Jason Riley, program manager for the U of A Venture Intern Program, recently represented the university on a national stage. Riley presented at the 2025 Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA) Annual Conference, held April 6-8 in Tucson, Arizona. He delivered two engaging and thought-provoking workshops that bridged student and employee development through innovation and inclusion.

Riley's first session, "Values to Career Success: Building an Inclusive and Innovative Culture in Career Services," explored how both individual and organizational values can shape and enhance career readiness and support structures. His second workshop, "Innovate With Empathy: Human-Centered Design for Internship Professionals," introduced participants to empathy mapping and other tools within the human-centered design framework — offering actionable strategies to drive creative problem-solving in both student programming and workplace development.

"The human-centered design approach isn't just something we teach our students," Riley said. "It's a powerful way to view the work we do as colleagues. When we put empathy at the core of our work, it helps us more effectively solve people-centered problems."

In his role with the Venture Intern Program, housed within the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Riley oversees the placement of students in 12-week, paid internships with Arkansas-based startups and entrepreneurial support organizations. Since taking on this role in 2022, he has remained committed to bridging the gap between education and meaningful professional experience. 

Riley is also the incoming professional development chair of the Black Employee and Colleague Resource Group (BECRG). His leadership within BECRG reflects a deep commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion, career development and cross-functional collaboration.

Returning from the CEIA Conference energized and inspired, Riley brought back a host of innovative ideas — one of which is the launch of a Human-Centered Design Sprint workshop for Employee and Colleague Resource Group members across campus. Designed to foster inclusion and professional development within higher education, the workshop will emphasize strategies for employees seeking upward mobility and greater career visibility.

This initiative aligns with the Employee and Colleague Resource Group's four guiding pillars: Community, Culture, Career and Care.

These pillars reflect a commitment to cultivating a supportive environment that's open to all, where faculty and staff can connect meaningfully (community), celebrate shared and unique experiences (culture), explore pathways for advancement (career) and prioritize holistic well-being in the workplace (care). Recognizing the unique needs of employees, the ECRGs remain focused on creating intentional spaces that support growth, engagement and belonging at every level.

"These workshops don't just benefit our students," Riley said. "They can have a meaningful impact on employee engagement and institutional effectiveness at the University of Arkansas. The design sprint will bring ECRG members together for shared learning and innovative problem-solving, helping us think more strategically about how we support one another and create intentional career pathways."

"Jason's work reflects the heart of BECRG's mission of empowering inclusive growth and professional development. His leadership at the CEIA conference highlights how ECRGs efforts can drive innovation and elevate our community. We're proud to support his vision and the impact it brings to campus," said Synetra Hughes, BECRG chair. 

This initiative aligns closely with the mission of at the U of A. These voluntary, employee-led communities support a positive, inclusive and collaborative work environment. ECRGs foster personal and professional growth for employees who share common backgrounds, experiences or interests, while promoting the university's broader values.

Riley plans to continue leveraging insights from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association conference to foster career advancement, strengthen collaboration and cultivate a culture of care across campus. His efforts aim to build a more connected and empowered Employee and Colleague Resource Group network — one that supports employee success and advances the network's commitment to community.