Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jim Wiltgen recently announced
a new department in Student Affairs - Student Outreach Services (SOS). Christy Coker
has been named Director of Student Outreach Services and acts as liaison between
students and campus entities as well as organizations beyond Hendrix. SOS connects
students with services, resources, programs, networks, preventions, and/or interventions
as a way to increase successful and positive student experiences throughout their
time at Hendrix.
Your student’s first two years of college are important ones. For most students,
college is their first foray into an independent, adult life. Christy works as a
catalyst assisting your student in adapting to new and different paths and helping
them find a balance between mind, body, spirit, and emotions. She believes self-exploration
at many levels is necessary in order to develop the whole person – a concept beyond
obtaining a degree and accepting a job.
One of the most popular services provided by SOS is personal and professional
assessments such as the Strong Interest Inventory. This assessment gives insight
into a student's interests as a way to help him or her decide on an appropriate
career choice. Many freshmen and sophomores use this tool to help them determine
a major in college. All assessments are free to currently enrolled students.
Previously, Christy served Hendrix as Director of Career Resources for seven
years. She has a master’s degree in communication and a bachelor’s degree in communication
education. Christy taught undergraduate courses in small group communication, business
and professional communication, communication anxiety, public speaking, and interpersonal
communication, and has overseen an internship placement program for both graduates
and undergraduates.
She was a faculty member with the University of North Carolina, Charlotte; the
University of Arkansas, Petit Jean Technical College; and Arkansas Tech University.
She also worked for the State of Arkansas promoting welfare reformation that focused
on job development and placement.