Employee Spotlight: Sandi Jackson

Darby Gilliland

Sandi Jackson began her career at the U of A with RazorTemps. She now works as a full-time admin specialist.

Sandi Jackson began her career at the U of A with RazorTemps, and she quickly earned a full-time, permanent position as an administrative specialist at the School of Law. RazorTemps allowed Jackson to get her foot in the door at the university and find the position that is right for her.

"I liked the flexibility of being a RazorTemp. It made it much easier to get brought in as a permanent employee," Jackson said.

Jackson's first temporary work assignment started in July 2022, in a part-time administrative position for the Marketing Department in the Walton College of Business.

"Once I started working as a RazorTemp, I knew this is where I wanted to be. It felt like home," Jackson said. "It's such a welcoming community, and it felt like stress off my shoulders — it just felt right."

She enjoyed the role and the campus environment, but she still wanted full-time employment. Knowing she enjoyed the administrative job she had been placed in, she found a similar full-time opening in the School of Law. She got the job in November and has had an amazing experience since.

"The University of Arkansas is honestly one of the best places I've worked. It's very friendly and very welcoming," Jackson said. "It's a family here, and I like that. People don't loom over you to make sure you don't make a mistake or require you to come in when you're sick or you have a sick kid. It's a very relaxed and welcoming environment. As soon as I met everybody, it clicked that this is where I belong."

Jackson previously did administrative work in the home health industry. Working overtime or night shifts made it difficult to spend as much time with her family as she wanted. Now, she works 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, which allows her to spend more time with her son when he finishes school for the day.

"It's family-oriented here. I have more time that I can spend with my son and my husband. It makes me happy," Jackson said. "I love the fact that I'm not on-call all the time, and I've got a set schedule. My son loves that. Every day he asks, 'Can we go home and play?' and I say 'Yes, we can do that. Of course, we can.'"

In her job search and her time as a RazorTemp, Jackson interviewed with several departments across campus. She has found that the familial atmosphere at the U of A is not specific to her department.

"I've never seen such a close-knit group that works so well together. It isn't competitive. No one is trying to overstep you to get themselves ahead. They're trying to help move you up if that's what you want," Jackson said. "I can tell from the way that people in other departments communicate with each other that the welcoming environment is all over. It seems like everyone enjoys their work!"

Jackson has had an incredible experience thus far and she attributes this, in part, to her time as a RazorTemp.

"I recommend starting as a RazorTemp. That was the best way for me to start instead of just going straight into something. That way you can test it out, see if you like where you are and move around to different places that need you. I really do recommend it."

Darby Gilliland, human resources graduate assistant, contributed to writing this article. 

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.