Workforce Development Director Receives Statewide Award for Her Work

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Tara Dryer, left, is pictured with Justin Petron, employee relations director for Fastenal, at the spring conference of the Arkansas Association of Colleges and Employers in Hot Springs.

A statewide award recognizes the work being done at the U of A to advance career services and human resource staffing professions.

Tara Dryer, senior managing director of the Professional and Workforce Development division at the U of A Global Campus, received the Arkansas Star award at the spring conference of the Arkansas Association of Colleges and Employers in Hot Springs.

Under Dryer's leadership, the Global Campus in the Collaborative in Bentonville nurtures relationships with industry and educational partners that lead to U of A training programs that help reduce skills gaps in Northwest Arkansas and across the state. These programs help professionals advance in their careers, stay up to date in their fields and move from one career to another. The division has been awarded numerous state and federal grants to fund workforce training through the Global Campus.

Dryer also led the implementation of the Arkansas Reimagine Workforce Project, which provided millions of dollars in federal grant funding to pay for online job training for Arkansans affected by COVID-19. The funds are also available to people who live in neighboring states and work in Arkansas. As of March, the grant enrolled 2,443 people, surpassing the goal of 2,000 for the three-year grant period that ends Sept. 30. Participants are from 74 of Arkansas' 75 counties, with another nine people from four neighboring states. Staff members created 10 new online job training courses with input from Arkansas business and industry representatives.

"Tara Dryer brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, creativity and energy to her work at the Global Campus that benefits Arkansans and makes for a stronger economy," said Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education and head of the Global Campus. "We are proud of the work she has done to forge strong partnerships with business, industries and state agencies, all to improve the quality of life of individuals as well as strengthening the state's position in a global economy. And we appreciate the Arkansas Association of Colleges and Employers for recognizing Dr. Dryer's accomplishments."

Dryer joined the Global Campus in 2008. She earned a doctoral degree in higher education from the U of A in 2009. She also holds a bachelor's degree in business education and a master's degree in educational leadership, with an emphasis in educational technology. She recently participated in the UARK Leaders Program, a six-month leadership development program designed to help leaders across the university grow in alignment with the leadership competencies of strategic thinking, leading a team and balancing advocacy.

The Arkansas Star Award may be presented to a person or persons to recognize significant and outstanding contributions to the profession, to society or to AACE, according to the organization's website. The Arkansas Star award is a prestigious recognition of service and contributions exceeded only in significance within AACE by the Nola Holt Royster Award and may be given to a college or employer representative. An award committee makes recommendations to the AACE Board of Directors for the award selection.

For more information about workforce training, visit the Professional and Workforce Development website.