Title: Associate Professor
Company: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Location: Pine Bluff, AK United States

Inspired by the students and her passion for her profession, Janette R. Wheat has spent the past 10 years as an associate professor in the department of human sciences at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She chose her career because she always wanted to be a college professor; she excels at teaching, student development, professional organization, leadership and community service. Dr. Wheat considers her greatest accomplishment to be founding the Multicultural Spring Festival at the university.

As a woman in today’s world, Dr. Wheat feels that her faith and perseverance have contributed to her success in her chosen field, along with the help of strong mentors like her parents, who were both educators. To give back, she does a lot of mentoring at the university. If Dr. Wheat could give one piece of advice to the younger generation of women entering the workforce, it would be to have a vision and see big picture but take small steps to get there.

Dr. Wheat prepared for her career by earning a Ph.D. from Ohio State University, a Master of Education and education specialist degree from Tuskegee University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas. She is a member of the National Association of University Women, the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Alpha Kappa Alpha. Dr. Wheat is also the president elect of the Arkansas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She hopes to be remembered as a person who served and did outreach.