UA Little Rock TRIO Specialist Empowers Community Through Education Pathways

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock TRIO Central Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) specialist is transforming lives by guiding community members toward accessible education paths, opening doors to career advancement and personal growth.
Through hands-on support and a commitment to each individual’s goals, Wes Henry, a TRIO educational specialist at UA Little Rock since 2021, is making higher education and training attainable for many who once thought it out of reach.
“There are many people that want to start over, but just don’t know where to start, especially with their educational journey,” Henry said. “Whether they choose to pursue education or not, it’s up to them, but I believe they should have that resource available and have someone there to guide them through the process. We are in this together.”
TRIO EOC is a federally funded program that assists adults 19 and older and U.S. veterans to enroll in and complete a post-secondary education program.
“I am a jack of all trades as I assist clients through the whole process in a number of educational pathways,” Henry said. “If they need help getting their GED, I can help them find and apply for adult learning programs. I help students research what colleges they want to go to and help them apply to college and for financial aid and scholarships. I help them reach their academic goals, whether it be GEDs, certificates, or a college degree.”
In order to reach more people, you can find Henry at nonprofits like Our House, a Little Rock shelter that helps homeless and near homeless families, on a weekly basis. He’s set up at the Our House Career Center every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon, providing information about how to get a GED, find the right college or certification program, and apply for college, financial aid, and scholarships.
“Wes and the TRIO team have been coming to the Career Center for as long as I can remember,” said Laura Butler, career center manager at Our House. “Wes meets with our clients (and team members) and really helps them plan for their future. Many of our clients want to pursue a trade or certification program to better their employment opportunities, and Wes is here each week to help them achieve their goals. Such a valuable service he provides to our clients.”
Henry also visits the Veterans Day Treatment Center in Little Rock on Tuesdays 10-11 a.m. and Immerse Arkansas in Little Rock, though a weekly schedule hasn’t been set at this point. Henry and TRIO EOC are interested in finding more nonprofits who would like to volunteer with TRIO to provide educational services to their clients.
“Ever since I started coming to Our House and places like it, it has brought me joy knowing that I am able to help individuals who want to better themselves,” Henry said. “Even though I don’t have all the answers to their questions, it makes me a better counselor because I am able to learn from what I don’t know. At the end of the day, if I can help one person, then I feel like I have done well and succeeded.”
If any nonprofit is interested in having TRIO visit them on a regular basis to provide their clients with educational and career services, they should contact Henry at [email protected].