Ouachita Stories

Sherri Phelps always knew she wanted to work with people, but when she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech pathology from Ouachita in the spring of 1981, she hadn’t anticipated a career in human resources.

When Ouachita offered Phelps and her husband, Bill (’81), jobs at the university, it was the beginning of four decades of service to Ouachita faculty and staff. They knew then that they were being called to lives of meaningful work right here at their alma mater.

After initially working in student accounts for three years, Phelps then spent many years handling Ouachita employees’ payroll and benefits before being named director of human resources. From day one as director, which involves maintaining fringe benefits for employees and monitoring compliance and wage administration, Phelps said her goal has been for “employees to have a high level of trust in our office.”

“Sherri’s concern is always this: what is best for the people who work at Ouachita,” said Jason Tolbert, Ouachita’s chief financial officer. “By supporting the people who work here, she makes it possible for Ouachita to fulfill its mission.”

And with the adoption of Ouachita’s 2018-2022 strategic plan and its focus to advance faculty and staff support, Phelps continues to be a key advocate for the people who make Ouachita, Ouachita.

“A lot of what I do is for the wellbeing of our employees and to benefit them and their general welfare,” Phelps said. “If their wellbeing is taken care of, then that translates over into the classroom.”

“If I did not think what I was doing made a difference in the lives of our employees, then I don’t think I could come to work every day,” she added. “I just like to be around people and, for me, that’s how I find my meaning.”

Over the years, Phelps has found that her open door also has led to her office becoming a place to shoulder the burdens of her colleagues.

“HR is a place where people can come during hardships and figure out the best thing for them and their families,” Phelps said.

Having begun her career in a beginner’s role, Phelps quickly learned the importance of humility and service. After years of faithfully living it out, and nearing the end of her career, Phelps said she is hopeful that her work “was not only meaningful to me, but also to the people that I helped.”

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Madison Cresswell is a junior mass communications major from North Little Rock, Ark.

 

 

 

Photo by Andy Henderson

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• Alumni
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