After spending years working in retail, Alicia Herrera was ready for a change in her career. She accepted a role that involved buying merchandise and apparel at the University of Arkansas Bookstore in 2017. When she found out about the employee 90% tuition discount, she decided to finish her undergraduate degree in communication.

"I like that the U of A encourages you to further your education while you're working here full-time," Herrera said.

After the U of A Bookstore's operations were taken over by Barnes & Noble in 2020, Herrera spent another year working there. Having finished her bachelor's degree in communication, she wanted to get her master's, so she pursued employment with the university and started graduate school. This time, she worked in housing as an administrative assistant for Pomfret Hall.

"I've been going to school ever since I have worked here, and none of my supervisors have had a problem with me continuing my education," Herrera said. "It can be hard when you need to take time off during the week to go to a class, but I've always had supervisors who have been really supportive of that."

During her first semester as a student in the communication master's program, Herrera decided to look for a role that would allow her to use her communication skills more. She became the minor protection coordinator in Human Resources where she oversaw any campus program or activity that involved minors, facilitated background checks, and ensured guidelines were followed.

Compared to her retail background, Herrera loves the flexibility and work-life balance she has been able to create while working in HR. She has also leveraged opportunities for upward internal movement as part of the Talent Development team. Herrera began a new role as the employment development coordinator in the spring of 2023. Her new position aligns well with her degree's focus on organizational communication and allows her to work more with employees. Herrera says that she wants to pursue a change management certification after graduating with her M.A.

Herrera has felt valued as an employee at the U of A. She believes that all campus workers should take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

"I think a good piece of advice for someone starting at the U of A is to make sure that you're networking, because there are lots of different departments on campus," Herrera said. "At some point, you're going to need something from those other departments. Network, get to know people, and go to gatherings and staff events on campus."

About the Employee Spotlight Series: The employee spotlight series highlights U of A faculty and staff members, the impact they have on campus and the community more broadly, and what makes the university an employer of choice for them individually. Each U of A employee plays a critical role in advancing the 150 Forward strategic priorities: advancing student success, achieving research excellence and enhancing the university's status as an employer of choice. If you have a recommendation of an employee to interview, contact Rachel Gerner at rgerner@uark.edu.