There has been one promotion and two new hires recently in the University’s Jones Learning Center (JLC) and Student Success Center (SSC) programs, according to Dody Pelts, vice president for student success.
Melodye Stickley (pictured, left) has been promoted to academic services coordinator in the JLC/SSC programs. In addition, Kelli Clark (center) was hired as an academic support specialist and Maranda Banning has been hired as an academic services assistant. Both Clark and Banning begin their new duties on Aug. 1, 2025.
Stickley has served with the University since 1993 and was most recently the academic services assistant and interim academic services/testing coordinator. Stickley’s new responsibilities will include recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising all tutors and note-takers for students requiring those services.
“Melodye’s promotion is well-deserved, and I am excited to see her in this role,” Pelts said. “Her history of dedicated service and strong institutional knowledge makes the academic services coordinator position a natural next step for her.”
Clark has more than 20 years of classroom experience, including the last 18 years as a fifth grade teacher in the Clarksville School District. Clark has a degree in education from the University of Central Arkansas. She and her husband Jimmy, the University’s major gifts officer for athletics, have two sons, Dax and Cole, a 2024 graduate of Ozarks.
Clark’s role has dual responsibility to both the JLC and SSC programs. She will provide group and individual educational support services to students in the JLC with an emphasis on writing support. In addition to providing one-on-one writing assistance to students enrolled in the TRIO program, Clark will provide workshops on topics such as time management, writing styles, grammar, effective editing, and research methods.
“After 23 years in the classroom, I decided it was time for a change, but I wanted to stay in education,” Clark said. “I look forward to working in the Jones Learning Center and the Student Success Center to help students in their educational journey.”
Banning was most recently the computer lab manager and reading and spelling interventionist for the Clarksville Primary School. She also served as the varsity cheer coach for Clarksville High School. Banning previously was the cheer coach at U of O from 2019-2020. She and her husband, Stephen, have two children, Paige and Ryan.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Ozarks family,” Banning said. “Growing up in Clarksville, I know the impact that U of O has in our community and I’m overjoyed to be a part of it. I look forward to meeting many Ozarks students in the coming months.”
Topics: Student Support Services