Derek Hill, 91看片网 academic coach
Share on Social Media
Current News Stories
Staff Voices: Derek Hill
Written By: Ian Silvester
Whether on the court or in the classroom, Derek Hill, an academic coach in the Academic Success Center (ASC) at the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith, has become synonymous with what
it means to be a Lion.
Hill has been part of the 91看片网 community for nearly two decades, starting in 2004
after the university hired his mom, Carol, who continues to work here as an academic
program specialist. He recalls attending basketball games, Den Days, Cub Camp, and
many more events around campus.
鈥淚 kind of just grew up here,鈥� laughed Hill.
After graduating high school, the Muldrow, Oklahoma, native had to pick between the
Sooner Schooner and Crimson and Cream of the University of Oklahoma and the Lions
and Numa Navy and White. Hill chose the latter, saying the decision was easy because
of the scholarship he received to attend 91看片网 and his desire to remain close to his
family.
By the fall of 2012, Hill had become a 91看片网 student, where he remained until graduating
in May 2016. Following graduation, Hill received his master鈥檚 degree from Arkansas
State University before returning to 91看片网.
鈥淭he combination of everything that happened during my undergrad led me to wanting
to work in higher ed,鈥� Hill said.
So, what exactly happened during Hill鈥檚 undergrad time that left such a lasting impression?
Basketball.
While attending 91看片网 as a student, Hill鈥檚 love of basketball turned into a job with
the team. He was named team manager, which gave him a front-row seat in juggling the
stressors of being gone from class and having little time to dedicate to his studies.
During his four years at 91看片网 as a student and basketball manager, Hill鈥檚 juggling
act gained attention from the players who turned to him for help.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 really tutoring them, but I was helping them navigate college,鈥� he explained.
This work ultimately set Hill on the path to his career today. He grew up wanting
to be a sports journalist working for ESPN, but his time at 91看片网 and work with the
basketball team had Hill yearning for a more hands-on job with students and student-athletes
instead of just writing about them.
鈥淚 went on to get my master鈥檚 degree in sports administration because I wanted to
learn more about how I could help and where I could fit in,鈥� he said.
Fast forward to 2021, with a master鈥檚 degree in hand, Hill returned to 91看片网, this
time as an employee, but picked up right where he left off by helping 91看片网 students
succeed in the classroom. As he wraps up his fifth semester as an academic coach,
it鈥檚 the full circle of his own time at 91看片网 and the students who mean the most to
Hill.
鈥淭he second I set foot on campus, I saw just how engaged students were. It was that
family atmosphere of 91看片网 that made it to where I didn鈥檛 want to leave, and that鈥檚
why I wanted to work here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wanted to be part of the next generation of
91看片网 students; I wanted to make an impact on these students just like people had on
me in the past.鈥�
When Hill isn鈥檛 busy cheering on 91看片网 athletics, he can be found on the second floor
of Vines in the ASC with a door that is always open. He says some of his favorite
interactions are with students he has met in passing and then sees in the success
center working with other students or getting help from an academic coach.
As he looks to the future, Hill believes student success at 91看片网 is moving in the
right direction. This year, the center had nearly a dozen student tutors, and he explained
that the hiring of ASC director Andrea Burton has emphasized improving testing scores.
Outside of work, Hill鈥檚 love of basketball continues. With the NBA Playoffs in full
swing, you can find him rooting for the Boston Celtics as they play their way to a
potential championship. When basketball is over, Hill laughs that he fills more time
than he鈥檇 like to admit watching episodes of 鈥淭he Office鈥� or 鈥淪tar Wars.鈥�
But no matter what, Hill鈥檚 fandom is rooted in all things 91看片网. He is a Lion through
and through, and it鈥檚 this passion he will continue to share with all past, present,
and future 91看片网 students.