Grad with True Grit Lands First Job at Acxiom

It is a story of grit, determination and hard work. So says Steve Edison, director of UALR’s Center for Professional Sales, of one of his students who graduated last week. Charli Noble, 23, graduated magna cum laude in UALR’s commencement exercises Dec. 13 with a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing despite working 50 hours a week for the last seven years as the sales department manager for the Heritage Co., responsible for assisting local and national nonprofit organizations such as Special Olympics and the Salvation Army with fundraising efforts. “I’ve been so busy with my classes and work that I did not have time for many other activities,” Noble said. The daughter of missionaries in the Dominican Republic, Noble earned her high school diploma from Sylvan Hills High School while she lived in Cabot with an aunt. She began her higher education career at Pulaski Technical College and finished at UALR with the help of scholarships she received in each of those five semesters. The day before commencement, Noble was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society. “I have been impressed; she has been working her way through school (from high school through college). Success stories don’t get too much better than hers,” Edison said. Noble participated in the College of Business’ Professional Edge Series, coordinated by Edison, which further prepared her for her professional career in sales. After the graduation ceremony, Noble accepted a position with Acxiom as a sales support specialist working with the city of Chicago.