UCA Magazine

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Features

Playing for Keeps

Playing for Keeps

When biology professors Ginny and Reid Adams came to the University of Central Arkansas in 2003, they had already established an impressive network of partnerships with governmental, private and public agencies, laying the groundwork for what would be The Adams Fish Ecology Lab.

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Article by Jennifer Mccune ’02, ’03, ’23 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features

Beth Helms ’13, ’15

Beth Helms ’13, ’15

University of Central Arkansas alumna Beth Helms ’13, ’15 hadn’t considered pursuing a career in speech-language pathology (SLP) when declaring a major. Still, an early fascination with American Sign Language and a summer job led her to a career she loves.

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Article by Jennifer McCune ’02, ’03, ’23 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features, Profiles

Jordan Bellew ’20

Jordan Bellew ’20

Jordan Bellew ’20 endured a life-changing ordeal from ninth grade to his first year of college, marked by 24 hospital admissions due to a severe and progressive paralysis. This condition left him unable to perform even basic tasks like lifting a fork or spoon, despite his background as a young, healthy athlete.

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Article by Jennifer McCune ’02, ’03, ’23 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features, Profiles

Creating Opportunities within the Therapy Industry

Creating Opportunities within the Therapy Industry

LaTeasha Davis ’06, ’08, the CEO and founder of Therapeutic Focus in West Memphis, Arkansas, continues to impact individuals seeking help and to mentor those seeking a career in therapy.

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Article by Haley Helton '24 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features, Profiles

A Natural Fit

A Natural Fit

Chance Garrett ’18, ’23 grew up near Conway and has always loved the outdoors. Still, it wasn’t until a chance meeting at the University of Central Arkansas that he knew his passion was conservationism for fish species in the southeast.

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Article by Jennifer Mccune ’02, ’03, ’23 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features, Profiles

Living Our Best Bear Life

Living Our Best Bear Life

The BEAR (Bridging Economic and Academic Resources) Life freshman transition program celebrated its first cohort this year, with 80 students successfully completing the program with an average GPA of 2.8.

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Article by Jennifer Mccune ’02, ’03, ’23 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features

Stephanie Rose

Stephanie Rose

Stephanie Rose was the first in her family to go to college. For her, pursuing higher education also meant she could help her family. Rose chose to focus on addiction studies and currently serves as director of UCA’s addiction studies program. She started in this role in 2018.

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Article by Fredricka Sharkey / Fall/Winter 2024, Features, Profiles

Paul Gatling

Paul Gatling

Northwest Arkansas has become a prime destination for residents, tourists and businesses alike. President Houston Davis decided to close the two-and-a-half-hour gap between UCA’s campus and this dynamic, growing metro by investing in a full-time employee to represent the university. He found the perfect fit with Paul Gatling.

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Article by Jennifer Boyett ’01 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features

Michael Hargis, UCA Provost

Michael Hargis, UCA Provost

When he joined the University of Central Arkansas in 2006 as an assistant professor in management for the College of Business (COB), central Arkansas native Michael Hargis felt that it was an opportunity to rejoin the community after earning his graduate degrees in Michigan and teaching at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

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Article by Jennifer Mccune ’02, ’03, ’23 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features, Profiles

Putting Service First

Putting Service First

Riva Brown, an award-winning associate professor of public relations and global learning specialist at the University of Central Arkansas, is transforming the campus experience. Through service-learning projects and globally focused activities, she is empowering students and fostering a culture of engagement and innovation.

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Article by Haley Helton '24 / Fall/Winter 2024, Features

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President’s Message

President Houston DavisThe University of Central Arkansas is a changemaker through the transformative work we do by educating students and creating lifelong opportunities. It makes sense to highlight the work of individuals and groups embracing the spirit of what it means to be an agent of change in their respective industries, communities, and on campus. This issue of UCA Magazine will introduce several of our changemakers.

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About This Issue

Volume 114, Issue 2

Fall/Winter 2024 CoverUCA Magazine is published two times annually by the University of Central Arkansas, from the Division of Advancement.
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UCA Magazine Archive

Past Issues

Spring/Summer 2024
Fall/Winter 2023
Spring/Summer 2023
Fall/Winter 2022
Spring/Summer 2022
Fall/Winter 2021
Spring/Summer 2021
Fall/Winter 2020
Spring/Summer 2020
Fall/Winter 2019
Spring/Summer 2019
Fall/Winter 2018
Spring 2018
Fall 2017
Spring 2017
Fall 2016
Spring 2016
Fall 2015
Spring/Summer 2015
Fall/Winter 2014

Opinions expressed in UCA Magazine are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or the university administration.

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