Up Close

A look at faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Brian Corbin

When Brian Corbin, director of transfer services, arrived at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in 2000, he had never been to Arkansas, but he had a clear mission in mind. He found his place in Conway during that trip, and he continues to help transfer and returning students at the university he now calls home.

Doug Corbitt

When Norbert Schedler walked up the front steps of Doug Corbitt’s house in 2001, sat down, and motioned him to come and talk, Corbitt wouldn’t have guessed that 24 years later, he would be an integral part of the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College as a beloved lecturer in philosophy and the Peer Mentor program coordinator.

Kyle Reynolds ’08

With deep family ties to the University of Central Arkansas, Kyle Reynolds ’08 carried on a tradition when he chose to become a Bear.
“Both of my maternal grandparents went to school here, then both of my parents went, and then my older brother also attended UCA,” Reynolds said. “I applied to other schools and got in, but I had some family backing and had spent some time around campus, so I was familiar with it. I came to UCA and then just had a really great time.”

Abigail Wells

The decision to come to UCA quickly proved to be the right one. “When I came to campus, I knew that I would be able to thrive,” Wells said. “It was the best decision. I love it here.” Wells is now a senior at UCA, majoring in public administration and health promotion. She started BearsAdapt, a registered student organization inspired by the nonprofit she founded after graduating from high school, Natural State Adaptive Sports.

Up Close: Officer Nicole Sumner-Wheeler ’24

Upon joining the University of Central Arkansas’ Police Department (UCAPD) in October 2020, Officer Nicole Sumner-Wheeler ’24 knew she had found a special place to continue her law enforcement career, finish her education and serve her community.

Up Close: Jeremy Horpedahl

Jeremy Horpedahl stays busy in the University of Central Arkansas’ College of Business (COB) – from serving on Faculty Senate to director of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE) to associate professor to public appearances in varying forms of media – which makes his impact in the community noteworthy through his many accomplishments as he strives to help students, citizens and policymakers understand Arkansas’ economy.

Up Close: Graham Mynatt ’20, ’21

Graham Mynatt ’20, ’21 honed his skills while studying music at the University of Central Arkansas and is further elevating his craft as the Bass Trombone Fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida.

Up Close: Rhiannon Umfleet

When Rhiannon Umfleet considered her future, she never imagined it would lead her to the cockpit of a plane. Now a student at the University of Central Arkansas Aviation Academy and a finance major in UCA’s College of Business, she is fully embracing her passion for aviation.