Mattie Yvette Wimberly Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention, Arkansas Baptist College
Location:
Little Rock,
AR United States Joined:
Sep 26th, 2007
Ms. Mattie Yvette Wimberly entered college as a re-entry student after being out of school for almost fifteen years. She decided that what works for her would be to take baby steps to get her degree. She always had a love for edcuation and had made a promise to her father who was dying of cancer that she would help her mother with her sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews as well as finish college. She kept her promise and decided that she would focus on the family first. She worked several jobs to support her siblings who were in school. Because her many obligations, she found it difficult to attend school full-time and take care of her family. Ms. Wimberly continued to push not only her family, but others as well to be the best they could be in school. Seeing the need in her family as well as others. Ms. Wimberly initially had her sister (who was in high school) her brother, niece, and nephew (all in college) to come live with her so that they could further their education. She worked with many young people in her church to assist them in attending college as well.
She served as a strong advocate and continued to help families with college admission, financial aid, as well as starting several tutorial programs. Still seeing the need to help others, she took in a foster child who was a friend of her sister. After their graduation, she realized that her call to help others were just beginning. She then brought another nephew to live with her, who successfully complete high school. After this nephew completed school, Ms. Wimberly was headed to Rice University, but changed her direction when her sister and brother-in-law were involved in a fatal car wreck. She headed to Russellville, AR to live with her niece and nephew to only discover this was the area that God would have her work as well as get her own education for the next seven years. While in Shreveport, LA, Ms. Wimberly founded S.M.I.L.E. (Students Making It Lighter Everyday). This was a student to student tutoring group established. She later established T.O.Y. (turn Our Youth), which was another tutoring program for younger students. She taught studens how to mentor down to each other and how to help one another. This group also dealt with spiritiual, financial, family and personal obstacles and how to overcome them. These organization also served the community and traveled in and out of state to share their talents and encouragement to other young people.
While working in the Russellville School District as a substitute teacher, she saw the need for more African American teachers as well as the need to expose the children there to educational opportunities. She also discovered this was one of the most supportive communities she had ever experienced educationally. The parents took education serious and this drove her to realize that she had to lead by example. Ms. Wimberly then founded B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers And Sisters In Christ). This organization started as as tutorial program for students and a basis to take young people on educational tours within and out of the state of Arkansas. Seeing the need for special counseling with youn men and women individually, she established S.O.P. (Sisters of Praise) and M.O.G. (Men of God). These two groups were based for students to be able to address problems as young men and young women and to give them the opportunity to inidividual problems. In order to be in these organizations, these students had to be a part of BASIC. From its inception, BASIC grew into a very diverse community group that inspired several young people.
Because of Ms. Wimberly's obligations, she took baby steps to get her degrees. She received an Associates degree in English Education from Southern University at Shreveport, La, a Bachelors degree from Central Baptist College in Conway, AR, a Masters degree from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR and she is now working on her Ph.D. at Jackson State University, Jackson, MS. She will graduate August 1, 2009.
One of her main inspirations was her niece Ashley Postell who constantly told her aunt that she (Ashley) would get her degrees first and she did, with the exception of th Ph.D. She also encouraged her aunt that she was already doing what she saw many administrators engaged in, therefore; she knew she was capable of the degree. Ms. Wimberly listened and has been forever grateful.
Ms. Wimberly has a new-found confidence in her education and is grateful that when that confidence tries to deminish, she is always blessed with friends who remind her in no uncertain terms that she is capable and will do the work required. Ms. Wimberly has worked at several colleges and universities in many different states. She is very strong in the area of admissions, financial aid, and testing. She saw her connection in higher education and P-12 at her first job at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff when she worked with her mentor, Dr. Dorris Robinson-Gardner who developed a program for dysfunctional non-acheivers. The program (D-STAMP) encouraged Ms. Wimberly in her desire to close the achievement gap. Ms. Wimberly has been a warrior for education every since and is now working with Dr. Gardners on a Graduate Program that is monitoring the same students who were in D-STAMP who are now in graduate school.
Ms. Wimberly is currently employed at Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, TX. In her short one-year tenure there, she has been promoted from Assistant Director of Student Activities/Residence Hall Manager to Director of Housing/Testing Director to her current position of Associate Vice-President for Student Affairs. She still travels from city to city and state to state to educate families on admissions and financial aid, but her work has gone further. She is now a strong advocate for education reform, which is her passion and she believes in educating the youngest to the oldest.
At the present moment, I am working with students, faculty, staff and administration in developing continued retention plans, resolving financial aid issues, collaborating with the community and other organizations on how to move our students forward.
Life & Professional Aspirations:
It is my goal to work with legislation, senators, and the federal government on education reform. I would like to work on policies and procedures and find a way to serve as the electrical chord that will connect and ignite P-12 and higher education together. I would also like to continue giving financial aid and admissions workshops.
Finally, I would like to write several books regarding life experiences, my relationship and experience with God, and the power of education.
I cannot say I have a "Claim To Fame", but I guess I am known for my development of gospel choirs on college campuses, my many tutorial programs that I founded and started, and my rapport to introduce the two most important things in my life to young people which are Christ and education (in that order).
Most Memorable Moment:
My most memorable college moments are when my friends and I raised several thousands of dollars each year to go on a "College Tour". Many students were recruited because of this. What I realize now is that friendships developed that would last forever, ministries developed in most of us that we have spread other places, and hard work, faith, and dedication was developed in all of us.
High School: Crossett High School in Crossett, AR
class of 1984
Activities & Accomplishments:
I was a member of the Band-1st chair clarinetist and went to college on a band scholarship. I won several awards for my musical performances and I still play the clarinet today in church.
Best Memories:
My best high school memories were writing music for my high school band and writing in my English class.
