UA Little Rock Taps Bellew as New Corporate Partnership Coordinator
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has hired Matthew Bellew in a new position to establish corporate partnerships that will provide opportunities for working Arkansans to earn a college education.
“We are delighted to have Matthew join the UA Little Rock family,” said Kindle Holderby, assistant vice chancellor of enrollment management at UA Little Rock. “Matthew’s experience and expertise in the corporate world will be an asset as we endeavor to build corporate partnerships in Central Arkansas and throughout the state.”
In his new position as corporate partnership coordinator, Bellew, a native of El Dorado who grew up in Little Rock, will establish partnerships with corporations that help their employees go to college.
“My primary goal is to establish partnerships with corporate partners to streamline access to higher education,” Bellew said. “UA Little Rock offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees that prepare students to be responsible leaders in their fields.”
Businesses with such partnerships experience many benefits like retaining and promoting top talent, closing the skills gap, increasing employee satisfaction, and becoming an employer of choice.
UA Little Rock is expanding access to education for people in Arkansas and the capital city through innovative partnerships with business and industry leaders. In 2022, UA Little Rock became the first university in Arkansas to be named an Amazon Career Choice Partner. The partnership helps Amazon employees achieve career success by providing access to comprehensive college programs. In addition, a new hospital partnership provides full-time employees at Saline Memorial and CHI St. Vincent with a 10 percent scholarship towards tuition and fees at UA Little Rock.
“UA Little Rock continues to expand access to higher education for adult learners in Arkansas and beyond,” said Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “The corporate partnership program highlights UA Little Rock’s commitment to engaging with the business community and responding to the workforce development needs of Arkansans.”
Prior to joining UA Little Rock, Bellew served as the director of existing industry at the Little Rock Regional Chamber. He previously worked as director of development and outreach at Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters in Little Rock and as a workforce development and program development manager at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas.
Bellew graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration specializing in management and entrepreneurship from Louisiana Tech University. He started his career with Starbucks Coffee Co., working in several sales and operations positions in Seattle and Pensacola, Florida. Bellew and his wife Shelby are the proud parents of two sons.
“I am so excited to join UA Little Rock with the opportunity to really create something new,” Bellew said. “I went to Louisiana Tech as a nontraditional student, so I feel a personal connection to other working adults who want a college degree. I love helping people through business, and understand the value of higher education. I’m happy to be in a position where I can focus on how the UA Little Rock’s team and industry representatives can work together to drive and build the community for the better.”
