Working in her office located in Snow Fine Arts, Melody Henrie helps keep the program running as a fiscal support analyst, handling the money for the entire department.

“I buy things, I get things paid, do payroll, that kind of stuff,” Henrie said. “With travel, it is arranged for the departments.”

Previously employed as an accountant, Henrie took this job as a way to get back out into the working world.

“This is my retirement job,” Henrie said. “I’ve been here since February of 2021.”

Henrie is originally from Toronto but lived in Chicago before moving to Conway.

“I moved here in the middle of COVID,” Henrie said. “They closed the city behind us, but we’ve been here since then. I was working from home until they found somebody to replace me at my last job. And they did and then I got the job over here.”

When Henrie’s husband had to have surgery back in March, many music students organized to help take care of her lawn. 

“One of the faculty members arranged it,” Henrie said. “They came in and my whole front yard was transformed. It was really helpful. I couldn’t believe it. He [usually] has to pick up the slack because there’s only two of us.”

Henrie said that even though the department is small, they all come together to help out. 

“This department is interesting because it’s a small place,” Henrie said. “It’s just like a family.”

Henrie has taken on quite a few hobbies outside of her job, including working with UCA in a community emergency response team.

“There isn’t one in Faulkner County, there used to be one but I guess it’s not active anymore,” Henrie said. 

Henrie said after she heard the call for volunteers, she stepped right in. 

“I was like ‘OK’ because that kind of stuff doesn’t bother me.” Henrie said. “I am a people person, so I like being out there with tons of people. It’s fine with me. It’s been really fun and I’ve gotten to know more people in the university.”

Henrie said that the program has many opportunities for volunteers to learn how to save lives.

“You learn what to do in case there was a tornado, I think we’re going for this one because that’s the threat you most likely would have to deal with here,” Henrie said. “They just teach you about basic first aid, how to carry someone without killing yourself, you know, basic rescue.”

Currently, Henrie is pursuing her certification.

“I have a go bag, it’s not here right now because I’m not certified yet.” Henrie said, “Once I’m certified, we’ll have our backpack, we get a hard hat and we get a vest so you can be identified so people will know that’s what you are and they’ll be more willing to let you help them.” 

After being in the program for eight weeks, Henrie said she has also learned how to make cribbing to save people who are stuck, how to use random objects as a lever to free them and also how to use a fire extinguisher. 

“You give information to the first responders when they come in,” Henrie said. “You’re the first one on the scene. Say there was a fire in this building, people would get out. We’d be the ones that would go through and tell them this is how many people got out.”

Henrie said that the content she is learning is often very theatrical. 

“I have now learned how to splint a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal,” Henrie said. “Tomorrow we do it on real people with fake blood and objects.”

Henrie said she also loves to travel in her free time and explore the world around her.

“My husband does not like to go on long plane rides, and so I have a friend that I travel with and we’ve been to New Zealand and Australia, it’s the farthest away we’ve been,” Henrie said. 

Henrie said her friend is very adventurous and has made it a mission to go to all continents. 

“She’s literally been all over the world, that’s why we went to Australia, it was number 10,” Henrie said.

Henrie said her advice for anyone is to never give up.

“[For] me, it was my husband. We didn’t know. He was taking an ambulance, people were like ‘oh my gosh, I can’t believe you’re still here’. It gives you a little perspective,” Henrie said. “When things get hard, don’t give up. I’m Christian, so that helps me. It’s not in our hands, we think we’re in control — we’re not. Nobody is guaranteed anything.”