With a heart for helping people as her motivation, Quaneshia Goodley has found her niche in social work.
She earned her cosmetology license the same week she graduated high school, but she knew she wanted to do more.
She started as a social work intern at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas while working toward a bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Arkansas. After her internship, the nonprofit offered her a position, and she worked there for 10 years.
Her talent and dedication quickly stood out, leading to a full-time role as match support manager in 2014. In 2017, she was promoted to team lead, and in 2021, she became program director.
“When I was at Big Brothers Big Sisters, my transition into the program director role happened right after [the COVID-19 pandemic],” Goodley said. “Our numbers were really down. All our site-based programs at area schools had shut down. I was able to increase our numbers to close to 40%, and we won the 2023 Growth Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.”
While with the nonprofit, Goodley piloted the Beyond School Walls youth mentorship program in partnership with Rogers Heritage High School and the Walmart Home Office/Sam’s Club. She also launched the nonprofit’s first High School Leadership Program in partnership with Fayetteville High School Student Ambassadors and Owl Creek School in September 2023.
She’s looking to bring that energy to the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, where she has worked for the past year.
“I want to help as many single parents as I can and grow the workforce locally,” Goodley said.
Goodley maintains her cosmetology license and volunteers for area back-to-school events, offering hair services to children in need.