Bear Blog – University of Central Arkansas

UCA Welcomes New Hires For October

William Edwards – Admissions Counselor/Admissions

James Gray – Director of Development/Institutional Advancement

Samantha Hewitt – Laboratory Coordinator/Biology

Diane Hotchkiss – Food Preparation Supervisor/College Square

Lisa Moses – Institutional Services Assistant/Housing

Kimberly Parnell – Stage/Crew Coordinator/Reynolds Performance Hall

Aimee Poynter – Director of Development/Institutional Advancement

Christina Reed – Administrative Specialist III/Student Accounts

Winston Rogers – Police Communication Specialist/Dispatcher/Police D

John Ubbenga – Assistant Baseball Coach/Athletics

Robyn Williams – Assistant Direct of Career Coaching/Career Services

Welcome to the UCA Team!

UCA Alum Becomes Published Author; Sheds Lights On Bullying

Jacqueline Watkins is a registered nurse who earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas; her specialty area is medical surgical nursing.

The book “Bobby’s Bully” is a product of Watkins finding out that her son, Trelin, was being bullied at school.

Her book follows two main characters: Bobby and Tully. Bobby is the new kid at school trying to make new friends. Tully makes it hard for Bobby to enjoy this new environment. Bobby gets anxious as recess comes because he knows Tully will mistreat him. Tully fails to realize the emotional effect his behavior has on Bobby and others.

This children’s book teaches children that no one deserves to be bullied and bullying in general is unacceptable. Watkins hopes that “Bobby’s Bully” will empower children to do the right thing especially when they or others are being harmed.

She wants to make it her mission to touch people all around the world to let everyone know that they are not alone.

“This book will allow children to see they are not alone and that there are those out there who care about them,” Watkins says.

UCA Psychology Professor Makes a Difference

UCA psychology professor Dr. Kevin Rowell will serve on a crisis intervention team working in a Muslim refugee camp in Oinofyta Greece from November 1 -9.

The team is in need of a disaster-trained male psychologist given the gender role differences among Muslims.

Dr. Rowell is a nationally known expert in disaster mental health relief work having provided mental health services in New York after the attacks on September 11, 2001 and many other disaster events in the US.

He has been active with APA’s disaster relief team and provides training for the Red Cross as well as other organizations.

UCA Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi Receives Superior Chapter Recognition

The Beta Alpha Psi students and the accounting department were recently recognized by the national organization as a Superior Chapter.

2016-17 Beta Alpha Psi president Merle Hopkins stated, “On behalf of the Beta Alpha Psi Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate Professors Connie McKnight, Stephanie Watson and the Theta Lambda Chapter on their successful efforts during the 2015-2016 academic year. We are proud to announce that your chapter has been recognized internationally as a Superior Chapter. Each Superior chapter will receive an award check for $500 sponsored by the KPMG Foundation. Recognition as a Superior Chapter is a significant accomplishment. Under the leadership of Connie McKnight and Stephanie Watson, the Theta Lambda Chapter has far exceeded the baseline requirements of Beta Alpha Psi and has excelled in the areas of academics, professionalism, and leadership. As Faculty Advisors for the chapter, Connie McKnight and Stephanie Watson have provided an invaluable service to your academic institution.”

Conway Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Opening Night

For the Opening Night concert of its 32nd season, the Conway Symphony Orchestra welcomed back fan-favorite UCA artist-in-residence Neil Rutman, matched with another fan-favorite, Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.

Combined with the William Tell Overture and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, the Oct. 29 performance featured the music that audiences know and love, as they’ve come to expect from the Conway Symphony.

The 7:30 concert was held at Reynolds Performance Hall.

Subscriptions are still available, with a four-concert package for $64-$116, with discounts for all students, children, and UCA faculty/staff. Contact the box office at (501) 450-3265, Mon-Fri, 10-4, or www.uca.edu/tickets.

The award-winning Rutman has performed in over thirty countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He has appeared in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, Tokyo’s Bunka Kaikan, and the Schola Cantorum in Paris, with recent concert tours in the last five years of the United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand, Japan, and the Persian Gulf. Rhapsody in Blue combines classical music with jazz-influenced effects, premiering in New York in 1924 with Gershwin himself on piano. It has since become one of the most popular of all American concert works.

Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 continued the popular theme, with cheerful and optimistic music. “It’s filled with Bohemian life,” conductor and music director Israel Getzov said, “folksy and enchanting with haunting melodies.”

The Conway Symphony Orchestra brings professional concerts, exciting guest artists and high-quality music to the Central Arkansas community. For more information on concerts and other programs, visit ConwaySymphony.org or call (501) 269-1066.

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