Engaging New Voices, Refining the Future
On July 15, 2025, the Central Strategy Team (CST) convened for a pivotal planning session with strategic partner Melanie Overton of EAB. The morning session focused on reviewing and refining the university’s four draft strategic imperatives: Centering Success, Arkansas’ Campus of Innovation, Discovery in Action, and Future-Ready Foundations. These refined imperatives reflect months of cross-campus dialogue, trend analysis, and community input.
In the afternoon, UCA welcomed the newly formed Strategic Initiative Working Groups, composed of academic and administrative leaders selected for their subject-matter expertise. This joint session marked the transition from vision to implementation, as working group members were introduced to the planning process, received imperative-specific presentations, and began the critical work of transforming broad strategic direction into actionable goals.
Each group was tasked with:
- Refining the draft goals established by the CST
- Defining key terms, setting targets, and establishing timelines
- Developing objectives, success metrics, and cost estimates to guide implementation
This collaborative kickoff signals the start of a more detailed and inclusive planning phase that will shape UCA’s trajectory through 2035. As the university moves forward, the work of these teams will ensure that the final plan is bold, measurable, and ready to meet the future.
Working Group Members
IMPERATIVE 1
- Patricia Smith
- Jennifer Bell
- Amy Hawkins
- Kylie McGraw
- Kelly Owens
- Brent Shires
- Julia Winden-Fey
IMPERATIVE 2
- Stephen Addison
- Tim Bisping
- Lesley Graybeal
- Joan Shofner
- Will Slaton
- Donna Stephens
IMPERATIVE 3
- Michael Mills
- Victoria Dunlap
- Arijit Mukherjee
- Stephanie Rose
- Tom Snyder
IMPERATIVE 4
- Tim Roach
- Kevin Carter
- Taine Duncan
- Bridget Fortenberry
- Stephen O’Connell
- Trevor Seifert
- Colin Stanton
- Robin Williamson
SUPPORT & ADVISORY
- Kurt Boniecki
- Terri Canino
- Amber Hall
- Mary Lackie
- Amy Whitehead
- Michael Hargis
- Shawn Charlton
- Laci Lyons
- Bryttani Montgomery