The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has hired Brandon Sollars, of Little Rock, as the coordinator of the university’s new Learning Commons.

The Learning Commons, which opened during the spring 2022 semester, provides a one-stop location for tutoring services across the university. The 13,000-square-foot-facility located on the first floor of Ottenheimer Library is home to the Communication Skills Center, Math Assistance Center, University Writing Center, World Languages Center, and Trojan Tutoring.

“I’m very excited to be here, and I’m grateful for this opportunity,” Sollars said. “I know I am on the right path. I feel confident that the Learning Commons will be everything we intend it to be and more. We want to provide easily accessible centralized resources that are available to everyone on campus.”

As the Learning Commons coordinator, Sollars is responsible for sustaining an environment of academic and professional excellence for students and educational team members. He will monitor and coordinate daily operations of the Learning Commons and oversee Trojan Tutoring, which provides tutoring in areas not served by the other academic centers in the Commons. Trojan tutors will also provide a variety of services to support academic success such as study skills, time management, homework assistance, and much more.

“We are delighted to have Brandon join the Learning Commons to provide leadership and his expertise to develop Trojan Tutoring,” said Heather Reed, director of student retention initiatives. “Brandon brings varied perspectives including being an adjunct instructor, graduate student, and former member of the Communication Skills Center.”

Sollars is a two-time graduate of UA Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in applied communication as well as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Applied Communication. As a student, Sollars used many of the resources that are now available in the Learning Commons to succeed in school, and he plans to share that knowledge with today’s students.

“As a graduate assistant, I worked as one of the assistant directors in the Communication Skills Center. I also have used the University Writing Center and the Math Assistance Center,” Sollars said. “These are all services I used in my time as a student, and I believe in what they can do for a student’s academic career. I am excited  to find out how I can contribute to the success of our students.”