Heather Reed, director of Student Retention Initiatives, has been selected to join the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Student Success Advisory Council.

The SREB Student Success Advisory Council was established to identify challenges, shared interests, and recommend changes in policy and practice to support the successful retention, graduation, and workforce entry of underserved and low-income students.

As Arkansas’s state representative, Reed will work toward achieving greater rates of postsecondary success for low-income, rural, and underrepresented backgrounds and support the council’s goal to fulfill critical industry workforce demands and build a stronger economy in SREB states.

“I am honored to represent the state of Arkansas and excited to work with the best of the best in the region who support and study student success,” Reed said. “I am thrilled to highlight the work we are doing as an institution and within the state. I hope to glean new initiatives to implement for our students.”

Reed is joining the ranks of presidents, provosts, state senators, directors of student success centers, and more across Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Reed’s new volunteer role fits in well with her UA Little Rock position, where she works with staff and faculty to develop, implement, and assess data-driven retention initiatives that are informed by best practices and part of a comprehensive retention plan. She also heads the Care Team, who work closely with students to establish steps to reduce barriers to success.

Reed is pursuing a Master of Public Administration from UA Little Rock and will graduate in December. She also earned a B.A. in English/linguistics from Truman State University, an M.S. in college student personnel from Western Illinois University, and an Ed.S. in higher education and student affairs from the University of Iowa.