UCA Magazine

In Living Color: UCA Alum Learns Life Lessons While Honoring Parents

Michael Turley ’16, ’21 stood out at the University of Central Arkansas’ Farris Center during the fall 2021 commencement ceremony, celebrating his newly-earned doctorate of philosophy in interdisciplinary leadership studies. Among a sea of graduates in the traditional black regalia, Turley wore purple to honor his alma mater.

It’s All Connected: UCA Professor Explores the Impact of Elements in Freshwater Life

Perhaps you’ve heard this one. Algae A floats over to Algae B and says, “Hey, how are things?” Algae B happily responds, “Good, thanks! Business is BLOOMING.”

The Building Blocks of Wellness

The Integrated Health Sciences Building (IHSB) saw its grand opening in August 2021. The 80,000-square-foot, four-story facility offers expanded educational opportunities for students and faculty in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (CHBS).

BeWell: Building a Campus Culture of Health During COVID-19 and Beyond

During a pandemic that has taken a global toll on both physical and mental health, investment in human capital is essential now more than ever before. Through the employee wellness program, BeWell, the University of Central Arkansas invests in the physical and mental well-being of more than 1,500 faculty and staff members.

Growing Together: UCA Professor Learns Art of Homesteading

M Shelly Conner has the makings of an agricultural dream. With her wife, Tiffany, she operates a 15-acre homestead in Cabot with plans to grow their own food supply and be self-sufficient.

Prescription for Training: Service-Learning Partnership Promotes Skill, Confidence, Friendship

At its core, academic service-learning at the University of Central Arkansas is designed to integrate community service with instruction to positively impact the learning experience. One uniquely effective and practical example of this learning style exists between the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and area law enforcement agencies.

Going the Distance: Clinician Immerses Into Alaskan Culture for Holistic Treatment

Beard always knew her career would not be typical. After she graduated from the University of Central Arkansas’ College of Health and Behavioral Sciences with a master of science in communication sciences and disorders, she completed a clinical fellowship at Kidsource Therapy. When she learned about itinerant positions in rural Alaska in 2015, she immediately applied and landed a gig with two remote villages in the Yukon region.

Community Nutrition: Students Solidify Passion and Gain Confidence Through Service-Learning

The College of Health and Behavioral Sciences Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences has a long history of service-learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Service-learning is a way for students to tackle authentic problems, wrestle with complicated issues, serve communities with vigor and achieve learning objectives.

Pandemic Pivot: UCA Athletics Sets Own Course

With guidance from the UCA administration, medical staff, athletic training staff and the athletic department administration, the Bears and Sugar Bears not only survived, but thrived during an unprecedented and challenging year. UCA maneuvered successfully through and flourished during a pandemic year when very little was normal in the world of athletics.

Bobby Gragston: Alumnus Achieves Dream of Training Olympics

As a health care services provider for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Bobby Gragston ’15 spent time working in Toyko, Japan training athletes for the games.