Schmieding Foundation Major and Career Studio Dedicated in the CORD

Photo by Whit Pruitt

From left to right: Erica Estes, assistant vice chancellor for career services; Zayna Abu-Safe, student and career peer mentor; Chancellor Charles Robinson; Lance Taylor, president of the Schmieding Foundation; and Trevor Francis, associate vice provost and director of student success.

The Schmieding Foundation Major and Career Studio located in the Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence, also called the CORD, was dedicated on Oct. 31 in a special ceremony for the U of A community.

In May, the Schmieding Foundation gave $500,000 to support the Major and Career Studio, which offers programming opportunities and resources to assist students who are undecided about their major or career options. 

These services include academic and career counseling, major assessment tests, advising on resume and cover letter building, mock interviews and LinkedIn profile reviews. It also provides students with access to staff advisers and peer mentors who will help them plan for academic and post-graduation success. 

The Schmieding Foundation’s investment will diminish achievement gaps and expand educational support for students facing academic, financial and social challenges, and improve student retention outcomes.

“Providing an affordable education that prepares students for lifelong success is a core tenet of our land-grant mission,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “By helping undeclared students find majors they are passionate about, the Schmieding Foundation Major and Career Studio will help them graduate sooner — with less debt — and go on to thrive in fulfilling careers.”

“By supporting the Major and Career Studio in the Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence, the Schmieding Foundation is having a transformational impact on student success,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “We are grateful for their continued support of University of Arkansas students.”

The dedication was held in the studio with Lance Taylor, president of the Schmieding Foundation, and his wife, Alicia, in attendance, both of whom are alumni of the university. Chancellor Robinson, along with Trevor Francis, associate vice provost and director of student success, and Zayna Abu-Safe, a student and career peer mentor in the studio, spoke at the dedication. Robinson presented Taylor with the U of A Seal in appreciation for the Schmieding Foundation’s support.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the university by supporting these important programs in the The CORD,” Taylor said. “We are honored to be a part of student success at the University of Arkansas.”

The CORD has been open for a full academic year, and the Schmieding Foundation Major and Career Studio will have logged nearly 2,000 visits from students by the end of the current term.

The Schmieding Foundation has supported the university for nearly 30 years, giving more than $1 million to scholarships, research internships and departmental support. The foundation provided additional funds in May to support The Schmieding Foundation Sensory Room in the Speech and Hearing Clinic in the Epley Center for Health Professions, which will open next year. Lawrence Schmieding, benefactor of the Schmieding Foundation, was a member of the university’s Campaign for the Twenty-First Century steering committee, Towers of Old Main and a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association.

About University Advancement: University Advancement advances the mission of the University of Arkansas by raising private gift support from alumni, friends, parents, foundations, corporations, and other institutional supporters. Working in philanthropic partnership with academic leaders and volunteers, Advancement team members are determined to advance the people, work, and impact of the greater whole at the University of Arkansas.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.