Jarrett Counts is no stranger to networking.
Since beginning his studies at the University of Central Arkansas, he’s met many members of the campus community through organizations such as Intensive, Dedication, Ethics, Accomplishment and Leadership (I.D.E.A.L.), Project X and the Black Male Achievement Challenge. This past fall, Counts added an accolade to his list of bona fides that helps him further that campus connection: being named UCA’s first-ever Homecoming King.
“There’s a lot of people on this campus I’ve never met before, but after being crowned, they may have seen my face here or there. And so the first conversation may be, ‘Oh, you did this,’” he said. “I may not want to focus on that specifically but just get to know the person, but it’s always just the gateway to talk to somebody.”
The junior health administration major hails from Wichita, Kansas, and landed on UCA as his school of choice after experiencing the familylike atmosphere on campus during a summer visit.
“UCA really just made it like a home for me. That was my biggest thing when I was coming to visit was I wanted a place that when I go home from break, I want to be like, ‘I’m ready to go back to school,’” he said.
While at school, Counts is active in the Minority Mentorship Program, where he’s a team leader; the Student Orientation Staff; Greek Elite; and the UCA Ambassadors Program. He is also president of the UCA chapter of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi. Mentorship and leadership have strengthened his abilities to work well with other perspectives.
“Listening to everybody is my biggest thing and try to understand and always be able to compromise,” he said. “Even though it may not be an easy decision, make the hard decision sometimes when it’s best for the group as well.”
After graduation, Counts aspires to earn his master’s degree in health administration with a hope to enter pharmaceuticals or medical devices sales. His post-graduation plans are to be able to travel and, of course, network with various kinds of people.
“I love to talk to people, so that’s my biggest thing is being able to communicate with as many people as possible,” he said.