UCA alumna celebrates her 100th birthday

When she graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College in 1944, Gertrude Jeanne (Harris) Fleming had plans to marry her high school sweetheart, J.E. “Buddy” Fleming, and become a mother and homemaker.  “She got a degree in home economics and her plan was to be a housewife. She wanted to better understand cooking and housekeeping,” her daughter Anna Belle (Fleming) Akers said. “That was not … [Read more...]

UCA alumni board welcomes new leadership team

University of Central Arkansas alumnus Tyler Rodgers has been elected as the new president of the UCA Alumni Association Board of Directors. Rodgers, who earned a bachelor’s degree in insurance and risk management from UCA’s College of Business in 2014, will serve as president of the board for the 2022-23 school year. He served as vice president during the 2021-22 term and was … [Read more...]

UCA student earns second place at statewide competition

A recent University of Central Arkansas graduate captured second place in the 2022 DART Annual Conference undergraduate poster competition. Aaron Moody, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at UCA, won the award at the event held in Little Rock in May. Moody’s poster outlined his on-going research into using artificial intelligence to summarize text-based comments, … [Read more...]

UCA alumna selected as Miss Arkansas

A University of Central Arkansas alumna has been chosen as the new Miss Arkansas for 2022. Ebony Mitchell, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UCA in 2019, was selected as Miss Arkansas from a field of 45 contestants. She will represent the state of Arkansas at the 95th edition of the Miss American pageant later in 2022. "It was an indescribable feeling to be … [Read more...]

UCA alum receives community impact award

When Kristy Carter initially received an invitation to the inaugural Delta Impact Awards in Jonesboro, Arkansas, she did not know she would be one of the recipients.  “I just wanted to be there with them to celebrate the accomplishments of the Delta Population Health Institute because they have done so much meaningful work for the community,” Carter said. “I was looking forward to supporting … [Read more...]

UCA alumni board adds four new members

The University of Central Arkansas Alumni Association has appointed four new members to its board of directors. Carolyn Floyd Ishee ’75, Aaron King ’07, Jeremy Owoh ’03 and Keith Svagerko ’91 will each serve three-year terms beginning July 1, 2022. “We’re excited to add four outstanding members to our board of directors,” said Alison Taylor, executive director of alumni relations. “They each add … [Read more...]

UCA alumnus publishes poetry collection

A University of Central Arkansas alumnus has recently released his first collection of poetry. Jamie Cooper, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English from UCA in 2002, has published a chapbook of poems called “The Truth About the Sun.” A chapbook is a short publication usually containing poems, ballads or short stories. Published by Finishing Line Press, “The Truth About the Sun” includes … [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...]

UCA alumna tapped as top teacher

A University of Central Arkansas alumna who also serves as an adjunct faculty member was recently selected as the 2022 Arkansas Computer Science Educator of the Year. Kimberly Raup, a three-time UCA graduate, received the award from Gov. Asa Hutchinson at the sixth annual Governor’s All-State Coding Competition. She had initially won $2,500 after being chosen as one of five finalists but … [Read more...]

Alumna chosen to lead DePauw’s equity efforts

A University of Central Arkansas alumna has been named to a leadership position at DePauw University. Dionne Jackson, who earned a master’s degree from UCA, will serve as DePauw’s vice president of institutional equity. She will be the first person in school history to hold the position. Jackson received her master’s degree in school leadership, management and administration from UCA’s … [Read more...]