Brittany Straw
Brittany Straw, director of career services at UA Little Rock, has been selected for the 38th Class of Leadership Greater Little Rock.
Established in 1985 by the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Greater Little Rock brings together community leaders from businesses, nonprofits, and governments for a nine-month community leadership program. This program has empowered participants to comprehensively understand the region’s challenges and opportunities.
“I am overwhelmed and very honored to be selected for Leadership Greater Little Rock,” Straw said. “It’s a prestigious leadership program, and I am excited to join my fellow community leaders.”
The 2022-23 Leadership Greater Little Rock program will kick off with a leadership challenge at the 4-H Center on Oct. 13. Each month, the class of 47 people meets at a different central Arkansas location to explore topics through expert speakers, panelists, tours, and group presentations. The program covers a full slate of topics, including history, community, economic development, government and politics, education, military, healthcare, public safety, and quality of life. Straw and her cohort will graduate on May 26, 2023.
“It will be an honest reflection and holistic development for what I need to bring to central Arkansas and to UA Little Rock,” Straw said. “I am looking forward to how we can impact the central Arkansas community and bring social equity to our underserved communities and students.”
Straw serves as the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Arkansas Association of Colleges and Employers as well as the program coordinator for Southern Association of Colleges and Employers Administration Knowledge Group. This summer, she participated in the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Management Leadership Institute, an intensive program designed to provide participants with a new framework for achieving individual and operational goals.
Since joining UA Little Rock last year, Straw has been overseeing a new internship program funded by the Donaghey Foundation that provides funding for students doing internships at nonprofits, governmental, arts, and start-up entities that typically cannot afford to pay student interns.
“Brittany’s participation in Leadership Greater Little Rock is the next logical step in her leadership development and will have a direct positive impact on UA Little Rock students and alums through her very capable leadership of Career Services,” said Sarah Beth Estes, vice provost for careers and extended education and dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education at UA Little Rock. “We are glad for her inclusion in the program and look forward to seeing how she applies what she learns to our institution.”
