A University of Central Arkansas alumnus was recently selected as the Arkansas History Teacher of the Year. Brick Cullum, a 2018 UCA graduate, was selected as the state’s top history teacher by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. He currently teaches African American history, world history and advanced placement comparative government at Conway High School. “I was super excited … [Read more...]
UCA alumnus wins music fellowship
Naren Palomino Pardo, a recent University of Central Arkansas graduate, earned the 2022 Clara Wells Fellowship Award from the American Matthay Association at the 64th Annual Matthay Piano Festival. Palomino is a native of Cochabamba, Bolivia, where he studied music at the Academia Nacional de Música, “Man Césped.” After his graduation, he joined the faculty of the music academy, where he … [Read more...]
Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre welcomes new managing director
Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre at the University of Central Arkansas has announced Chad Bradford as its new managing director. “We are Arkansas’ only professional theatre company that focuses on classic and mythic tales. This uniquely positions us to tell imaginative and life-changing stories while promoting UCA’s educational mission,” Bradford said. “Recent studies have proven that arts … [Read more...]
Alumna chosen to lead Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
A University of Central Arkansas alumna has been selected as the new executive director and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. Janet Harris was selected to lead the Institute by the organization’s board of directors. She had previously served as the institute’s chief strategy officer. “Carrying forward Winthrop Rockefeller’s legacy of convening on Petit Jean Mountain is a … [Read more...]
Emeritus professor wins statewide book award
Kenneth Barnes ’77, a University of Central Arkansas emeritus professor of history, recently won the 2022 J.G. Ragsdale Book Award from the Arkansas Historical Association. Barnes earned the award for his book “The Ku Klux Klan in 1920s Arkansas: How Protestant White Nationalism Came to Rule a State.” The award is given each year to the best book about Arkansas history. “I am very … [Read more...]
Debate and forensics team claims awards at national competition
Four University of Central Arkansas students, all UCA Debate and Forensics team members, won individual awards at the International Public Debate Association (IDPA) championship tournament on April 9-11 in Abilene, Texas. The tournament capped the 2021-22 season for the team and took place at the Abilene Christian University campus. The team is coached by Anthony McMullen, an associate … [Read more...]
Student Journalists Win Awards from Arkansas College Media Association
The University of Central Arkansas School of Communication netted multiple awards from the 2022 Arkansas College Media Association Contest (ACMA), covering work done by its student journalists during 2021. The student-run newspaper, The Echo, along with its online version, uca.news.live, took home 23 awards, including newspaper of the year, reporter of the year, editorial cartoon, … [Read more...]
Film Students Attend SXSW Festival
Students from the Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing traveled to Austin, Texas, as part of South by Southwest (SXSW). The trip included 32 students majoring in film and five faculty members who took part in the conglomeration that brings media, film and music together. The department’s annual trip is the first since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing students to an … [Read more...]
UCA professor receives awards from Ethiopian crown
University of Central Arkansas Associate Professor Gizachew Tiruneh has been recognized by The Crown Council of Ethiopia with two awards: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Honour of Ethiopia (GCSE) and the Ethiopian imperial title of Blaten Geta. “I am truly honored to receive these two prestigious awards from the Crown Council of Ethiopia. It is always a very good thing when one … [Read more...]
UCA experts analyze conflict at Ukraine in student-hosted panel
As the world assesses the ramifications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, University of Central Arkansas professors offered an analysis on the roots of the conflict and where it may be headed during a “Ukraine Teach-In” panel on Tuesday, April 4. The hour-long discussion hosted by the UCA Student Government Association featured Don Jones, an associate professor of history; Joe McGarrity, a … [Read more...]
