PINE BLUFF, Ark. – For over three decades, one name was synonymous with the Chancellor’s Office at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Liz Strickland. Everyone who needed to make a connection with the Chancellor knew who to call. Not standing on formalities with title or handles, when they heard the voice on the other end say, “Chancellor’s Office, Liz”, they knew they were on the way to getting what they needed. Now retired, she will receive a special at the Chancellor’s Benefit for the Arts set for February 22 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
Liz F. (McDaniel) Strickland is native of Bird Eye, Arkansas and is the second of nine children born to the late Will and Mary McDaniel. Liz graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1967 and enrolled at AM&N College as freshman in 1967 at the age of 16.
She received a B.S. in Business Education from AM&N in 1972 and began teaching high school in Dermott, Arkansas. After five years, she returned to Pine Bluff to begin what would become a career that would span the term of every chancellor other than Dr. Lawrence “Prexy” Davis. As she advanced from secretary to assistant to the Chancellor, she was a vital asset to Dr. Herman B. Smith, Jr., Dr. Lloyd Hackley, Dr. Charles Walker, Dr. Carolyn Blakely, Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., Dr. Calvin Johnson, and for a short time, Dr. Laurence B. Alexander.
Summer 2013, Liz retired from the university after thirty-six years of service. She now spends her time engaging in her favorite pastimes–traveling and spending time with family and friends.
She is a member of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, where Kevin L. Crumpton, Sr. is the pastor. Liz teaches the Young Adult Sunday School Class and serves on the Mission Committee. She and her husband of 33 years, Lawrence B. Strickland, Sr. have one daughter, Courtney Strickland-Cegers.
The Mistress of Ceremonies for Saturday’s event will be Mrs. Tisha Arnold, project specialist in the office of Planning, Institutional Research and Public Information. Tisha D. Arnold has been working in the communications industry for more than 15 years. Her early beginnings started in radio as traffic director, web administrator and designer at KPBA radio station in Pine Bluff. The Chicago native progressed from there to work with the internet arm of the business designing websites and administering accounts. The signage she designed for the umbrella company, Metro Media Group, is still affixed to the building on 5th street.
A 2003 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, she also works in the community with the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Boys and Girls Club, Pine Bluff Image Committee, Leadership Pine Bluff Alumni Board, Pine Bluff Expo Committee and has performed with fellow Pine Bluffians in three theatrical productions at the Arts and Sciences Center for Southeast Arkansas.
Tisha began working at UAPB in July of 2004 under the supervision of Ms. Eva McGee in the office of Planning, Institutional Research and Public Information where she rose from Administrative Assistant to her current title as Project Specialist for Public Information. Along with her duties, she also manages the online and social media presence of the institution and is editor-in-chief of UAPB’s alumni magazine, PRIDE.
Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. event are $100 per person. For additional information regarding the gala, please contact Dr. Margaret M. Hall, co-chairperson and director of the Office of University Relations and Development at (870) 575-8701 or Henri Linton, co-chairperson and director of the University Museum and Cultural Center (870) 575-8232.
UAPB News 