Women to Watch at UA Little Rock: Sharonda Lipscomb
In celebration of Women’s History Month, UA Little Rock is highlighting women who are making a difference at the university and in the community.
The last Woman to Watch at UA Little Rock is Dr. Sharonda Lipscomb, director of online learning, where she is responsible for overseeing more than 70 online programs, minors, and certificates along with a great team of professionals (nine employees and two graduate assistants) dedicated to ensuring quality online education.
Tell us about yourself and your background.
I have three children, and I am married to my high school sweetheart. The highlight of our life is my grandchildren. Wednesday is Sha-Sha Day, which is what my grandchildren call me. I love gardening, traveling, and going to the beach. I am an outdoors person, so I enjoy being in the yard landscaping. I also have a fascination with clouds and love lying in my backyard hammock for hours. I find wind chimes and their calming sound especially relaxing.
What is your current position and professional duties at UA Little Rock?
I am the director of online learning, which means overseeing all aspects of online education on campus, including the management and onboarding of online programs and the management of Blackboard. My role also involves faculty training and support for Blackboard, integrating technology into instruction, and ensuring that students have a smooth and successful online learning experience. Additionally, I work closely with the Instructional Design Team to maintain quality assurance in our online programs. I report to the provost’s office to ensure that our work aligns with the broader campus mission of supporting student and faculty success.
What brought you to UA Little Rock?
Years ago, I started at UA Little Rock as a freshman, but as a young mother and new wife, it was too much to balance. I am a first-generation, nontraditional student, and I returned about 13 years later to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration. I developed a love for online learning and wanted to improve the experience for online students. That led me to complete my bachelor’s degree and pursue master degrees in Learning Technology Education (LSTE) and Adult Education.
That experience deepened my passion for helping online students. As a graduate assistant, I had an excellent advisor who helped shape my vision and career path. I was eventually offered a part-time position in STAR, then moved into a Blackboard student support role, and later became an instructional designer. I realized I could make a real impact at UA Little Rock by training faculty in best practices for online instruction and learning management systems.
I had the opportunity to work with Dr. David Montague in a leadership role, and when he transitioned to the provost’s office, I was a natural fit to take over for him. I initially planned to pursue a faculty position after earning my Ph.D., but this role has allowed me to expand my impact on students across the university. I’m excited about the future of online education at UA Little Rock.
What are some of the exciting projects you are working on at UA Little Rock?
The main project right now is the transition to Blackboard Ultra, which we expect to complete by fall 2025. This initiative allows us to integrate quality assurance standards into the transition process. We’re holding faculty meetings to ensure they understand the platform and how to use it effectively to enhance student learning.
Ultimately, it’s about the students. If we don’t have students, we don’t have a job. We want to excel in providing an engaging, meaningful online learning experience. Engaging with students helps improve retention and success rates. Our goal is to make a lasting impact on their educational journey while positioning UA Little Rock as a leader in online education.
What woman has inspired you the most and why?
My grandmother worked her entire life and always emphasized that we can do whatever we set our minds to, but we should also strive to make a difference in the lives of others. Her example has shaped my approach to work and life, always bringing me back to one question: How can I improve the experience of online students?
I would also say Dr. Montague’s mother Raye Montague has been incredibly inspirational to me over the past 10 years. Seeing how her story continues to be told has been very impactful and encourages me to keep striving for positive change.
What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned in your career?
This position has been a tremendous growth opportunity for me. I call challenges “growth opportunities.” Transitioning from being part of a team to leading that team requires a different approach than stepping into leadership from the outside. It has taught me the importance of meeting people where they are and adapting my leadership style to individual team members.
I’m always striving to be the best I can be, but I recognize that there’s always room for improvement. My goal is to be a positive force for change and to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our students.
What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Dig in. Learn about yourself. Understand your boundaries and how to set them. Make time for yourself. Make time to decompress. Step out of your comfort zone so you can be the change. It all starts with each one of us. Whatever impact you want to make in the world, it’s important.
Name something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn.
One of my guilty pleasures is taking 45 minutes to relax in a salt room. At least once a week, I am in a salt room. It helps me maintain my work-life balance as a leader in higher education.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
I relied heavily on this quote for strength while working through my doctoral program.”Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi
I believe we all have the power to make a difference, but we have to step up to the challenge. Every day, I strive to be excellent, to be myself, and to be the change I want to see in the world.