Uthara Unnikrishnan has earned the distinction of Employee of the Quarter at the University of Arkansas Global Campus, marking a significant milestone in her tenure with the institution. The recognition was announced during an October staff meeting, where Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education and head of the Global Campus, highlighted Unnikrishnan’s outstanding contributions and dedication to the university’s mission.
Expressing her appreciation, Unnikrishnan shared that the honor came as a surprise and has encouraged her to continue expanding her skills and strengthening her commitment to professional growth. As a data and innovation resource specialist within the Professional and Workforce Development (PWD) division, she plays a central role in shaping the systems that support learners and help the university meet statewide workforce needs.
Colleagues praised her for her meticulous approach to report generation and her leadership in helping the PWD team transition to a more efficient, standardized workflow. A major part of her responsibilities includes designing and maintaining the university’s Slate platform—an essential system used for registration, tracking student progress, and strengthening support networks between learners and campus departments. She also helped build a Slate-based solution empowering various university units to create their own registration portals for professional training courses, with automated reporting for state workforce requirements.
Unnikrishnan joined the Global Campus in November 2024 and quickly became an integral member of the team. She contributed to the early development of Slate for Global Campus needs and played a key role in the team that won the Global Campus Lightbulb Award for Innovation in the third quarter of 2025. Her expertise has been essential in designing data systems that enhance outreach, communication, and operational efficiency.
One of her major responsibilities involves gathering and structuring data for the annual report submitted to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education—a critical task that supports state compliance. As the PWD division undergoes major reforms, Unnikrishnan has also been spearheading the creation of new processes to strengthen the university’s workforce development strategy.
Her colleagues describe her as an invaluable asset whose efforts have a far-reaching impact across the university. Leaders within the division emphasized that her work has transformed operations for both Global Campus and the broader University of Arkansas community.
The Employee of the Quarter award recognizes staff who demonstrate exceptional achievement and alignment with the university’s goals. Winners receive a certificate and a monetary award, and the quarterly honorees are considered for the Global Campus Employee of the Year distinction.
