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Faculty Career Champion

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A CAREER CHAMPION is a UCA faculty member who has empowered students to find their purpose, identify and reach their career goals, solidify future plans, or gain employment/prepare for professional life. Students submit a nomination for an individual who has contributed towards their career success in February of each academic year.  Congratulations to our past winners!

Faculty Career Champions

2025

Dr. Kimberly Little

College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences

I believe Dr. Little holds a position specifically obligating her to connect History majors to internships and other career opportunities. However, she goes above and beyond. I reached out to her last spring for help getting an internship in the fall. Although I came to her knowing where I wanted to intern, Dr. Little provided me with a dozen other options and encouragement to venture out, consider my options, and choose what I believed would be the best fit for me. Additionally, once I started my internship in the fall, she was always eager to talk to me about how it was going. But, that was not the limit of her support for my journey. Dr. Little reminded me of career fairs on campus, the Career Services employees that could help me with resumes and more, and other people on campus who had familiarity in the fields I am interested in. During this fall semester, Dr. Little also created an email group for all students in the History department to advertise opportunities regularly.

 

 

2024

Faculty Champion Winner 2024Michael Cross

College of Business- Supply Chain/Logistics

Michael R. Cross, through his dedicated efforts, has significantly facilitated my connection with UCA Career Services to explore internship and full-time job opportunities. He regularly organizes conferences with prominent companies, providing valuable insights into their operations and opportunities within. By arranging these events, he ensures students like myself have direct access to industry professionals, enabling us to network, learn about job roles, and apply for positions effectively. His proactive approach and commitment to our professional development have been instrumental in guiding me towards potential career paths and opportunities.
 
Offered extra credit for going to career fairs, encouraged attending major meetings, strongly recommended networking as a whole.
 
Sent emails about the career fair, informed and encouraged participation in clubs, and had a discussion post where he personally answered any questions we had about jobs and gave his own experience

 

2023

Winner 2023Dr. Kim Hoffman
Department of Political Science

“Dr. Hoffman is the director of internships in the political science department and does a fantastic job! She will sit with all of her students individually to find ways to get them the proper internship or job placements. One of the ways she does that is by providing resources (like recommending the UCA Career Services) to her students. Every semester she updates her “wall of interns” to promote student success and help students find opportunities through past experiences and teaches us how to build a proper peer network.
Dr. Hoffman brings in speakers and those hosting internship opportunities to speak to classes/clubs and promotes alumni/student-mentor relationships. If you have any doubts, questions, or concerns she will do everything she can to help you. Throughout the semester she connects students to internship opportunities via email or posters in classrooms, and if she finds an internship that would be perfect for a group of students she will encourage them to apply!”

 

 

 

2022

Winner 2022Mrs. Rebecca Gray
School of Nursing

“Mrs. Gray helped me connect to UCA Career Services to find a full-time job, as she built her course around professional development. She encouraged us to go to resume reviews, mock interviews and cover letter writing workshops. She also told us about the WOW Closet and other services they offer.  She invited several staff members from career services to speak with our cohort in order to prepare us for future interviews and job searches.  I can personally say her advising me to connect career services for my resume helped me land a job.”

 

 

 

2021

Winner 2021Mr. Steve Ward
Teaching and Learning

“Mr. Ward was the reason, after dropping out of school, that I began again, took the necessary coursework and program that he described for me. He is determined and optimistic and it wouldn’t be possible to be starting a career as a teacher without his advice and encouragement.”

 

 

 

 

2020

Winner 2020 Mrs. Monica Lieblong
Family & Consumer Science
“[Monica] opened my eyes to possible career opportunities within the community and the difference that a career in Family and Consumer Science can make on an individual level. Because of her, I am now volunteering in the community and making a difference! She taught me how to dress for an interview and how to construct a professional email. She gave me information that I can only use now but in the future….”