Honors College News

Posted on January 15, 2010

Forty-three Honors College theses were presented on Dec. 11, 2009. Some of the thesis topics were:

Colby Ann Bennett
Advisor: Kim McCullough, Speech and Language Pathology
“Living with Aphasia: A Case Study of a Woman in Arkansas”

Robert Blake Bowman
Advisor: Kim Hoffman, Political Science
“Yes, We Care: The Youth Vote in the 2008 Presidential Election ”

Tiffany Kaye Bullard
Advisor: Elson Bihm, Psychology and Counseling
“Literature Review and Analysis of Behavioral Treatments for Individuals with Autism”

Casey Jo Burnett
Advisor: Jeffery Whittingham, Teaching, Learning and Technology
“Albus Dumbledore: An Inside Look to the Magic behind the Harry Potter Phenomenon”

Christopher Kevin Carter
Advisor: Charles Bane, English
“The Angelic Dark”

Hsin Yu Chan
Advisor: Susan Myers, Marketing, Management and Information Systems
“Creative Advertising”

Sarah Jane Cogswell
Advisor: Laura Bowles, Writing
“’Us: A Novel’” A Fictional Study in Building Non-nuclear Families”

Cara D. Coker
Advisor: Patricia Carlin, World Language, Literature and Culture
“Expanding Arkansas’ Opportunities for Second Language Acquisition”

Derek Martin Damron
Advisor: Patrick Carmack, Mathematics
“Into the Void: The Development of Risk Management and Its Role in Contemporary Society”

Elizabeth Caroline Eason
Advisor: Charles Bane, English
“It’s a Good Day to be Indigenous: Sherman Alexie’s Rise from Reservation”

Gregory W. Edgin
Advisor: Norbert Schedler. Honors College
“A Post-Freudian Approach to the Life of Jesus of Nazareth”

Kristy A. England
Advisor: Jennifer Johnson, Occupational Therapy
“Influence of Culture on Occupational Therapy”

Allyson Marie Farish
Advisor: Story Matkin-Rawn, History
“When the Levee Breaks Again: The Flood of 1927 and Hurricane Katrina”

Gurrie Lin Frisbie
Advisor: Patty Phelps, Teaching, Learning and Technology
“Alwin High School: A Problematic Microcosm of Secondary Education”

Additional thesis presentations will be listed in the next issue of The Bear Ledger

College of Liberal Arts News

Posted on January 15, 2010

Dr. Michael Yoder, associate professor of geography, published an article on urban geography in northern Mexico called “Landscapes of Industry and Transport: Monclova and Torreón, Mexico,” Journal of Big Bend Studies 21: 179-200 (2009).

Dr. Rifat Akhter’s, assistant professor of sociology, article entitled, “Impacts of Global Economy on Women’s Labor Force Participation in the Developing Nation” was published in December in the Global Studies Journal.

Dr. Brian Campbell, assistant professor of anthropology, recently published an article entitled “A Gentle Work Horse Would Come in Right Handy: Animals in Ozark Agroecology” in the July 2009 issue of Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, and had another article, “Ethnoecology of the Ozark Agricultural Encounter” accepted for future publication in Ethnology: An International Journal of Cultural and Social Anthropology.

Dr. Doug George, assistant professor of sociology, has an article entitled, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?: American Multiculturalism and Black-White Aspirations for Social Integration into the United States” forthcoming in Sociological Imagination.

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics News

Posted on January 15, 2010

The Department of Math will host the annual national meeting of the Research Council in Mathematics Learning in March 2010. Dr. Carolyn Pinchback, professor of mathematics, played a crucial role in bringing the conference to UCA.

The Department of Computer Science hosted the 2009 PyArkansas Conference on Nov. 14. Professors Bernard Chen and Chenyi Hu of the computer science department delivered the sessions Python 101 for Beginners and Image Processing Python. Python is a popular high level computer programming language.

Dr. Ginny Adams, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and the Environmental Science Program coordinator, gave a presentation on the priority watersheds in Arkansas for fish conservation at the Southeastern Fishes Council at Lake Guntersville State Park in Alabama in November. Five students gave oral presentations and two gave poster presentations at the council meeting.

Dr. Patrick Carmack, assistant professor of mathematics, received contracts totaling $104,837 from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas over the past two academic years and the summer of 2009 for conducting statistical analysis in brain imagining research to improve spatial modeling to better detect affected portions of the brain in diseased subjects. Dr. Carmack also gave a talk recently on nonparametric semivariogram and nugget estimation in the Department of Statistical Science at the Southern Methodist University.

Drs. Danny Arrigo, George Bratton, Clarence Burg, Ramesh Garimella, and Charles Watson, mathematics faculty, offered professional development workshops in calculus and college algebra for high school teachers in central Arkansas who were scheduled to teach UCA concurrent math courses for the 2009-10 academic year. The Division of Academic Outreach and Extended Programs of UCA provided funding for the workshops.

Dr. Weijiu Liu, assistant professor of mathematics, has written an advanced textbook Elementary Feedback Stabilization of the Linear Reaction-Convection Diffusion Equation and the Wave Equation. The book was published by Springer under the series Mathematics & Applications Vol. 66. Dr. Liu joined the Mathematics Department in 2005. He has published over 40 papers in professional journals.

Residential Colleges News

Posted on January 15, 2010

Carey Voss, faculty-in-residence for Hughes Residential College, was recently selected to participate in two group exhibitions. Voss, who holds an MFA in Painting from American University, was selected to participate in “Exploring the Work of Arkansas Sculptors,” a juried show held recently at the Butler Center/Arkansas Studies Institute. In addition, three of Voss’s ephemeral roadkill sculptures were selected for “Environmentalism by Proxy,” a juried show on view through February 2 at Rabbit 18 Gallery in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Did You Know?

Posted on January 15, 2010

  • The Arkansas State Normal School did not have dormitories during its early years. Students had to depend on the citizens of Conway for room and board. The cost of room and board was between $12.50 and $15 per month. The first dorm, Doyne Hall, was built in 1913 and served as a dorm for 100 women.

  • The creation of the 1920 class ring by student Sam Huffman may have played a role in the movement to change Arkansas State Normal School to Arkansas State Teachers College. He created a ring design with a large letter A and the smaller letters T and C underneath the A. He also drew a bear peering though the top of the A. This ring design also led to the adoption of the bear as UCA’s official mascot.

  • McAlister Hall was dedicated on May 20, 1934, with the nation’s first elected female U.S. senator, Hattie W. Caraway, giving the dedicatory address. More than 2,000 people were in attendance.

Source: The Centennial History of the University of Central Arkansas by Jimmy Bryant.

Welcome to the Bear Ledger

Posted on December 9, 2009

There’s an old saying in real estate if you want to be successful it’s all about location. In regards to large organizations, such as UCA, to be successful it’s about communication. The UCA Division of University & Government Relations has started the campus-wide newsletter, The Bear Ledger, to keep the UCA community informed.

Our goal is to provide information about what is happening across campus with news from academics, administration, staff, physical plant, and others. Eventually, the electronic newsletter will be delivered twice a month in 2010.

We want feedback from you concerning The Bear Ledger and welcome any suggestions as to how to make it better. Send your suggestions, news, and comments to jeffp@uca.edu or Venita Jenkins at vjenkins@uca.edu.

Venita is the new associate director of media relations and comes to UCA with over 10 years of newspaper journalism experience. She will be responsible for putting together The Bear Ledger, but it will be a team effort involving all departments across campus.

We look forward to providing campus news to each of you and wish everyone a happy holiday season.

Jeff Pitchford, vice president of university and government relations

Meadors Addresses Campus Projects, Positions, and Bonus

Posted on December 9, 2009

President MeadorsAs the holiday season approaches, we have much to be thankful for at UCA and I want to share some updates.

Fiscal year 2009, we were only able to do slightly less than $3 million in campus renovations and repairs. This fiscal year, thanks to conservative spending, federal stimulus funds and some one-time bond funds, we will most likely be able to do in excess of $12 million in renovations and repairs.

Most of stimulus and bond funds must be spent this fiscal year. We apologize for all of the activities but we have a short window in which to accomplish this work.

Because most of these are one-time funds, it is unlikely that we will have this amount again, so we are trying to utilize the funds in numerous venues.

A vast majority — more than 80 percent — is going toward updating many of our facilities, especially as it pertains to environmental issues. We will also be spending well over $2 million on new computers and related computer equipment and software.

We will also be upgrading other areas as well as replacing recycling and trash containers, and improving sidewalks, road crossings, classrooms, flooring, security, and transportation.

In academic affairs, approval has been given to conduct 35 faculty searches to fill vacancies and to add a few new positions.

We have hired a vice president for financial services. Ms. Diane Newton is an Arkansas native and has been the vice president for business and administration at Lander University in South Carolina for the past six years. Ms. Newton will assume her new position in January 2010.

As you know, our faculty and non-classified staff have not been given a raise in over two years. Our classified staff did receive a permanent 2% COLA in fiscal year 2008 and a permanent increase in fiscal year 2009.

One of the federal stimulus allocations allows for a one-time (not permanent) supplement for full-time faculty and non-classified staff. With the support of the Board of Trustees, we are allocating a one-time supplement of $300 to all eligible faculty and staff. Our goal is to have this one-time supplement in the Dec. 15th payroll.

The Executive Staff has voted not to take this supplement so that their portion may be used towards other university enhancements.

I realize this is not much but we wanted, even if in a small fashion, to express our appreciation for your efforts and dedication during this period of no raises. It is, of course, our goal to provide permanent raises as soon as possible.

As the semester comes to a close, I hope you know how much we appreciate each of you. UCA is a tremendous institution that allows us to contribute each day to the future of not only Arkansas, but the nation and world. Thank you for all you do.

New Faculty, Staff at UCA

Posted on December 9, 2009

Several new employees joined UCA this fall. Here is a look at who they are:

October

  • Schurika Barker, institutional services assistant, Custodial Care, Oct. 16
  • Christina Bergmann, extra help, Office of Student Health Service, Oct. 13
  • Kimberly Blackburn, extra help, Office of Student Health Services, Oct. 28
  • Drew Bossen, part-time faculty, Physical Therapy, Oct. 15
  • Juli Cates, project/program specialist, AR Public School Resource Center, Oct. 5
  • Julie Ennis, fiscal support analyst, Budget Office, Oct. 1
  • Victoria Grantham, administrative specialist II, Mathematics, Oct. 26
  • Kimberly K. Graves, commercial graphic artist, AOEP, Oct. 1
  • Leona Harris, administrative specialist II, Leadership Studies, Oct. 5
  • James Hoyme, part-time faculty, Physical Therapy, Oct. 15
  • Angela Hughes, institutional services assistant, Custodial Care, Oct. 16
  • Venita Jenkins, associate director of media relations, Office of the President, Oct. 12
  • Mary Johnson, registrar’s assistant, Registrar’s Office, Oct. 26
  • Timothy Lyons, part-time faculty, Physical Therapy, Oct. 15
  • Laura McGhee, project/program specialist, International Programs, Oct. 1
  • Nancy McKay, extra help, Office of Student Health Services, Oct. 5
  • Rachel Roisen, administrative specialist II, Biology, Oct. 19
  • Danxia Shi, laboratory coordinator, Chemistry, Oct. 26
  • Tommy Vestal, extra help, Building Maintenance, Oct. 16
  • Felicia Walker, administrative specialist II, Minority Services, Oct. 26

November

  • William Baker, institutional services assistant, Custodial Care, Nov. 1
  • Melanie Bradford, technology projects coordinator, College of Education, Nov. 1
  • Stephanie Dickenson, extra help, College Square Retirement, Nov. 3
  • Jenna Haynes, extra help, Upward Bound O8-13, Nov. 10
  • Cynthia King, institutional services assistant, Custodial Care, Nov. 16

UCA Retirements

Posted on December 9, 2009

UCA employees with 145 combined years of experience have decided to retire.

  • Teresa Smith, Psychology and Counseling, retired July 15, 2009 after 25 years
  • Jeanne King, Purchasing, retired Aug. 7, 2009 after 28 years
  • Linda Brainerd, Early Childhood and Special Education, retired Dec. 3, 2009 after 14 years
  • Marian Brodman, World Language, Literature and Culture, will retire Dec. 31, 2009 after 23 years
  • Randall Pouwels, History, will retire Dec. 31, 2009 after 25 years
  • Donna Peterson, Philosophy and Religion, will retire Jan. 20, 2010 after 30 years

Staff News

Posted on December 9, 2009

Candace Welcher, the director of student health services, has been named the recipient of the 2010 Arkansas Nurse Practitioner State Award for Excellence. She will receive the award during a conference in June 2010 at the AANP National Conference in Phoenix.

Julia Robison, the associate director of Student Financial Aid, was awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the Arkansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Kaye Talley, coordinator of Technical Services and an associate professor, was recently awarded the Distinguished Service Award at the Arkansas Library Association annual conference.

Kristy Carter, the marketing coordinator for the Division of Academic Outreach, was named the Coordinator for the State of Arkansas for the American Council on Education’s Office of Women in Higher Education. She was chosen because of her leadership and commitment to the advancement of women in higher education.

In Memoriam

Posted on December 9, 2009

The University of Central Arkansas mourned the loss of two of its family members last month.

  • Heather Woolverton, 56, passed away Nov. 19 at Conway Regional Medical Center after a long illness. Professor Woolverton taught physics and astronomy. She remained active in the classroom until early October.
  • Gladys M. Sachse, 91, died Nov. 13 at Salem Place Nursing Home in Conway. Ms. Sachse taught library science at Arkansas State Teachers College, now University of Central Arkansas. She was also a published author and was instrumental in the development of the Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award.
    A scholarship was established several years ago in Ms. Sachse’s honor for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in library sciences. For more information about the scholarship, contact Kathleen Carroll at UCA Foundation.