Barbara A. Lofton Email & Phone Number

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

Responsibilities: -Provide leadership and directions for the new strategic initiatives for diversity and inclusion. -Co-manage funds to support diversity initiatives engaged by the faculty and staff.-Advise the Dean and Department Chairs on strategies to recruit and retain minority faculty and staff. -Collaborate and support activities with the various University of Arkansas Colleges that contributes to the increased retention and graduation rates of minority student. -Develop minority recruitment strategies-Lead diversity initiatives from the office of the Vice-Chancellor for Diversity. -Work with the University and WCOB Career Centers to promote internships and employment opportunities. Achievements:-Managed a budget in a total of $200,000 (operating and foundation accounts) and six scholarship accounts for the Sam M. Walton College of Business (WCOB). -Collaborated with a team to developed the framework for program-level goals, objectives, and rubric suitable for measuring cultural competencies in relation to Diversity & Inclusion and Global Perspectives. -Increased minority enrollment by 60% from 2005 to 2011. -Collaborated with the Graduate School to support and design the George Washington Carver Summer Research Project. -Partnered with the Black Alumni Society and the Vice Provost of Diversity to develop strategies to improve the recruitment of African American and Hispanic students in Arkansas. -Partnered with five of the WCOB Centers to promote diversity through scholarships, internships, and employment opportunities. -Partnered with the Office of Development to increase the number of private donations of more than $1,000,000 for minority student scholarships and academic outreach programs. -Obtained two endowed scholarships from Black alumni in the amount of $50,000 and $100,000 respectively. -Developed several new diversity courses: The African American Experience in Business and The History of Diversity in the Workplace.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

Serve as the primary liaison team leader for issues and events related to promoting diversity and inclusion among our faculty, staff, students, and communities. Assist the Vice Chancellor to engage staff by drafting ideas and communications, formulating strategic staff initiatives, and improving the culture. Assist with the development of the diversity and inclusion strategic plan for the campus. Provide input to key questions concerns related to diversity andinclusion. Develop engagement and outreach initiatives through a diversity lens. Serve on a key member to assist the university community with development, implementation and evaluation of diversity plans. Assist in building a diversity and inclusive foundation through research, discovery, education & training outreach & engagement, strategic leadership & support and inclusion. Willing to serve as the foundation for a Diversity and Inclusion Research, Education and Training Institute. Occasionally serve as Co-PIs or key personnel on grants related to diversity and inclusion. Stay abreast of literature, resources, challenges, concerns and needs related to staff, faculty, and students and share relevant information with the core team. Assist in developing metrics to measureeffectiveness related to faculty, staff, and students’ efforts.

Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States

-Functioned as an educator for therapeutic recreation, recreation, adaptive physical education, and health courses.-Designed, developed, and implemented policies and procedures for student academic advisement system. -Developed partnerships with community-based organizations for classroom interactions and educational enhancement.-Collaborated with committees to meet accreditation standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the National Association for Sports and Physical Education Programs. -Developed collaborative relationships with units on campus to enhance the college experience for students. -Redesigned the Recreation curricula and developed an option of study in Therapeutic Recreation that adheres to the trends and practices of the Council on Accreditation for the National Recreation and Parks Association. -Developed policy and procedures for the Fieldwork Experiences Program. -Developed contractual relationships with various private, public, and non-profit organizations to provide internship placements for UAPB recreation students in their senior year. -Developed, implemented, and evaluated the Teacher’s Excellence Program (TEP) in three public school districts. TEP was designed to provide classroom support to K - 12th-grade teachers of the public school systems and to increase the retention of teachers in their first, second, and third years of teaching. This program was developed in response to the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. -Developed, secured, and implemented the Freshmen/Sophomore Minority Recruitment Grant for Teacher Education in partnership with Phillips County Community College. -Assisted with the development, organization, and implementation of the Jefferson County Service Provider Fair. -Served as a technical reader for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Teacher Education Federal Activity of the U.S. Department of Education.

Grambling, Louisiana, United States

-Served as facilitator/instructor in undergraduate classes in therapeutic recreation, recreation, and health -Developed and taught five graduate-level courses in therapeutic recreation. -Served as an academic advisor and Director of Fieldwork Experiences and Co-op Programs for the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Studies (HPLS). -Served as advisor to the task force in the development of the Recreation Careers Program (RCP) “Self Study for Accreditation and Re-accreditation”. -Served as the researcher to the Head of the Department of HPER for grant proposals. -Developed collaborative relationships with units on campus to enhance the college experience for students. -Academic advisor to students in the Department of Health Physical Education & Leisure Studies (HPLS). -Developed a structured academic advisement system and a student support program for non-teaching majors that resulted in higher retention and graduation rates. -Speared headed partnerships with community agencies to enhance classroom experiences. -Developed and implemented a comprehensive Fieldwork Experiences Program for non-teaching majors. -Developed, designed, and taught five graduate-level courses in therapeutic recreation. -Developed and implemented programs that led to the Department’s Recreation and Leisure Studies Program becoming the first Historically Black College or University to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation for the National Recreation and Parks Association. -Served as a researcher to the Department Head for grants funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. These grants were designed to recruit, retain, and graduate minority students in therapeutic recreation.-Speared headed the development of the Doctoral Student Association, served as the first President and co-editor of the Doctoral Student Association Newsletter.

Doctor Of Education - Edd, Higher Education/Higher Education Administration

Master'S Degree, Therapeutic Recreation Education

Bachelor Of Education - Bed, Health, Physical Education & Recreation