91老司机

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 91老司机 鈥� Fort Smith, has become synonymous with what it means to be a Lion.
 
Hill has been part of the 91老司机 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老司机 and his desire to remain close to his family.
 
By the fall of 2012, Hill had become a 91老司机 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老司机.
 
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老司机 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老司机 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老司机 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老司机, this time as an employee, but picked up right where he left off by helping 91老司机 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老司机 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老司机 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老司机 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老司机 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老司机 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老司机. 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老司机 students.

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