Christy C Coker
Student Advocate & Director
As director of a retention, intervention, and prevention program, Christy Coker works to engage all segments of the Hendrix College student population by connecting students with mentors, services, resources, programs, networks, interventions, and/or preventions to increase successful holistic and positive experiences for students throughout their time in the Hendrix community.
As the student advocate, the opportunity to work in multiple areas of a college community utilizing critical partnerships - faculty, staff, administration, student, parent, alumni - to assist students in becoming the persons they were born to be via information provision and/or problem-solving, is her primary goal on campus. Combining supportive, proactive independent steps with what is available to students allows for personal, educational, and professional growth customized for each individual student. She is also the Student Outreach Alternative Resource (SOAR) Advisor.
With a Bachelor of Science (BSE) in Communication Education and a Master of Arts (MA) in Communication, Ms. Coker was previously a faculty member at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Arkansas Tech University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte before returning home to Faulkner County in 2005. She was an Arkansas delegate to America's Promise under the direction of General Colin Powell and is a 2006 graduate of the Faulkner County Leadership Institute. In her off-time, she is an event planner, genealogy researcher, and non-profit consultant. Her daughter, Jordan, is a 2016 graduate of Hendrix and her grandson, John Christopher, is a prospective 2038 Hendrix graduate. Ms. Coker lives in the northern part of Faulkner County.
Additional Roles:
Life Strategies Coach
Homeless Student Liaison
Legal Advocate
Practitioner:
Life Strategies Planning
Strong Interest Inventory (Professional,
Social, Personal Interests – Career)
Stephens’ Ministry Care Program
Facilitator:
Reflective Thinking (John Dewey)
Internal Conflict Resolution, Dale Carnegie
OneLove Escalation (Relationship Conflict)
Certifications:
Mental Health First Aid
safeTALK (Suicide Prevention)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Trauma & Resilience
Title IX & Campus SaVE Act
OneLove Escalation (Relationship Conflict)
Conflict Style Interpretation
Infusing Emotional Intelligence into College Peer & Leadership Programs
Narcan Administration
Ms. Coker's overall professional role supports the motto of Hendrix College and reinforces the practice of "unto the whole person."
SOS Staff:
Alicia McCloria, '24
Assistant to the Director
Alicia is a senior from Muldrow, Oklahoma. She is
majoring in business and economics and will graduate in
2024 with plans to go to graduate school and eventually become either
a sports economist or an economic researcher. She has been a SOAR member going
for three years (since sophomore year). On campus, she has been
a part of various organizations, including a member of the women's basketball
team, an Explorations peer assistant, and an active volunteer across
different departments. This will be her second year working as a Student
Outreach Services assistant under Christy Coker. She is also the director of
alternative events for the SOAR team this year.
In
her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, working out, dancing, reading, and
writing. She loves helping people, communicating in a clear and effective
way, and smiling often! She is looking forward to making
memories with the SOAR team this year and soaking up every moment of her
senior year! If you see her on campus, do not be afraid to say hi to her!
Alicia is certified in the following:
Peer Mentoring
Mental Health First Aid
safeTALK (Suicide Prevention)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Narcan Administration
Campus SaVE Act
OneLove Escalation (Relationship Conflict)
Conflict Style Interpretation
Infusing Emotional Intelligence into College Peer & Leadership Programs
Marah Rice, '24
Assistant to the Director
Marah is from Carlisle, PA, and is entering her fourth year at
Hendrix as a Psychology/Mathematics double major. After graduating, she plans
on attending graduate school in pursuit of a doctorate degree in Criminal
Psychology with the hopes to have a career in criminal profiling. She has been
involved in a few clubs/organizations on campus during her time at Hendrix,
some of which include the Hendrix swim & dive team, SOAR, and working for
the HelpDesk. Starting this year, she will be working in the student affairs
office under Christy Coker. She is also a second-year Explorations Peer
Assistant, where she works under a faculty member to help incoming students
become accustomed to Hendrix life.
In her
free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, drawing,
singing, weightlifting, and watching tv with her two cats. She has four older
siblings, two brothers, and two sisters. One of her brothers is a Hendrix
student, so she also enjoys bothering him between classes! During the
summer, she works as a camp counselor/swim coach for an all-boys sports camp in
Casco, ME. She is excited to spend another year as a SOAR executive and make
new memories and experiences with the rest of the SOAR team!
Marah is certified in the following:
Peer Mentoring
Mental Health First Aid
safeTALK (Suicide Prevention)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Narcan Administration
Campus SaVE Act
OneLove Escalation (Relationship Conflict)
Conflict Style Interpretation
Infusing Emotional Intelligence into College Peer & Leadership Programs
SOAR Staff:
Cierra Daniels, '24
SOAR Team Leader
Cierra is a senior, majoring in Psychology. She has been a member of SOAR since her sophomore year.
Heading into the medical field with the goal of becoming a psychiatrist, Cierra has focused on co-curricular activities which will enhance her ability to better understand how to connect with people who have life challenges. Her commitment to helping others is the one thing clearly visible in her day-to-day actions. She is a member of the Mental Health Committee, SIS, and SOAR, is employed with a campus psychology professor, Student Outreach Services, and serves as a UAMS Extern.
Cierra loves crocheting, reading, and watching television shows. If you need someone who excels at listening, contact Cierra!
As the team leader of SOAR, Cierra is certified in:
Peer Mentoring
Mental Health First Aid
safeTALK (Suicide Prevention)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Narcan Administration
Campus SaVE Act
OneLove Escalation (Relationship Conflict)
Conflict Style Interpretation
Infusing Emotional Intelligence into College Peer & Leadership Programs
Nate Lemke, '24
SOAR Team Mentor-Mentee Liaison
Nate grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and he is currently a
senior at Hendrix. He double majoring in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
and Health Science. Following his graduation from Hendrix, his plan is to
attend pharmacy school and pursue a career in healthcare. Outside of his
studies, he enjoys hiking, fishing, disc golf, and playing for the ultimate
frisbee team. One of his favorite places in Conway is La Huerta, which he says
is arguably the best Mexican restaurant in town!
During the school year, he is
a part of many clubs across campus, which include SOAR, the American Chemical
Society Student Affiliate Chapter, the Outdoors Club, and the BCMB club. He is very
excited to meet new people and work with new leadership teams in these clubs
for his final year!
As the Mentor-Mentee Liaison of SOAR, Nate is certified in:
Mental Health First Aid
Peer Mentoring
safeTALK (Suicide Prevention)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Campus SaVE Act
OneLove Escalation (Relationship Conflict)
Conflict Style Interpretation
Infusing Emotional Intelligence into College Peer & Leadership Programs
Narcan Administration
Chiara Bunting, '25
SOAR Secretary-Treasurer
Chiara is a junior at Hendrix this year.
She is an English major, with an emphasis on Literary-Studies. Besides English,
she also enjoys studying psychology and history. With her degree, she hopes to
make a career in the publishing industry. Her overall career goal is to uplift a wide range
of marginalized voices and their stories—that are often suppressed and
ignored—through literature and prose. Through her work at Hendrix, she wants to
provide a voice and an outlet for marginalized/POC groups on campus.
Some other fun things about Chiara are that her
favorite color is purple (specifically lavender and pastel), she loves
crystals, her favorite show is Succession, and her favorite music artist is
SZA. Her favorite things to do include reading, writing, and walking her dog
(who is her best friend). She is looking forward to a great year!
Chiara is certified in:
Mental Health First Aid
Peer Mentoring
safeTALK (Suicide Prevention)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Campus SaVE Act
OneLove Escalation (Relationship Conflict)
Conflict Style Interpretation
Infusing Emotional Intelligence into College Peer & Leadership Programs
Narcan Administration
Curtis Rubarts, '24
SOAR House Manager
Curtis Rubarts is a senior at
Hendrix and is majoring in biology. He has been in SOAR for 3 years and has
found the SOAR team to be a welcoming environment. He is looking forward to
being the SOAR House Manager this year, and he will be the first person in the
history of the SOAR program to have this position title!
He has two siblings and a dog
that he enjoys hanging out with when he is away from Hendrix. When Curtis has
some downtime, he enjoys eating food, playing games, and dog walking. Along
with being on the SOAR team, he is also a part of the Campus Kitty organization
at Hendrix.
Curtis'certifications include:
Mental Health First Aid
Peer Mentoring
safeTALK (Suicide Prevention)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Campus SaVE Act
OneLove Escalation (Relationship Conflict)
Conflict Style Interpretation
Infusing Emotional Intelligence into College Peer & Leadership Programs
Narcan Administration