When J’Keile Hadley began his educational journey at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff four years ago, he intended to be quiet and stay in the background.
“I had expectations coming to college to stay quiet, stay chilled, and out of the way. But that changed extremely fast,” Hadley said.
He forged a collegiate-to-career pathway that included becoming a college senator, president, and a scholar with a grade point average of 3.69.
A Dermott native, he is currently employed as a legal assistant at the Law Office of Lee D. Miller in Little Rock, according to a news release.
His academic journey was marked by numerous achievements, including graduating magna cum laude during UAPB’s Spring 2025 Commencement. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
When it came to determining what college to attend, Hadley said that UAPB was a mixture of “first choice and best choice.”
It was close to home, and it was the alma mater of his grandmother, Debbie Nimmer, who graduated from Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical, and Normal (AM&N) College (now UAPB).
“I knew about (UAPB) firsthand from her because I was raised by her and my grandfather the majority of my life. Growing up, I was always at UAPB’s Homecoming and various alumni events. Wherever she went, I was pretty much a little shadow right behind her,” Hadley said, reflecting on the strong influence his grandmother had on his decision to attend UAPB.
He added that Nimmer was filled with joy when she learned that her grandson had decided to attend UAPB.
“She was happy. She always said, ‘You know that you can go to UAPB, but I’m not going to force you to go’… so she was just happy that the best choice was UAPB,” Hadley said.
According to Hadley, the UAPB Office of Recruitment began communicating with incoming freshmen by way of text messages. Hadley said that he became friends with a few of the students in the text message group. They began communicating independently, helped each other move into their dorm rooms, and strengthened what he described as a “familiar family bond with these new people. So, they kind of brought me out of my shell and started my adventures in the right direction.”
“This sense of community is a hallmark of the UAPB experience, making every student feel included and part of a supportive environment,” according to the news release.
Hadley immediately became a member of the Carolyn F. Blakely Honors Program and was named president the following year.
A motivating factor was Annette Fields, director of the Honors College and an instructor/counselor for the UAPB Office of Basic Academic Services.
“She was the catalyst to everything,” he said.
Hadley added that while being involved with the Honors Program, the idea was to change the culture to that of a close-knit organization with a community feel. The goal was to remove the feeling of formality and the misperception that scholars are untouchable.
“We tried to make it less formal where you could come be yourself among other scholars,” Hadley said.
In 2024, he traveled to Atlanta to compete in the Black College Quiz Bowl, hosted live by radio host, actor, comedian, producer and entrepreneur Thomas Miles, aka “Nephew Tommy.”
Fields also appeared on the program with Hadley. The game show featured students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) around the country showcasing their knowledge and skills of African American history, according to the Black College Quiz Bowl’s website. Hadley’s brief interview is highlighted on the site.
While at UAPB, he served as a senator for the Johnny B. Johnson Housing Complex, was an inaugural member of the Emerging Scholars Leadership Institute, and the first cohort of Strada Scholars, which was part of a nationwide cohort of students selected at institutions participating in the Strada HBCU Initiative.
As a freshman, Hadley and two other students from the Honors Program — Janiya Fellows and Jada Sharp — were the first three to represent UAPB. Hadley, Fellows, and Sharp’s names are listed on the Strada Scholars website as being among the first cohort to graduate in celebration of the program’s fourth year.
Hadley was also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, TRiO Student Support Services Program and Black Male Achievers. He credited Fields, Dean Frank D. Dorsey II, Courtney Jackson, UAPB Student Involvement and Leadership and Oscar Fuller, UAPB Office of Development, as being UAPB faculty and staff who “could see the potential in him to help him get through it.”
“It takes a village, and I was truly glad I had a village of people who weren’t related to me and didn’t really know me. Those four really took me in, not knowing me, but giving me a chance to be in relationships with them (and) talk to them when I needed somebody to talk to, no matter what time it was or what it was about. They really helped shape me to be the person I am today,” Hadley said.
Hadley plans to pursue a career as a criminal defense attorney and eventually own a law firm. He also plans to launch a traditional security business on the side that may later be expanded to a cybersecurity company.
Hadley gave insight into his passion for the legal profession. He also shared a message on the importance of being protected in technological and digital spaces.
“I would say you’ve got to be more careful,” Hadley shared. “Be careful with all that you are putting out digitally these days. Because while we know that technology is the future, technology is also the greatest asset to people who would like to try and steal what we have hidden. Although you might think it’s secure, there’s always a loophole or a way to bypass these devices and passwords. With Social Security and credit cards, you have to find more stable and suitable ways to be secure and not try to have everything in one place.”
What advice does Hadley have for potential or current students who want to start or continue their educational journey at UAPB?
“Don’t let the outside world deter you from what you want to experience when you can truly go there and experience it for yourself, you can know the true university for what it really means – its values, its morals, and how you can really help in shaping it,” he said.
