspective of how athletics departments operate. Seeing the preparation required for games, events, and practices reshaped the way he approached his own work.

鈥淭here is so much that goes on behind the scenes that you鈥檙e unaware of as a player,鈥� he said. 鈥淟earning the different processes departments go through to make sure everything functions properly has made me more in-depth in my own process now.鈥�

Today, Triplett serves as the director of player development for the men鈥檚 basketball team, a role centered on supporting student-athletes both on and off the court. Working in coordination with head coach Darrell Walker, he creates and implements individualized development plans that address academic, athletic, and personal growth.

鈥淲hat energizes me the most is the look on players鈥� faces when something I鈥檝e taught them works,鈥� Triplett said. 鈥淎nd when they come back later saying they鈥檝e grown not just on the court, but as men and spiritually 鈥� that鈥檚 what gives me the greatest sense of energy.鈥�

Much of his approach reflects the intentional integration of classroom learning and professional experience emphasized in the Sport Management program. Dr. Katie Helms, an associate professor in the School of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation within the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, said Triplett consistently connected theory to practice during his time as both a graduate student and graduate assistant coach.

鈥淟awrance arrived at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock ready to dive in,鈥� Helms said. 鈥淗e had a challenging dual role as both a graduate student and a graduate assistant coach for men鈥檚 basketball, and he embraced them both fully.鈥�

Helms said she had frequent conversations with Triplett about coaching experiences through the course material.

鈥淗e would often come into my office and tell me about a recent situation in his coaching that related to something we were doing in class,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 enjoyed our conversations like this, because it showed that he was putting together his coursework and his professional work in a way that was enhancing both.鈥�

That connection, Helms said, is central to the mission of the Sport Management program.

鈥淭his is an important goal of the MS Sport Management program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock 鈥� to integrate theories, tools, and best practices with sports-related job experiences,鈥� she said. 鈥淜nowledgeable professionals who provide sports opportunities are difference-makers for their participants and communities, and Lawrance has certainly become that here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥�

Triplett credits that foundation with helping him navigate leadership, communication, and strategic planning in his current role.

鈥淜nowing how to speak to certain players in specific ways to get the best out of them is huge,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nother part is game-planning for different opponents and understanding personnel to maximize each game plan.鈥�

Several mentors and moments at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock helped prepare Triplett for the transition from graduate student to athletics professional. Among them was coach Walker, whose encouragement continues to guide him.

鈥淗e told me I鈥檇 have a team of my own one day,鈥� Triplett said. 鈥淗e encouraged me to be genuine, never doubt my abilities, and always be willing to listen, learn, and grow. To see where I was then compared to now has been a major blessing.鈥�

When it comes to balancing performance, development, and well-being, Triplett believes the key is focusing on the individual rather than just the athlete.

鈥淲hen the individual improves, the athlete naturally improves,鈥� he said. 鈥淏y pouring into student-athletes on a personal level, they鈥檙e more willing to give their best in workouts, practices, and games.鈥�

For current 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, especially those pursuing Sport Promotion, Triplett encourages patience, self-belief, and consistency.

鈥淩emain faithful and consistent to who you are and your process,鈥� he said. 鈥淔ind your why, trust your journey, and don鈥檛 compare your path to anyone else鈥檚. That advice applies not just to Sport Promotion, but to life.鈥�

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鈥淓arning a master鈥檚 degree in health education and promotion has significantly strengthened my effectiveness as a dental hygiene educator by expanding my understanding of behavioral, social and environmental determinants of health,鈥� Norton said. 鈥淎dditionally, my training in health promotion has strengthened my curriculum design and teaching methodology.鈥�

Norton, who lives in Maumelle, chose the program after researching academic paths and speaking with a mentor.

鈥淚 found that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock offered a strong public health focus aligned with my career goals 鈥� making it the perfect fit,鈥� she said.

Since graduating in 2020, Norton has become an assistant professor and director of community service at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She also serves as the interprofessional education contact for dental hygiene and as faculty representative for the Student American Dental Hygienists鈥� Association, helping students connect classroom learning with clinical and community experiences.

鈥淚 wear many hats in my current role,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 teach both didactically and clinically. Our students are required to obtain 38 hours of community service during the program. I develop partnerships with organizations, create community initiatives, and implement community service events.鈥�

Norton also serves as a preceptor at the 糖心Vlog传媒MS 12th Street Health & Wellness Center, a student-led clinic that provides free services to local residents. Students see firsthand the impact of public health education on underserved communities.

One of her favorite memories at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was applying classroom concepts to real community needs. 

鈥淭he Community and Public Health course provided a broad understanding of areas such as biostatistics, epidemiology, and systems thinking,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough this course, I gained the ability to assess community health trends, identify disparities, and apply data-driven strategies to improve outcomes.鈥�

Perseverance Through Challenge

Balancing graduate school and full-time work brought challenges, but Norton said support from faculty, especially her academic advisor, Dr. Amar Kanekar, helped her stay on track. 

鈥淎s with any commitment, there were seasons of struggle,鈥� she said. 鈥淒uring those times, I reached out to my academic advisor, who helped me navigate the challenges.鈥�

Norton said her faith and family carried her through the most difficult periods. 鈥淢y husband, Michael Norton II, made countless sacrifices to support my goals, and my parents instilled the work ethic and determination that made this journey possible,鈥� she said.

Her perseverance was tested during her final year of the program, when she lost her mother to stage IV lung cancer. 鈥淭hat experience taught me profound lessons about self-care and the necessity of being well in order to care for others,鈥� she said.

She also learned practical lessons she now shares with students. 鈥淧ursuing a degree is a deeply personal decision, and not everyone will understand your path,鈥� she said. 鈥淐onsistency is key; working a little each day was far more effective than trying to catch up on weekends.鈥�

Continuing to Grow and Lead

Norton is now pursuing a Doctor of Education in organizational change at Baylor University and expects to graduate in May 2026. Her leadership has already been recognized nationally. She received the 2025 American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute Alumni Association Award to Honor Jack Bresch and was selected as a Mary Jo Smalls Fellow for 2025鈥�26 with the Society for the Future of Higher Education.

Norton credits 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with preparing her for doctoral-level work. 鈥淭he program deepened my understanding of research design, data interpretation, and evidence-based practice 鈥� skills that naturally progressed into the analytical expectations of doctoral study,鈥� she said.

She described 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as 鈥渟upportive, local, and welcoming.鈥� The proximity and accessibility of the campus, she said, made the program even more manageable as a working professional.

Dr. Kanekar said Norton鈥檚 determination set her apart from the beginning. 鈥淪he was a very conscientious, organized, and committed student who completed her master鈥檚 program in a timely manner,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he fact that she is now pursuing her Ph.D. fills me with great pride and joy.鈥�

For Norton, the lessons from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock extend far beyond academics. Her favorite quote, 鈥淏e the reason someone believes in the goodness of people,鈥� guides her in every class, clinic, and community initiative 鈥� a reminder that education, service, and compassion can transform not just careers but lives.

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