Dr. Trina Fletcher
Interim Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development
fletchert@uapb.edu
Dr. Trina Fletcher is the Interim Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), a role she assumed in January 2026. In this executive position, she provides strategic leadership for the university’s research enterprise, overseeing sponsored programs, research compliance, faculty development, innovation, and external partnerships that strengthen institutional competitiveness and support regional economic growth. Previously, she served as Associate Dean for the School of Arts and Sciences, where she led research capacity-building initiatives, advanced strategic priorities, and supported programmatic assessment and accreditation. Dr. Fletcher also holds an appointment as an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering.
Dr. Fletcher received tenure and promotion in the College of Engineering and Computing at Florida International University (FIU), a Carnegie Research 1 institution, prior to returning to UAPB. Her career reflects sustained leadership in federally funded research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and research capacity building across HBCUs and 1890 Land-Grant institutions. As founder and director of the READi Lab, she has secured millions of dollars in federal, corporate, and institutional research funding as a principal investigator and contributed to large-scale, multi-institutional grants. Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, and industry partners including Microsoft, Verizon, Lockheed Martin, and Motorola.
Prior to academia, Dr. Fletcher held leadership roles at two Fortune 500 companies and served as Director of Pre-College Programs for the National Society of Black Engineers. She has delivered over 100 invited presentations and authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. Her work has been featured in Forbes and Fortune, highlighting its national impact at the intersection of education, technology, and workforce development.
Dr. Fletcher earned a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University, a bachelor’s degree from UAPB, and master’s degrees in engineering from the University of Arkansas and George Washington University.
Mrs. Genevia K. Thomas
Project Program Specialist
(870) 575-7165
kelseyg@uapb.edu
Ms. Allyson Y. Jackson
ORSP Associate for Administration
(870) 575-8051
jacksona@uapb.edu
Ms. Azarin Yazdani
Research Project Analyst
(870) 575-8214
yazdania@uapb.edu
