Honor Society® member
Juanita Croon
Technology Support and Operations Manager at Pulaski County Special School District: I lead a team of seven technicians to deliver comprehensive technical solutions across the district. Oversees the entire technology lifecycle from strategic procurement and deployment to sustainable disposal, ensuring fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency. Also serve as a key interdepartmental liaison, collaborating with HR, Finance, Transportation, and Special Education to align technological infrastructure with diverse departmental goals and educational needs. Additionally, I plan and initiate many of our Cybersecurity trainings for our users.
- computer information technology
- Class of 2028
- USA
Member since April 2025
About
I am a doctoral grad student dedicated to resolving "real-world" systemic issues through evidence-based strategic planning. My current work focuses on eradicating the homeless crisis in Arkansas by addressing the economic fragility of the state’s essential workforce. Hopefully, this would set the groundwork for establishing a replicable model for other states.
My research centers on the 60,000+ state-funded employees in Arkansas, with a specific emphasis on the classified staff earning under $50,000 annually. Despite being the backbone of state operations, many of these individuals earn wages that do not meet the modern requirements for long-term housing security. I am developing a strategic framework to demonstrate that elevating these employees to a livable wage is an investment with three-fold returns:
Homelessness Prevention: Stabilizing the "at-risk" population of state workers to reduce the burden on Arkansas's subsidies.
Economic Circulation: Fueling the state’s economy by increasing the discretionary income of its largest employment sector, which in turn drives local tax revenue.
Institutional Health: Securing the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System (APERS) and Arkansas Teacher Retirement System by increasing the volume of contributory inputs from the state’s foundational workforce.
I am seeking research collaborations and partnerships with policy stakeholders to transition this data into an actionable roadmap for state-wide economic stability.
Education
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University of Arkansas Little Rock
Computer and Information Science
2025 – Present
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University of Arkansas Grantham
Information Technology
2019 – 2022
Honors and awards
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Dean's List
Completing courses and graduating with 3.9 accumulative GPA.
Goals and interests
- Career goal
My career trajectory is focused on the intersection of Technology and Urban Development. I intend to leverage innovative building technologies and data-driven systems to design sustainable urban communities that provide high-quality housing at a cost accessible to the "working vulnerable" workforce.
Primary Target Roles:
Urban Technology Strategist: Integrating Smart City technologies and sustainable building materials to reduce the cost of living for residents while maintaining high-performance urban infrastructure.Smart Community Developer: Utilizing innovative construction tech (such as automated fabrication or modular design) to create housing solutions specifically geared toward individuals in the $50,000-and-under income bracket.
Technology Consultant for Public-Private Partnerships: Advising state agencies and private firms on how to implement "Real-World" tech solutions rather than reified concepts to solve the housing shortage and revitalize Arkansas's urban centers.
- Graduate school interests
My academic goal is to produce a body of work that serves as a catalyst for legislative change in Arkansas. I am particularly interested in research that demonstrates how technological efficiency and innovation in home design can offset the economic gap for low-to-mid-tier earners, ultimately strengthening the state’s retirement systems (APERS) and (ATRS) and broader economic health.
- Outside the classroom
Research Hobby: I am deeply committed to community equity, currently conducting independent research on municipal budget reform to secure increased funding for classified and support-staff employees. My interest in social impact extends to the housing sector, where I study innovative home construction methodologies aimed at reducing costs and accelerating timelines to combat the affordable housing crisis.
Gardening Hobby: Outside of my research, I am a dedicated gardener focused on environmental stewardship. I specialize in cultivating pollinator habitats for hummingbirds and butterflies. I also had a wonderful opportunity to spend time with one of our local boys and girls clubs teaching students to grow their own food.
Experience
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Technology Support and Operations Manager
Pulaski County Special School District: I lead a team of seven technicians to deliver comprehensive technical solutions across the district. Oversees the entire technology lifecycle from strategic procurement and deployment to sustainable disposal, ensuring fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency. Also serve as a key interdepartmental liaison, collaborating with HR, Finance, Transportation, and Special Education to align technological infrastructure with diverse departmental goals and educational needs. Additionally, I plan and initiate many of our Cybersecurity trainings for our users.
Jul 2012 – Present
Volunteering
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Master Gardener: I volunteer my time at the Hays Senior Center, where I manage and maintain their garden beds to ensure a vibrant outdoor space for the residents.
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Oct 2022 – Apr 2026
Languages
- English (US) Fluent
Additional information
Organizations
