When Brian Corbin, director of transfer services, arrived at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in 2000, he had never been to Arkansas, but he had a clear mission in mind. He found his place in Conway during that trip, and he continues to help transfer and returning students at the university he now calls home.
Originally from New York, Corbin always saw himself living in the South. After obtaining his master’s degree in school counseling, he began working at a middle school. Four years later, he found himself longing to return to higher education.
“I wanted a place where there’s more sunshine throughout the year, and after four years counseling in middle school, I found myself daydreaming about when I had actually been able to coordinate the Concurrent Enrollment Program for Niagara University, where I got my master’s in school counseling.”
“I did concurrent enrollment,” he continued, “and then I went to a community college, and then I went to a four-year institution, and I had to, as a student, fight for my credit to transfer. So to be in a position where I could help set up that pathway for students on the front end, so there’s no guesswork, was very appealing to me.”
Over spring break in 2000, he visited several universities, driving to the campuses he was interested in. UCA was the last of six campuses he visited. That’s when he discovered UCA was interviewing for a director of transfer services.
“I’d never been to Arkansas before, and I always tell people this, I can’t explain it, but it is as true today as it was when I came to interview. I don’t know why, but when I drove into Conway, it immediately felt like home to me.”
Upon getting the position, Corbin worked to ease student transitions by creating a Two Plus Two Transfer Agreement with area institutions, ensuring students understood how their credits would transfer. He also launched the Bear Partners Program with UACCM, ASU Beebe, and U of A Pulaski Tech, giving students a chance to experience UCA before transferring.
Corbin finds that his innovative work in planning programs to assist students as efficiently as possible makes his time at UCA worth it.
Corbin said, “Everything just fell into place. It really felt like it was just meant to be, and I’ve loved Conway and UCA ever since, and it still feels like home.”