Reed Claiborne is the director of the UA Little Rock Disability Resource Center. He has served UA Little Rock and the department since 2012. He earned his bachelor’s in speech communication and his master’s in rehabilitation counseling both from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Reed has a passion for working with students with disabilities and has presented on learning disabilities at conferences and workshops. Before earning his master’s, Reed worked in the business sector and coached youth sports. In addition to working closely with students and faculty, he is the DRC liaison to the campus on accessible facilities.
Julie Shelby is the assistant director of the UA Little Rock Disability Resource Center. She began her career at UA Little Rock as a student, earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts in 2002. She went on to obtain a master’s degree in professional and technical writing in 2009. Julie has served the university as a graduate assistant, an adjunct instructor of First Year Experience and Composition I and II, and as a TRIO Student Support Services advisor. She has specific talents to work with nontraditional, first-generation, and students with disabilities.
Gwenyth Sutphin makes sure each sign language interpreter request is covered by a qualified person. She also does interpreting all over campus. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from UA Little Rock in 2003. Gwenyth got her master’s in education, specializing in Interpretation, from the University of North Florida in 2012. She has been working in the field of interpreting since 2002 in a variety of settings and joined the DRC team in February 2017. In 2019, she was promoted from staff interpreter to interpreter coordinator. Gwenyth is nationally certified and is active with the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
Gillian Whitney provides interpreting services for the campus community. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from UA Little Rock in 2000 and has a master’s degree in English. She has been working in the field of interpreting since 2000 in a variety of settings and joined the DRC team in February 2019.
N’dya Whitney-Johns is the newest member of the Disability Resource Center. As Office Manager, she maintains various services of the department and makes everyone feel welcome in the DRC. N’dya currently has her Cosmetology Certification. She will be pursuing a degree in Nursing in the upcoming year. N’dya enjoys traveling, track, and reading.
Keely Todd is the student development specialist for the UA Little Rock Disability Resource Center. She has been a part of UA Little Rock since 2017 as a student and an employee, working in the undergraduate academic advising office, the Office of Communications and Marketing, and Student Retention Initiatives. She has been at the DRC since March 2022, where she assists students in obtaining books in alternate formats and helps with other assisted technology needs. Keely has a master’s in professional and technical writing and is working on a master’s in social work.
