’50s
Jimmy “Jim” Stone ’53, ’57 was recognized with the Distinguished Educator Award at the 2019 Conway Public Schools Foundation’s Hall of Honor Gala.
’60s
Bill Johnson ’60 received the Guy W. Murphy Distinguished Service Award at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.
Jo Ann (Roth) Cooper ’61 is serving her second seven-year term on the Arkansas State Library Board.
Sandra J. Leder ’63 recently retired from the Department of Education Professions at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Ronald “Ron” Lensing of BancorpSouth is an inductee of the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame 2019 class.
’70s
Dr. Terry Fiddler ’70 received the Guy W. Murphy Distinguished Service Award at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.
Dr. David C. Jacks ’72 won the 2019 Arkansas Medical Society Asklepion Award. Jacks founded South Arkansas Urology Clinic in Pine Bluff in 1981, where he remains in practice today.
James “Lavon” Morton ’72 was appointed as the Ward 3 director by the city of Fort Smith Board of Directors for a term extending through 2020.
Carol Hampton Rasco ’72 was honored with the Distinguished Alumna Award at Hendrix College.
fDr. David Martin ’79 joined Conway Medical Group, which is a part of the Conway Regional Primary Care Network.
’80s
Dr. Nancy (Berryman) Reese ’80, chair of the UCA Department of Physical Therapy, was named a 2019 Catherine Worthingham Fellow by the American Physical Therapy Association.
Starla Gresham ’82, ’90 has been appointed to the Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The appointment expires July 20, 2021.
Linda (Turner) Harding ’82 was appointed to the Kennedy Center National Committee for Performing Arts.
Judith “Dianne” (Burrow) Booth ’83 was named one of five national winners of the 2019 180 Educator Awards by learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Samuel “Sam” Denton ’85 was reappointed by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. The appointment expires July 1, 2021.
Mark McMullen ’85 was recognized by U.S. Sen. John Boozman in “Salute to Veterans,” a series recognizing the military service of Arkansans.
Jerry Napier ’86 started a new position as the assistant manager at a Dollar General in Nokesville, Virginia. He also completed the first long-term position as electricity/woodtech teacher for Fauquier High School in Warrenton, Virginia.
Laura Abbott ’88, ’96 was awarded the U.S. Department of Justice’s Volunteer for Victims Award during the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in April.
Dr. Tracy McAllister Owens ’88, ’00 received the Assistant Dean Academic Achievement Award from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Michael “Mike” Lloyd ’89 was hired as senior vice president of client delivery and operations at First Orion.
Dr. Kristy Roberts ’89 began practice at Greenbrier Family Medicine, which is a part of the Conway Regional Primary Care Network.
’90s
Keith “Butch” Dunbar ’90, JD, has been hired as general counsel for Advance DNA.
Carol Fleming ’90, ’91 began her two-year term as president of the Arkansas Education Association on July 15, after winning a statewide vote in May.
Stuart Flynn ’90 was selected as the new dean of academic affairs at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts.
Wanda King ’90 was promoted to vice president of Claims and Federal Employee Program Operations at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Steven “Steve” Goff ’91 moved from state editor to city editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Mary “Katherine” (Sievers) Hinson ’91 is serving as a National Geographic GeoBee West Virginia state coordinator.
Bryan Bruich ’92, chief financial officer at Nabholz Corp., is a finalist for Arkansas Business’ 2019 CFO of the Year in the large private company category.
Kirk Vansandt ’92 was promoted to chief lending officer of Farmers and Merchants Bank.
Scott Winter ’92 was promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Ronald “Ron” Branscum ’93 was hired as a senior vice president and commercial banker at Arvest Bank, overseeing the bank’s commercial lenders in Rogers, where it has eight branch locations.
Vincent “Vince” Sims ’93 joined KXAS in Fort Worth, Texas, as a co-anchor.
Christopher Coffman ’95 was named vice president of sales and account management at Edafio Technology Partners and joined the UCA College of Business Advisory Board.
Lt. Col. Sherry Johnson ’95 has proudly served as an active duty U.S. Air Force nurse in the corps for 21 years.
Velvet Medlock ’95 was appointed to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The appointment expires July 1, 2022.
Greta (Schultz) Morgan ’96, Baptist Health-Conway, was named Nurse of the Year at the 2019 North Metro Healthcare Awards.
Rosalyn “Denise” (Ealy) Perry ’96 was elected to serve a seven-year term on the Conway Corp. Board of Directors. The term began May 8.
Faye (Barrentine) Shepherd ’96 was the first recipient of the Faye Shepherd Award for Juvenile Justice for outstanding contributions to juvenile justice in the Arkansas 20th Judicial District.
Darian Smith ’96, ’99, ’13 has been named executive director for elementary leadership at the Little Rock School District.
Dr. Stacy Smith-Foley ’96 leads The Breast Center at CARTI in Little Rock as the center’s medical director.
Josclyn (Jones) Wiley ’97 was named assistant superintendent of special services at Hope Public Schools.
Misty Birdwell ’98, ’03 joined Greenbrier Family Medicine Clinic, which is a part of the Conway Regional Primary Care Network, as an advanced practice registered nurse.
Hatim Smouni ’98 has earned the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor credential from the National Association of Plan Advisors.
Jon Wilkerson ’98, ’99 was appointed by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas State Independent Living Council. The appointment expires Feb. 1, 2022.
Jennifer (Martinez) Belt ’99 has been appointed to the board of directors of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance in Little Rock.
Ruth (Whitefield) Frazier ’99 was appointed the chief development officer of Friendship Centers, a nonprofit that serves adults over 50 in southwest Florida.
Dr. Dionne Bennett Jackson ’99 accepted a position as executive director for AR Kids Read.
’00s
Dakisha Boone-Wesley ’00 was selected as an assistant county manager with Buncombe County in North Carolina.
Amanda (Keathley) Gaither ’00 joined the medical associate staff as a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper, Indiana.
Jeff Turnage ’00, Standard Business Systems, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Jonathan Bricker ’01 was named vice president and international business development representative for Arvest Bank’s treasury management division.
Kathy Fulks ’01 has been reappointed by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the State Apprenticeship Coordination Steering Committee. The appointment expires Jan. 14, 2024.
Aaron “Jacob” Ishee ’01 has been named senior director of purchasing at DAP, a manufacturer and supplier of products for professional contractors, remodelers and do-it-yourselfers.
Joshua “Josh” Newton ’01, JD, was appointed to a state district court judgeship in the Arkansas 32nd Judicial District by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. He will serve until an elected replacement takes over in 2021.
Scottie Pippen ’01 was an inductee for the inaugural class of the Faulkner County Sports Hall of Fame.
Patrick “Brent” Taylor ’01, JD, has been promoted to chief operating officer of Citizens Bank & Trust in Van Buren.
Wendy Blackwood ’02, ’04 was appointed to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The appointment expires Dec. 1, 2020.
Kristen (Sluyter) Moyers ’02, JD, was recognized in Little Rock Soiree’s Women To Watch 2019 List.
Joshua “Josh” Tate ’02 was hired as the new chief marketing officer for First Community Bank in Batesville.
Heide (Pingley) Harrell ’03, APR, has been selected to serve on the national board of directors for the Public Relations Society of America.
Alek Srbinovski ’03, director of sales at CaseStack, is a part of the Class of 2019 Forty Under 40 for Talk Business & Politics’ NWA Business Journal.
William Cunningham ’04 is an honoree of Arkansas Business’ 2019 Class of 40 Under 40.
Elizabeth “Beth” McCullough Jimmerson ’04 was promoted from senior marketing coordinator to manager, marketing and communications at Conway Corp.
Wayne Bailey ’05 was promoted to senior production coordinator at Conway Corp. Channel 5/585. He will continue producing local programming, commercials and promotional sports. Bailey was hired in 2007 as a production coordinator.
Natalie Cannady ’05 has been named the director of a new institutional wellness program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
William “Rudy” Ledbetter ’05 is a member of the 2020 class of Leadership Fort Smith.
Jessica (Simpson) Sorg ’05 was recognized in Little Rock Soiree’s Women To Watch 2019 List.
Dr. Katie (Blankenship) Beal ’06, a board-certified obstetrics and gynecology physician, recently joined Northwest Women’s Specialty Group in Bentonville.
Chasse Conque ’06 has been named vice president and director of athletics at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas. He was previously the vice chancellor and director of athletics at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Sarah Goss ’06 has been promoted to partner at Allison + Partners of Little Rock.
Dr. Kenny Holder ’06, ’09 has opened his own physical therapy practice, Elite Physical Therapy, in Conway.
Jennifer Morehead ’06 earned her Master of Science in college student counseling and personnel services in May 2018 from Arkansas State University.
Hitesh Patel ’06, Kimberly-Clark, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Amy (Bynum) Whitehead ’06, ’08 was featured as an honoree in Arkansas Business’ 2019 Class of 40 Under 40.
Jenny Wilkinson ’06 is a member of the 2020 class of Leadership Fort Smith.
Jamison Jackson ’07, ’08 married Clint Ashley ’06 on June 22, 2019.
Ashley (Mathis) Love ’09 has been hired as the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce’s new communications and marketing manager.
Sarah (Larson) Malloy ’07 will be the next director of the Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange at the University of Arkansas.
Jerrod Sandefur ’07 has been promoted to assistant vice president and commercial loan officer at Citizens Bank of Batesville. Sandefur joined Citizens Bank in 2016 as a commercial loan officer.
Dr. Megan (Scott) Selman ’07, ’09, ’17 has been named executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of the Arkansas River Valley.
Cara Petrus ’08 has been named director for the Arkansas Neuroscience Institute at CHI St. Vincent.
April Pollard ’08 was recognized in Little Rock Soiree’s Women to Watch 2019 List.
Caronica Randle ’08 was named Arkansas State University women’s basketball associate head coach.
John Scherrey ’08 was promoted to chief lending officer of Centennial Bank’s Conway region.
Corey Throneberry ’08, First Service Bank, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Dr. Danielle Atwood ’09 received the Outstanding Alumna Award at the UCA Department of History’s 23rd annual Ophelia Fisher Graduation Reception.
Dr. T. Kale Gober ’09 was featured as an honoree in Arkansas Business’ 2019 Class of 40 Under 40.
Michael “Mike” Philpot ’09 has been selected as the new vice president of economic development for Jonesboro Unlimited.
Lindsey (Bonds) Sierra ’09, ’15, an advanced practice registered nurse, has joined the Conway Regional Gastroenterology Center.
Katherine Vasilos ’09 was featured as an honoree in Arkansas Business’ 2019 Class of 40 Under 40.
Tobin Williamson ’09 was selected to be a part of the 2019-20 cohort of Indiana’s Emerging Leaders Project. The Emerging Leaders Project is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides free training to up to 40 Indiana residents each year.
Nathan Winter ’09, ’11 was appointed by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas State Independent Living Council. The appointment expires Feb. 1, 2021.
’10s
Matt Baker ’10, Centennial Bank, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Benjamin Cox ’10 received his Doctor of Musical Arts in voice pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin in May.
Tiffany Duhamel-Barger ’10 was hired by Arvest Bank as vice president and private banking adviser.
Allison (McElroy) Hillemann ’10 joined CJRW in Little Rock as a video production manager/producer.
Kayla Kesterson ’10 joined the sales and service team of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau as a sales manager.
Carlos Merino ’10, math and engineering instructor at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee, was awarded a faculty star award for outstanding service to the college.
Rachel Tidwell ’10 was hired as a commercial banker at Arvest Bank.
Nina (Vella) Copeland ’11 is a member of the 2020 class of Leadership Fort Smith.
Travis Mays ’11, UCA, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Jason Ronza ’11, ’14 was promoted to director of operations at RP Power in North Little Rock.
Samantha (Hargrave) Bowman ’12 earned a Doctor of Philosophy in health education from A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. Bowman is program development specialist in the Department of Employee Education at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.
Lauren (Mesker) Dickey ’12 was recognized in Little Rock Soiree’s Women to Watch 2019 List.
Dr. Matthew “Nick” Farr ’12, ’14 is the new assistant principal at Jacksonville High School.
Breckenn Findley ’12 joined the staff of Conway Regional Medical Clinic-Russellville as an advanced practice registered nurse.
Joshua “Josh” Price ’12 has joined the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College Foundation team as its director of development.
LaTisha Sanders-Jones ’12, Conway Corp., graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Nicholas Williams ’12, ’13, JD, has joined Mitchell Williams Selig Gates & Woodyard in Little Rock as a litigation associate.
Jesse Chambliss ’13 has been hired as the assistant director in the Office of Student Experiences at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Joseph Ganann ’13, Metova Inc., graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Osmar Garcia ’13, Northwestern Mutual, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Kelsey Zerell ’13 married Bennett Herrick on April 13, 2019.
Jennifer (Adams) James ’13, ’18 joined the MediQuick team from Conway Regional Medical Center. She is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with over 20 years of nursing experience.
Jessica (Ballew) McCuin ’13 was recognized in Little Rock Soiree’s Women to Watch 2019 List.
Samantha Pettis ’13 accepted a new role as senior accountant at BSR Real Estate Investment Trust in Little Rock. She was also included in Arkansas Business’ 2019 Class of 20 in Their 20s.
James “Jake” Whisenant ’13 joined iProv LLC in Little Rock as a social production coordinator.
Joshua “Josh” Carter ’14, Northwestern Mutual, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Amber Rowlett ’14 married Andrew Crawford on May 18, 2019.
Dr. Rachael (Galloway) Goodwin ’14 graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and works as a physician for UAMS Northeast in Jonesboro.
John “Trey” Lamberth ’14 has joined the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce as a communications director.
Catherine Margaret Motta ’14, ’16 married Lawrence Clark Morse on May 4, 2019.
Sally (Adlong) Schanandore ’14, ’16, a speech-language pathologist at ACCESS Group Inc., was named Little Rock’s Top Speech Therapist by Little Rock Family magazine.
Eddie Thomas ’14 is an honoree of Arkansas Business’ 2019 Class of 40 Under 40.
Jordan Trexler ’15, ’18 accepted a position at Wooster Elementary School as the school counselor.
Eric Botteicher ’16, ’17 was promoted to senior tax accountant at HoganTaylor LLP.
Trevor Martin ’16, Ott Insurance, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Shalynn Mills ’16 was awarded a scholarship from Arkansas Optometric Association.
Grace Rains ’16, ’17 was hired as the director of operations at The Conductor.
Jessica Taylor ’16, ’19 has been named the first softball head coach at National Park College in Hot Springs National Park.
Ethan Bly ’17 was promoted to mortgage loan officer for Arvest Bank in Conway.
JiQuintas “Jay” Brown ’17 was promoted to scheduling and private branch exchange manager at Arkansas Heart Hospital. This is the fourth time in two years Brown has been promoted at the hospital. He also was a recipient of the All Heart Award, an internal recognition for employees who fulfill the hospital’s values.
Christopher Cole ’17 graduated with a Master of Arts in theological studies from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
Kandi (Chitman) Hughes ’17, JD, was featured as an honoree in Arkansas Business’ 2019 Class of 40 Under 40.
She was also recognized in Little Rock Soiree’s Women to Watch 2019 List.
Meredith “Gavin” Stiles ’17 married Tyler Langley ’06 on May 18, 2019.
Dierre Littleton ’17, UCA, graduated from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI) Class of 2019.
Sara Mitchell ’17 was hired as the varsity head volleyball coach at North Cobb Christian School in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Edward Tawiah ’17 was hired as a data analyst for the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement in Little Rock.
Rachel Zimmerman ’17 has joined Seal Solar of North Little Rock as a marketing associate.
Ellen Brown ’18 was recognized in Little Rock Soiree’s Women to Watch 2019 List.
Meagan Freeman ’18, a staff educator for Baptist Health in Little Rock, has been selected for the Arkansas Center for Nursing Inc.’s 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40 list.
Skylar Hatfield ’18 was hired to be the director of safety services by the Arkansas Trucking Association.
Lesley “Brooke” Keith ’18 joined Conway Regional Surgical Associates.
Logan (Stevenson) Toups ’18 was named Rookie Teacher of the Year by J.L. Williams/Lovett Ledger Elementary in Texas.
Aisha Udochi ’18 was accepted into the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities to attain her master’s and doctorate in personality, individual differences and behavior genetics with a minor in cognitive science.
Jacob De Linde ’19 was accepted into the Peace Corps. He will be stationed in East Timor, which is also known as Timor-Leste.
Make a Note
Keep in touch with former classmates. Send in your class notes on professional awards, honors, marriages, births and more.
Web: uca.edu/go/classnotes
Email: classnotes@uca.edu
Fax: (501) 450-5293
Mail:
UCA Alumni Services
UCA Box 4925 Conway, AR 72035