Michael Madakasira

Staff Q & A

Hometown: Flowood, MS

Title: Access Coordinator – Assistive Technology, Center for Educational Access (CEA)

Years of Service (UofA): 6 years

Education: • Bachelor of Arts in Communications – Rockhurst University (Kansas City, MO) • Executive MBA – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (graduating 2022)

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

I’ve worked for the Center for Educational Access for six years.  I have enjoyed growing into my role as an advocate for educational access, and also feeling like part of a wider university community.

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

In my six years of experience, I have worn many hats, from being a classroom transcriber to my current role as Access Coordinator, overseeing the conversion of classroom documents into accessible formats.  The greatest joy for me is knowing that our work can positively affect a student’s education.  I like hearing our students’ success stories.

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

Though I cannot speak for Student Affairs as a whole, I think one misconception about educational access is that one size fits all.  At the CEA, we like to embrace the idea of diversity; every student is unique, and therefore each student deserves their own plan for success.  I have been very pleased to see how our faculty and staff have responded over the years, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  But there is still work to do.

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

I love being outdoors, whether that is going on long walks or playing soccer.  And I enjoy trying new food.  We’ve given GrubHub a lot of business these past few months.

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

I hope they remember that I care about their success and appreciate getting to know them.

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

Stay safe this Fall and VOTE!