Cheryl Chapman, founding director of UALR Children International, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the university’s commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 21, for her 36-year professional career in philanthropic work and the humanities.

Children International is a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to bettering the lives of impoverished children, their families, and communities. UALR is the only CI location in the U.S.

During her time as director of UALR Children International, Chapman helped raise more than $7 million to support programs for underserved children and established the only school-based dental clinic in Arkansas, the Future Smiles Dental Clinic.

Chapman worked with CI to assist more than 6,000 students in the Little Rock Public Schools by providing them with educational programs, dental care, and family assistance.

Before serving as director of CI, she was assistant dean for student services for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UALR. She was also an instructor in the Rhetoric and Writing Department and co-director of UALR Student Literacy Corps.

Gov. Mike Beebe appointed Chapman to the Arkansas Service Commission. She also  also serves on the board of New Futures for Youth, UAMS Head Start, and the Leadership of the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.

She currently serves as adjunct faculty in the UALR Department of English and as a consultant for local and national nonprofit organizations.

Chapman received a master of arts degree in technical and expository writing and a bachelor of arts degree in English from UALR.