UA Little Rock receives $4.2 million gift from Trinity Foundation
August 18-24, 2025
By Angelita Faller
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a transformational $4.2 million gift from the Trinity Foundation to strengthen early childhood education across Arkansas.
The investment has established the Trinity Foundation Early Childhood Education Endowed Professorship Fund, enabling the university to expand its capacity to prepare skilled educators, lead innovative research, and support community-based early learning initiatives statewide.
The gift includes $4 million to endow at least two faculty positions focused on early childhood education and an additional $200,000 in immediate-use funds to support faculty research and external grant development. Together, the funds will position UA Little Rock as a statewide leader in early learning innovation and educator preparation.
“Early childhood education is widely recognized as a critical factor in student success, economic mobility, and community health,” said Dr. Christina Drale, chancellor of UA Little Rock. “With this generous gift from the Trinity Foundation, we will strengthen our role in preparing educators and leading innovations that benefit Arkansas children for generations to come.”
Chancellor Drale shared that the journey leading to this gift began nearly seven years ago, when Haskell Dickinson first approached her with a call to action.
“About seven years ago, before I even became chancellor, Tyndall’s son Haskell Dickinson began calling me up and saying, ‘We have to do something about early childhood education,’” Drale said. “That was the beginning of a long conversation about what this would look like and how to get it done.”
The Trinity Foundation’s investment follows a recent study, led by UA Little Rock with Education Partners and funded by the foundation. The study identified three urgent needs for Arkansas’s early childhood education landscape: increasing the availability of licensed Pre-K–2 teachers, expanding research capacity to improve instructional quality, and building stronger statewide partnerships across sectors.
“As Chancellor Drale has alluded, Trinity also needs to recognize Haskell Dickinson for his leadership in making this opportunity come about,” said Thomas Dickinson, speaking on behalf of the Trinity Foundation. “He spent countless hours over more than two years pursuing this project both with UA Little Rock and within the Trinity Foundation. Without his efforts, we would not be standing here today to make the significant gift.”
With the Arkansas Department of Education preparing to launch a Pre-K–2 teacher licensure exam, UA Little Rock is poised to meet this need as it develops a new early childhood education program.
“Education is essential infrastructure. It strengthens communities, families, and futures,” Dickinson added. “This building, named for my grandfather, reflects a longstanding commitment to supporting education in Arkansas, and to supporting UA Little Rock’s mission in particular.”
The impact of the gift extends beyond the university, with local leaders emphasizing how investments in early education also serve as powerful tools for workforce development and long-term community growth.
“By preparing more licensed Pre-K–2 teachers and building a stronger research and innovation pipeline, UA Little Rock is creating the foundation for a stronger Arkansas,” said Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “When we invest in early learning, we’re not just supporting children; we’re supporting working parents, strengthening communities, and creating pathways to prosperity that last for generations.”
This comprehensive gift expands the university’s ability to lead in preparing educators, conducting critical research, and supporting innovative early learning programs. As part of this initiative, UA Little Rock will provide immersive teacher residencies, advance research on early learning, deliver professional development for educators, and advocate for broader access to high-quality early childhood education throughout Arkansas.
“Arkansas faces persistent challenges in early childhood education, especially in underserved communities,” said Dr. Rachel Eells, Windgate endowed director of the UA Little Rock School of Education. “This gift allows us to expand access, strengthen our research impact, and prepare teachers who can make a difference across the state.”
Eells also emphasized that the university is already moving to act on this investment.
“This gift will allow us to build a new early childhood education program that aligns with the Arkansas Department of Education’s efforts,” Eells said. “We’ll deepen our research capacity, support immersive teacher residencies, and expand professional development for educators statewide.”
The announcement was made Aug. 1 at H. Tyndall Dickinson Hall, home of the UA Little Rock School of Education and named for Haskell Dickinson’s father and Thomas Dickinson’s grandfather—honoring the family’s longstanding support of UA Little Rock’s educational mission.
Local community leaders were in attendance including University of Arkansas System President Jay Silveria, University of Arkansas System Board of Trustee Member Kevin Crass, UA Little Board of Visitors Chair Dean Kumpuris and Member Larry Golden, and members of the Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Fifty for the Future, and the Centennial Campaign Cabinet. Additionally, representatives from the Offices of Sen. Tom Cotton and Congressman French Hill as well as educational partners from the City of Little Rock and central Arkansas also attended the announcement.
“Trinity funded the initial study because we wanted UA Little Rock to help identify the barriers and opportunities in early childhood education,” Thomas Dickinson said. “What we learned made it clear. If we want to improve outcomes for Arkansas children, we need more trained educators, stronger research, and deeper collaboration.”
With this gift, UA Little Rock and the Trinity Foundation are helping to shape the future of Arkansas through expanded access to high-quality early childhood education.
“The Trinity Foundation’s investment reflects not just generosity, but a deep understanding of what Arkansas needs to move forward,” Chancellor Drale said. “This isn’t just a gift to UA Little Rock; it’s a gift to our state’s future. One that will shape how we prepare teachers, support families, and strengthen communities for years to come.”
Learn more about the UA Little Rock School of Education by visiting https://ualr.edu/education/.
Photo Cutline:
1. Thomas Dickinson, grandson of H. Tyndall Dickinson, discusses his family’s legacy of supporting education at UA Little Rock. The university’s School of Education is housed in H. Tyndall Dickinson Hall.
2. UA Little Rock Board of Visitors Member Kevin Krass (left), Drew Atkinson of the Trinity Foundation (second from left), and Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor of alumni and development at UA Little Rock (middle), talk with University of Arkansas System President Jay Silveria (right) during the announcement of a $4.2 million gift from the Trinity Foundation.
3. Jay Chesshir (left), president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber, Christian O’Neal (middle), vice chancellor for university advancement at UA Little Rock, and UA Little Board of Visitors Chair Dean Kumpuris (right) celebrate the announcement of a gift to enhance early childhood education at UA Little Rock.
Photo Credits:
Photos by Ben Krain
Photo Credit:
Photo by Ben Krain
