CONWAY, Ark. (August 23,
2017) – Sarah Donaghy has joined the staff of Hendrix College as Coordinator of
Community Partnerships, a newly-created position focused on building vibrant,
mutually beneficial relationships with diverse community organizations in
central Arkansas.
This position formalizes and
strengthens the College’s focus on partnerships that contribute to positive
career and employment outcomes for Hendrix graduates, internships,
community-based research, service-learning, or Odyssey experiences. It also marks
a significant step in furthering the College’s desire to engage more
intentionally and effectively with the communities of Conway and central Arkansas.
“Strategic, mutually
beneficial collaboration with community partners will provide more and better
opportunities for our students to take what they learn in the classroom and
apply it in career-related contexts,” said Dr. Peter Gess, the College’s associate
provost for engaged learning. “As students prepare for life after Hendrix,
these types of experiences help bridge the transition to what’s next. With her background
that spans the private, governmental, and nonprofit sectors, we’re thrilled to
have Sarah heading up this effort.”
Donaghy most recently served
as the development director of KUAR and KLRE Public Radio in Little Rock, and worked
previously with the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Heifer International. She
spent more than a year on a “radical sabbatical,” serving a variety of
organizations in diverse roles. She earned her Master of Public Administration
from Arkansas State University and is an alumna of Lyon College.
“Throughout high school,
college, and graduate school, I sought out opportunities for service-learning,
internships, and community service to enrich my own educational experience,”
Donaghy said. “Being in a position to help others do the same is energizing.”
The community partnerships
position was made possible through a grant from the Andrew W.
Mellon Foundation supporting
diversity and inclusion initiatives at Hendrix. In the past decade, the Mellon
Foundation has given the College a total of $2.6 million for projects that
include revamping the College’s writing program, implementing The Engaged
Citizen curriculum for freshmen, increasing the use of educational technology,
and developing interdisciplinary courses to support engaged learning.
Organizations interested in exploring
a partnership with Hendrix for internships or service-learning may contact
Donaghy at donaghy@hendrix.edu
or (501) 505-1540.
About
Hendrix College
A private liberal arts
college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns recognition as
one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions, and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That
Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and
rigor, innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous
college guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been
affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.