Features

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.

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.

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.

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.

Serving Up Good Energy

Rachel Whitfield ’22 grew up with no aspirations for cooking or creating and sharing recipes. Still, she has grown a culinary brand that not only emphasizes the importance of flavorful, healthy eating, but she also attracted the attention of Vogue magazine and music icon Beyoncé.

Creation Of The College of Science and Engineering

The college also announced the expansion of its Department of Physics and Astronomy to the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Engineering. Additional departments in the college include: Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science and Engineering, Geography, and Mathematics.

Living Learning Communities at UCA

The University of Central Arkansas’ residential colleges, which began in the 1980s and 90s as a specialized program for first-year honors students, evolved into four residential colleges focused on specific majors for new students. As the only institution in the state to maintain a learning community system, UCA saw a growing interest in the concept.

Going Digital

In honor of The Vortex magazine’s 50th anniversary, some University of Central Arkansas students and alumni have initiated the process of digitally archiving the magazine’s past issues into the university’s database.