Jess Claire​

Staff Q & A

Pronouns: she/they

Hometown: Eugene, Oregon is my hometown!

Title: Case Manager, Office of Student Accountability

Years of Service: Just under a year!

Education: B.A in Psychology and Anthropology (University of Oregon)
M.A in Cultural Anthropology (University of Arkansas)

How long have you been at the University of Arkansas in Student Affairs? What have you enjoyed most about your time here?

I have been in Student Affairs since October of 2023. Compared to many others, I am very new to the University! I have really enjoyed being in touch with all the things happening on campus. There are so many resources available to students, and it has been so incredible to see these resources expand to serve students with diverse life-experiences. I have also really enjoyed keeping up with how the hogs are doing in all the sporting events!

Tell us a little about your role in Student Affairs. What brings you joy in this role?

Currently I am the Case Manager in the Office of Student Accountability. My favorite part of this role is meeting 1-1 with students. There are so many factors and challenging life circumstances that might bring someone into our office, whether they be someone harmed or someone who has harmed others. Many times, we are working with students who haven’t really had the opportunity to talk about their challenges openly, and I find great fulfillment in validating students when they are vulnerable. As someone who really values harm reduction, it is really rewarding to give students who made harmful choices an authentic opportunity to make amends and repair, and similarly to give students who have been harmed the opportunity to find genuine resolution.

What is the greatest misconception people have about Student Affairs and how do you break that?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about student affairs is that the division is disconnected from academic affairs, that student affairs is just an “add on.” In reality, the variety of services and programming that SA offers not only increases retention and graduation rates, but also provides opportunities for nuanced learning and engagement opportunities. We may not be teaching students from a textbook, but we are providing opportunities for creating and thriving in community, an important life skill that sticks with students long after they finish their academic journey. As far as how to counter this misconception, I think the division is doing an excellent job at continuing to expand upon our existing partnerships with academic affairs.

What do you like to do with your time outside of the University?

Outside of the University I am decidedly a homebody. I enjoy lounging around with my senior dog (Mona, my Chiweenie), caring for my houseplants, and catching up on my favorite TV shows, podcasts or my to-be-read list. Outside the house I enjoy watching sports, thrifting, hiking/being outdoors, and spending time with friends.

What do you hope students and colleagues will remember about your interactions?

I hope they feel validated and empowered. I value being an active listener, thoughtful, kind, and accountable, and I hope that comes across in all my interactions with students and colleagues. I’m also very passionate about gathering resources on and off campus, so I hope when people come to me with their struggles, they leave the conversation with the confidence to navigate those struggles and the knowledge that it’s always OK to ask for help.

Is there anything else you would like to add or let our readers know?

Would love to give a shout out to the U of A Pride Employee Resource Group, a super welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ staff and faculty. If you are a staff or faculty member on campus come out to our first PRIDE coffee hour at Hill Coffee: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 12th or join our Hogsync for updates on future events!