The Arkansas Coding Academy (ArCA), a program of the Division of Outreach and Community Engagement at the University of Central Arkansas, named Alison Wish as its new director.
As director, Wish will oversee the program’s administration and operations and continue to expand the training curriculum to meet the growing workforce demands in the information technology sector. Her first day was Dec. 1.
Wish brings more than 20 years of experience in information technology to this role. She earned a Bachelor of Science in computer and information science from Arkansas Tech University before beginning her career as a software engineer at Acxiom. Over the years, Wish has worked in solution architecture and leadership positions. Most recently, in her role as senior manager of delivery, she oversaw an organization of more than 30 technical data architects across the United States and Poland.
“Since 2016, the program has had great success in educating and training the next generation of computer programmers, and I am excited to connect with our students, work with our skilled staff and partner with technical industry leaders to ensure we’re doing our part to continue to build Arkansas’ reputation for providing top technical talent,” Wish said.
Established in 2016, ArCA at UCA strives to create a talent pipeline from the classroom to the workforce for individuals seeking careers in programming, information technology or software development. It aims to equip students with the skills needed to gain employment and succeed in the information technology sector.