Six individuals honored at 73rd annual event
The University of Central Arkansas honored outstanding faculty and staff during the 73rd annual Faculty & Staff Recognition Celebration Tuesday, April 14.
Ashley Phillips, Department of Accounting, received the Public Service Award, which recognizes individuals whose service contributions to the UCA community, professional community and outside communities have been exceptional. Through service work such as volunteering for charitable organizations, serving on advisory boards, donating professional expertise, serving on committees and conducting outreach programs, honorees have improved conditions within the community and enhanced the quality of life for all citizens. Nykela Jackson, Department of Teaching and Learning, and Will Slaton, Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Engineering, were finalists for the award.
Hal Halvorson, Department of Biology, received the Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award, which recognizes individuals whose contributions to their disciplines have been exemplary. Through original work in research, scholarship or creative activities – such as performances and artistic productions – they have expanded human knowledge, interpreted the human experience or enhanced quality of life. Louis Nadelson, Department of Leadership Studies, was the finalist for the award.
Anna Park, Department of Psychology and Counseling, received the Teaching Excellence Award, which is given to faculty who have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in teaching. Recipients of this award strive to enhance student learning as they continually seek ways to improve their teaching. Ben Cash, Department of Biology, and Matthew Taylor, Department of Music, were finalists for the award.
Sandra Childress, director of Student Health, was named the 2025-2026 UCA Employee of the Year. The Employee of the Year is presented to a full-time staff member who has shown extraordinary performance to the university community over the past year and who goes above and beyond in their care for students, colleagues and UCA. Any full-time staff member with two or more years of continuous service to the university prior to Jan. 1 of the award year is eligible. Leila Dickinson, Academic Advising, and Amanda Paladino, Office of the Registrar, were finalists for the award.
Juan Maefield, Department of History, received the Student Advocacy Award, a newly established initiative of the Office of Student Advocacy and Community created to recognize individuals who demonstrate a sustained commitment to advancing the retention and holistic success of students. Travis Johnson, Division of Student Affairs; Stephanie Rose, Department of Health Sciences; and Susan Shaw, Department of Computer Information Systems & Analytics, were finalists for the award.
Ginny Adams, Department of Biology, was honored with the Shumaker-Wright Mentorship Award, which the University Honors Council created in 2022 to recognize the importance of supporting undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity. Supporting student participation in mentored research is an important component of the university’s mission. The award is named in honor of Conrad Shumaker and Terry Wright, who had each mentored more than 20 undergraduate student capstone/thesis projects at the time of their retirements. Jeremy Lusk, Department of Physics, Astronomy and Engineering; Marsha Massey, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; and J.J. McIntyre, School of Communication, were finalists for the award.
Retirees and Employees of the Quarter were also honored during the ceremony.