UCA Alumnus Clay Parker was among the “20 in their 20’s” featured in the Nov. 8th issue of Arkansas Business.
Parker, 25, is an analyst at the Circumference Group in Little Rock. He co-manages a $40 million portfolio with Chad Brown at the Little Rock technology and telecommunications investment and advisory firm.
Clay received his bachelor’s in business administration and master’s in international business administration from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. His international studies were augmented at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
Parker will travel to Africa in January to assist the Rwandan government in creating an investment advisory firm and analyst-training program to combat poverty through private enterprise solutions.
“My passion is business, and I want to fuse that with an international mission,” Parker stated in his interview with the Arkansas Business.
He serves as project coordinator for the nonprofit Bridge2Rwanda, where he recently designed a program that provided shoes to 33,000 children in Rwanda. His charitable work for Rwanda includes helping organize fundraisers such as the UCA Barefoot Walk and the Heifer Barefoot Bash.
Parker is the president of the UCA Young Alumni Association and serves as a mentor with the Arkansas Student Leadership Forum and the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas.
The University of Central Arkansas was well represented at 201o SusanG. Komen Race for the Cure with 45 team members, one of whom is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. 
Marilyn A. Friga, instructor in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education at the University of Central Arkansas, recently was granted her National Board Professional Teacher (NBPT) re-certification. Originally, Mrs. Friga was certified in November 2001 in the area of Adolescents and Young Adulthood/Social Studies-History. The National Board Professional Teacher re-certification process includes providing evidence of advancing professional growth, increased student learning, and adherence to the highest standards in teaching. Friga continues to grow in and contribute to the education profession as a Praxis III Assessor/Reviewer and a Path Wise Mentor/Trainer for teacher educator candidates preparing to become classroom teachers and practicing classrooms teachers seeking opportunities to advance their reflection and professionalism. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification is the highest recognition for classroom teachers in the United States. At this time, approximately 82,000 U.S. teachers are national board certified including approximately 1,400 Arkansas teachers. UCA is extremely fortunate to have an instructor who has earned both her original National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification in 2001 and her re-certification in 2010.
Debbie Barnes, assistant dean of the College of Education, served as a consultant last year to Florida Gulf Coast University in preparing for their first NCATE review. She offered considerable advice about their preparation plans, particularly helping them improve and refine their Unit Conceptual Framework. The university recently completed their national accreditation review and NCATE was so impressed with the institution’s conceptual framework that they posted it on the NCATE website as an example for other institutions (see 
Dr. Cheryl Wiedmaier and Ms. Brenda Linn, two faculty in the Department of Teaching and Learning, hosted a series of seminars designed specifically for business education teachers and teacher candidates called Building Strong Business Education Programs in the 21st Century . 
Dr. Mary Mosley, associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood/Special Education, sponsored two of her UCA graduate students to present with her at the Arkansas Reading Association’s annual conference on Nov. 18 in Little Rock. The annual conference is hosted by the Arkansas Literacy Teachers Educators (ALTE).
Five instructors from the UCA College of Education Child Study Center presented two sessions at the 49th annual conference of the Arkansas Early Childhood Association (AECA) held in Hot Springs October 14-16. Mrs. Kathy Moore, director of the COE Child Study Center, presented a session on using technology in the classroom. Previously a second grade teacher, Moore showed how she used technology to link her classroom of second graders to a science outpost on Antarctica, corresponding with a fellow Arkansan stationed there conducting science experiments.
Bryan Massey, professor of Art, was recently selected from a field of several other artists to design and prepare the Silas Hunt Monument at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The U of A Public Art Oversight Committee conducted the selection process.
The Department of Physical Therapy hosted Physical Therapy Alumni Weekend during UCA Homecoming weekend. Nearly 90 guests attended the tailgating cookout held on the patio of the Physical Therapy Center. Faculty, PT students, PT and PTA alumni and guests visited during the luncheon. The Department began hosting Alumni Weekend in 2006. In 2007, the event was aligned with UCA Homecoming and continues to be a tradition.
Dr. David Taylor, associate professor of physical therapy, and Dr. Bill Bandy, professor of physical therapy, recently published the following article along with recent 2010 DPT graduate Dr. JD Whittemore: “Test-retest Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change of a Novel Submaximal Graded Exercise Test in the Measurement of Graded Exercise Test Duration” in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, October 20, 2010 (Epub ahead of print).
Faculty in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences are collaborating this semester to provide interdisciplinary experiences for students. On Oct. 19, approximately 220 nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology students joined together in the Reynolds Performance Hall to learn more about the roles of different health care disciplines.
Dr. Jeffrey Padberg, assistant professor of biology, gave the keynote address for the induction convocation of the local chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) held at UCA on Sept. 26. At this welcome ceremony for students, friends and family, the students who had recently joined the society received their membership pins, and learned more about opportunities available to them through NSCS. The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an honor society inviting high-achieving freshmen and sophomores. Members must rank in the top 20 percent of their class.
Dr. Reid Adams, interim chair and associate professor of biology, and Dr. Ginny Adams, assistant professor of biology, along with five of their graduate students, recently attended the American Fisheries Society meeting in Pittsburgh, PA. This international organization is the “world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to strengthening the fisheries profession, advancing fisheries science, and conserving fisheries resources”. The students in attendance were Richard Walker (Scranton), Ed Kluender (Monticello), Clint Johnson (Conway), Loren Stearman (Oklahoma) and Jason Christian (Georgia). Six oral presentations were given on a range of topics including Alligator Gar biology, Northern Snakeheads in Arkansas, impacts of natural gas drilling and biology of headwater fishes. Dr. Ginny Adams is currently the president of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. Arkansas will host the 2013 international meeting in Little Rock.