Sonya Lockett is the interim director of the John Brown Watson Memorial Library at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
UAPB Interim Chancellor Andrea Stewart announced Lockett’s appointment that became effective July 1.
With more than two decades of experience in library sciences, Lockett replaced Maplean Donaldson, who retired.
Prior to this position, Lockett was the coordinator of public services for the UAPB library, where she was the library liaison for the UAPB School of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences.
She also serves on the UAPB Faculty/Staff Senate as the library representative and the activity director for the library’s Title III grant. Recently, she was appointed as the UAPB Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture Series chair.
Lockett has been recognized for her innovative approaches to library services. She has experience with integrating interactive gamification techniques to enrich student learning experiences. Her commitment to enhancing educational outcomes led to her gaining tenure at UAPB in 2018.
Lockett’s educational credentials include a master’s degree in library science from Texas Woman’s University, a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in hospitality management from UAPB, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Arkansas Baptist College. Before joining UAPB, Lockett served as the Library and Media Services director at Arkansas Baptist College.