Student Success Coaches & Child Care Support
Our Academic Affairs Retention Office offers Student Success Coaches for one-on-one support with time management, test-taking strategies, note-taking skills, connecting with faculty, and campus involvement. AARO also partners with each college’s Student Support Specialist for stress management, relationship navigation, conflict resolution, and community resource connections. We also have a Child Care Connections Director available to support students with children.
News Articles:
STUDENT RETENTION INITIATIVES HOSTS FIRST-GENERATION, TRANSFER STUDENT WELCOME – September 1, 2021
CULTIVATING STUDENT SUCCESS: HOW UA LITTLE ROCK RESOURCES EMPOWER FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS – November 29, 2022
Meet the Team
Heather A. Reed, Ed.S., M.P.A. | Director of Academic Affairs Retention Office | hareed@ualr.edu
Ms. Reed is the Director of the UA Little Rock Academic Affairs Retention Office. A native of Kansas City, MO, Ms. Reed now calls Arkansas home. As a lifelong learner, she has earned an Education Specialist Degree in Education Policies and Leadership Studies – the University of Iowa, a Masters’s in Public Administration (MPA) – University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel – Western Illinois University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in English – Truman State University. Ms. Reed has 20-plus years of experience helping students succeed in college, drawing on her time in housing/residence life, teaching and building learning communities, crisis management, mentoring, judicial affairs, first-year experience instruction, advising, and success coaching. Ms. Reed has served as an Assistant Dean at UA Little Rock and now focuses on building and leading the AARO. Ms. Reed is passionate about student success/retention and believes in reducing barriers for students to achieve success.
News Articles:
AMP POWER WOMEN 2021 – December 21, 2021
SREB STUDENT SUCCESS ADVISORY COUNCIL – November 29, 2021
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AWARDS UA LITTLE ROCK $581K GRANT TO PROVIDE CHILD CARE FUNDING FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS – October 19, 2021
Tyler Harrison, M.Ed. | Associate Director | jtharrison1@ualr.edu
Mr. Harrison is the Associate Director for the UA Little Rock Academic Affairs Retention Office. He is a native of Southeast Arkansas, raised in the small town of Star City. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Southern Arkansas University. Mr. Harrison is a first-generation college student. He has worked in various college departments ranging from Academic Advising, Financial Aid, and pre-college counseling. Mr. Harrison is passionate about student success and enjoys helping students reach their full potential. His personal motto is “everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, then it’s not the end.” He enjoys cooking, music, kickball, and spending time with friends and family in his free time.
News Articles:
SRI CELEBRATES UA LITTLE ROCK FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS
Shanna Parker, M.B.A | Director of Child Care Connections | sdparker@ualr.edu
Ms. Parker is the Director for the Child Care Connections within the UA Little Rock Academic Affairs Retention Office. She is a native and resides in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Ms. Parker is an alumna of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She earned her Master’s Degree in Business with an emphasis in Human Resource from Purdue University and has completed all but her dissertation for a Doctoral Degree in Business from Walden University. She has Family Service Credentials recognized by the Board of Social Workers. Ms. Parker is a trainer, mentor coach, advocate, and administrator for students, parents, and staff in early childhood education.
Ms. Parker has worked for the University of Arkansas Medical Science’s Head Start/Early Head Start, serving as Site Director and as Family Service Advocate. In addition, she worked for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff for six years, where she served in various capacities, including Interim Early Head Start Director. Ms. Parker’s passion and drive for student success come from being a first-generation graduate who has overcome many obstacles. She stands on her belief “If I Can Do It, You Can Do It.”
News Articles:
NATIVE OF PINE BLUFF LEADS PROJECT – March 26, 2022
PARKER JOINS UALR AS DIRECTOR OF NEW CHILD CARE CONNECTIONS PROGRAM – March 25, 2022
PARKER JOINS UA LITTLE ROCK AS DIRECTOR OF NEW CHILD CARE CONNECTIONS PROGRAM – March 18, 2022
UA LITTLE ROCK LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAM TO PROVIDE CHILD CARE FUNDING FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS – February 22, 2022
Heyam Dannawi, M.A. | Student Success Coach | hxdannawi@ualr.edu
Ms. Heyam Dannawi is a Student Success Coach for the UA Little Rock Academic Affairs Retention Office. She is a proud UA Little Rock double graduate, having obtained her Master’s degree in Art History and Master’s degree in Higher Education. Ms. Dannawi has worked in different academic departments from Library Staff, Administrative Assistant to Advising. Heyam hopes to educate students on developing skills and habits that will lead to academic success. When Heyam is not working, she enjoys reading, walking in nature, drawing, traveling, and cooking new recipes.
De’Ja Johnson, M.A. | Student Success Coach | dxjohnson1@ualr.edu
Ms. De’Ja K. Johnson, a native Arkansan, is a Success Coach on the Academic Affairs Retention Office. She is a proud double UA Little Rock graduate, having obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degree in Applied Communication with a concentration on Interpersonal Relationships. In her role as a Success Coach, De’Ja hopes to inspire students to define success on their terms and help them realize that they have the ability to create the life they want. De’Ja’s one piece of advice she would give to her younger self would be, “Nothing just happens, but everything is created. And you have the power to do just that.” When she’s not working, De’Ja enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Alicia Williams | Senior Research Assistant | arwilliams@ualr.edu
Ms. Williams is the Senior Research Assistant for the UA Little Rock Academic Affairs Retention Office. She is a Little Rock native pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional and Technical Writing from UA Little Rock. As a nontraditional student and single parent, Ms. Williams has overcome the struggles many students face daily. She is excited to support student success by connecting students to resources so they can successfully complete their degrees.
Katelin Hayward | Graduate Assistant | khayward@ualr.edu
Ms. Hayward is a Graduate Assistant for the Child Care Connections within the UA Little Rock Academic Affairs Retention Office. She is a native of Grenada, Mississippi. Ms. Hayward is an alumna of the University of Mississippi with a degree in Public Policy Leadership and minors in Education and Journalism. She is currently enrolled in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program here at UA Little Rock while also pursuing a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management. She is excited to assist students and connect them with resources to ensure their success.
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