U of A Connects With Camden for Industry and Community Partnership

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From left: Kelsey Lavigne, Cherie Rachel, Lauren Merriman, Tara Dryer, Donna Graham, Erica Estes

A team from the U of A recently visited Camden to forge and grow partnerships with industry and community leaders.

The team first met with representatives from Lockheed Martin and National Technology Systems to share the many ways the U of A can support them. One focus was recruiting, ensuring that the companies were connected with campus resources and versed in Handshake, a careers app where companies can post jobs and find talent. They also discussed student engagement such as internships and senior design projects. The team received input on the current curriculum offered at the U of A and the places where it is working and lacking from the companies' perspective.

Among the other topics the team covered were workforce development and upskilling programs offered through Global Campus, K-12 funding opportunities, the LEARNS Act and connecting companies with U of A faculty to solve challenges and offer solutions.

"This is our second visit to Camden in the past four months," said Cherie Rachel, senior director of industry and community engagement. "We learn so much each time we interact with industry partners, which helps us better understand how the U of A can help them. The Office of Industry and Community Engagement is all about the relationships — listening, learning and providing value." 

The team then met with community partners Highland Industrial Park and Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development Inc. to learn about challenges they are facing, such as lack of affordable housing. These discussions led to an upcoming connection with John Folan, professor and department head at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, to discuss his work with underrepresented communities and innovative, design-centered construction.

The U of A team included:

• Erica Estes, assistant vice chancellor and executive director of career connections
• Kelsey Lavigne, director of employer relations, College of Engineering
• Donna Graham, director of industry and community engagement for central and east Arkansas
• Tara Dryer, senior managing director, Global Campus & Workforce Development
• Lauren Merriman, associate director for industry research
• Cherie Rachel, senior director of industry and community engagement

The offices participating in the trip were the Division of Economic Development, Division of Research and Innovation, College of Engineering, Global Campus and the Offices of Career Connections.