The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will play a central role in a new statewide initiative to expand Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The new effort follows the award of approximately $2 million in federal funding to Arkansas State University over the next five years, according to a news release.
The initiative will help campuses strengthen transition pathways and practical skill-building programs across the state. As part of this work, UAPB is introducing a new program within the School of Education and welcomes Robbin Hudson Huntley, program coordinator, who will oversee campus activities and serve as the primary contact for students, families and community partners seeking additional information.
Funded by the Office of Postsecondary Education within the U.S. Department of Education, the grant establishes the Consortium for Inclusive Postsecondary Education and Transition (CIPET), a statewide coordinating center designed to expand access to IPSE programs across Arkansas.
A cornerstone of this initiative is the launch of a new IPSE program within the UAPB School of Education.
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Kimberley Davis-Hunt, Ph.D, dean of the UAPB School of Education, highlighted the program’s significance and future impact. She also discussed the work that went on behind the scenes that led to an effective partnership.
“Launching an IPSE program in the School of Education at UAPB is both deeply personal and profoundly meaningful,” Davis-Hunt said. “It reflects our unwavering promise to the Delta and the Pine Bluff community to ensure that every individual, regardless of ability, has access to transformative educational opportunities close to home. This milestone is the result of more than two years of intentional collaboration with Arkansas State University, whose successful program served as both a model and an inspiration. Together, we have turned vision into reality, creating a pathway that affirms dignity, expands opportunity and reimagines what’s possible for students and families in our region.”
A Dumas native, Huntley brings a strong background in student support services, administration and disability-focused programming, according to a news release.
Huntley expressed excitement about her transition to UAPB, noting that it is an honor to help lead a program that expands access to higher education and meaningful career pathways for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She looks forward to building an innovative, student-centered IPSE program that aligns with UAPB’s mission on academic engagement, workforce readiness and independent living skills.
Huntley is deeply committed to community engagement, student success, rehabilitation services and post-secondary transition programming. She earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and her graduate degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling with an emphasis in Addiction Studies, both from UAPB. Her academic and professional experiences have shaped her passion for student success, according to the release.
“As IPSE coordinator, I am eager to collaborate with campus partners, community stakeholders and families to ensure the program’s success and long-term impact at UAPB,” Huntley said. Huntley can be reached by email at hudsonr@uapb.edu for more information.
Through this initiative, UAPB joins Arkansas State University-Jonesboro and Arkansas State University-Mountain Home in a three-campus consortium uniquely positioned to serve urban, rural and historically underrepresented communities. Each institution contributes distinct strengths — academic programs, faculty expertise, facilities, personnel and deep community partnerships — that together create a sustainable, scalable model for inclusive education statewide.
The consortium will be led by the RESTORE (Research, Education, Service, Transition and Outreach through Reflective Engagement) Hub at Arkansas State University, under the direction of Kristin N. Johnson, Ph.D., executive director and principal investigator. RESTORE will serve as the technical assistance and data evaluation hub, drawing on its experience operating A-State’s existing H.O.W.L. Transition Program.
According to Johnson, the consortium will meet a critical need in an extremely underserved population in Arkansas.
“This initiative represents a timely and transformative response to one of the most significant gaps in services,” Johnson said. “Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities remain among the most underserved populations. By partnering with UAPB and ASU-Mountain Home, we are breaking barriers and building futures. Inclusion isn’t optional, it’s essential.”
At UAPB, the new IPSE program will expand institutional capacity, align academic programming with workforce development and strengthen student support services, ensuring meaningful postsecondary pathways that lead to employment, independence and community engagement.
CIPET is grounded in the belief that every student, regardless of ability, deserves access to high-quality postsecondary experiences that are meaningful and measurable. The consortium will provide technical assistance to IPSE programs statewide, lead data collection and evaluation efforts and disseminate best practices to strengthen the sustainability of transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities.
“These resources will not only support program implementation but will also transform the educational and employment landscape for young adults with disabilities across Arkansas,” Johnson added.
ASU-Mountain Home Chancellor Bentley Wallace emphasized the regional impact of the partnership, noting that the initiative will enhance life skills training, credential attainment and employment opportunities for adults with learning differences in the communities his campus serves.
University leadership also highlighted the significance of the award at the state level.
Travis Marsico, Ph.D., vice provost for Research, Innovation, and Discovery at Arkansas State University and executive director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, called the grant “a very competitive win” and praised the collaborative vision that made the statewide model possible.
The RESTORE Hub at Arkansas State University is a social and behavioral sciences research institute focused on research, problem-solving and implementation science, with a mission to improve quality of life through education, service, innovation and collaboration. Through CIPET, that mission now extends more deeply into communities across Arkansas, most notably through UAPB’s role as a beacon of excellence for the Delta and beyond, according to the news release.