Women to Watch at UA Little Rock: Kara Brown

In celebration of Women’s History Month, UA Little Rock is profiling women in leadership positions who are making a difference at the university and in the community.

The next Woman to Watch at UA Little Rock of 2024 is future Dr. Kara Brown, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs.

Tell us about yourself and your background.

I was born and raised in Pine Bluff. I attended private schools in both Elementary and Junior High School. It was not until my High School years that I attended public school, Pine Bluff High School – Home of the Fighting Zebras. During my senior year of high school, while taking an AP Biology course, a classmate (who later became my college roommate for two years) chose the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to be the institution of higher education upon graduation.

We both received our acceptance letters and excitedly awaited moving into our new residential hall. During move-in, our parents assisted us with living arrangements on “The Hill.” During the time living on campus, the enrollment was over 16,000 students. During my freshman year, I became homesick and wanted to return home. Closer to the end of the Fall semester, my mom and dad prepared my paperwork to return home to attend college.

Not until I was stopped and encouraged by the former director of career services, Mrs. Barbara Batson, did I explore becoming involved in student organizations on campus. I can never thank Mrs. Batson enough for her encouragement. During my sophomore year, I was able to become engaged on campus. I became a more active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP-College Chapter), Sisters. Advocating Stronger Sisterhood (SASS), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and NASPA’s National Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP), formally known as the Minority Undergraduate Fellows Program (MUFP). During this time, I was mentored by the vice chancellor for student affairs, Dr. Daniel Pugh.

During my junior year of college, I focused on my academic endeavors and served as president of my chapter within my sorority. I was unprepared for the workforce during my last year of college, so I pursued a Master of Arts in Workforce Development and Human Resources. I was genuinely groomed by phenomenal professional women at the University of Arkansas. To name a few, Mrs. Barbara Batson, Dr. Barbara Lofton (graduate assistant supervisor), Dr. Johnetta Cross Brazzell, Dr. Erica Holliday, Ms. Yolanda Hawkins, Ms. LaTisha Brunson, Dr. Niya Blair Hackworth, Mrs. Parice Bowser, Dr. Gigi Secuban, Mrs. Patricia Edwards, and many others.

My first career move after completing my Master of Arts degree was at Boise State University. During my time of living in an area I never imagined, it allowed me to grow and learn many aspects of life. Although I appreciated the experience and made positive connections within the community and on-campus, Arkansas called me back home after a couple of years of being there. I am most thankful to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for giving me the opportunity for my first career move as I returned home. After starting my family and working on campus, I enjoyed interacting with the students and helping them grow through their academic endeavors.

Later, I was offered the associate dean of student activities position at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. I spent endless hours learning about the students and helping the campus grow. As dean of students, explicitly working with activities and campus engagement, I enhanced opportunities for students’ co-curricular experiences. The leadership and working on campus inspired me to pursue my doctorate.

I am a doctoral student pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Urban Higher Education at Jackson State University. After working at the institution for almost a decade, I received an exciting opportunity to return to UA Little Rock, where I was appointed assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. Since then, I have enjoyed the experiences of working with my team learning new initiatives as the campus continues to be filled with cultural opportunities to highlight its success and growth.

What is your current position and professional duties at UA Little Rock?

I work in the Division of Student Affairs as the assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. In my role, I oversee the leadership and direction of the initiatives within the Student Experience Center (SEC) and the Multicultural Center (MC). The initiatives within these centers include Fraternity and Sorority Life, Trojan Works, UA Little Rock Summer Bridge Academy, Dr. Charles W. Donaldson Academy (CWDSA), Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC), and initiatives within the Multicultural Center.

What brought you to UA Little Rock?

During my original appointment as the university’s diversity programs coordinator within the Division of Student Affairs and department under Campus Life, I returned to Arkansas after traveling across the country. During this time, I expanded diversity initiatives and enhanced the Diversity Speaker’s Series, enabling students to engage with celebrity speakers nationwide. As I returned to campus as the assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, I explored opportunities as the campus is engaging in a new phase of enhancing the environment for campus growth.

What are some of the exciting projects that you are working on at UA Little Rock?

Currently, within my role, I am redeveloping initiatives to align with the institutional goals and current opportunities for students to grow, learn, and lead. Shaping the culture of student awareness, student-centered, and engagement for students on this campus is essential to their success as they matriculate during their collegiate journey. I have had the opportunity to be on the most exciting committee this year, the Solar Eclipse Committee, assisting with revamping mentoring initiatives and helping shape student experiences on campus. Within my role, I have also had the opportunity to contribute to the assessment data that positively impacts how well our university is becoming enhanced.

What woman has inspired you the most and why?

I stand on the shoulders of the strongest woman who molded me into the woman I am today. I am proud that Mrs. Brenda K. Matthews, my mother, is my greatest inspiration. She taught me to stand tall through adversity, prayer, and remaining steadfast. Her words of wisdom have never let me down, and when I face challenging times, I giggle because I know it will all work out in the end. If only I could be half of who she is. I am forever grateful for her (and my dad).

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

In a world of negativity, always find the good in things. Female leadership is a powerful and courageous position to uphold as we look at all we overcame many years ago. The environmental change of female leadership and encouraging one another is needed as we transfer energy to being successful within our career endeavors.

Name something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn.

I am the only person in my family who did not graduate from the same college as the rest. My parents, brothers, husband, and in-laws are all alumni of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; I decided on a different path and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Another fun fact about me is that I am a sports fan, Pittsburgh Steelers football fan, to be exact.

What is your favorite quote and why?

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt

People may admire the wealth of knowledge that you have. They will always admire and remember how you treat them. Being kind to others goes a long way. The only good thing you have to yourself is your name; it carries and extends distance to how people will continue to consider you.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Be thankful that you are not the smartest person in the room; if you are, change rooms. Be willing to listen, learn, and execute when it’s time. Go where you can grow and continue to plant seeds in others to be successful.