ARKANSAS: Winter 2020

ARKANSAS

Winter 2020 For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc. For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc.

Winter 2020 Vol. 70, No. 2

Why Membership Matters...

Scholarships

Dr. Bobby W. Jones B.S. ’84 Life Member, A+ National Board Member

“When I came to the university I had a story and my story is that I worked three part-time jobs full time to put myself through school. So, I understand what it means to have scholarships and that’s why my wife and I created the scholarship, the $2,500 Sammie Perry and Ernestine Jones Perseverance Scholarship, that we give each year since 2005.”

“Another benefit to joining the Arkansas Alumni Association is knowing that your membership helps fund Arkansas Alumni Association Scholarship Program. Each membership helps students achieve their dreams at the U of A. Membership registration is super simple so take a few moments and sign up today; you’ll be glad you did.”

Kristen Allbritton B.A. ’04 Life Member National Board Member

Please renew, upgrade and encourage others to join because membership matters. join.arkansasalumni.org • 888-ARKALUM or 479-575-2801 65 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

Photo by Chieko Hara

arkansas

WINTER / Vol 70, No. 2

For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc.

6 Campaign Arkansas

Each dollar of the university’s $1.45 billion fundraising campaign is tied to a story. Here are a few of them.

20 A Profile of Barbara Lofton

Trained in sports management, Lofton found a calling in Walton College, rallying behind the underrepresented students.

36 Connect, Engage and Inspire

The Black Alumni Society plans to honor seven alumni and an ally for their service, advocacy and professional achievements in April 2021.

2 Campus View 4 Campus 44 Alumni 54 Yesteryear 56 Senior Walk 64 Last Look On the cover: A student ambassador gives a tour of campus just after the first 50 years of Senior Walk were rebuilt.

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ARKANSAS Publisher Arkansas Alumni Association

Executive Director Brandy Cox Jackson ✪ M.A.’07 Editor Charlie Alison ★ B.A.’82, M.A.’04 Associate Editor Catherine Baltz ✪+ B.S.’92, M.Ed.’07 Creative Director Eric Pipkin

Photo by Matthew Reynolds

Photo Editor Russell Cothren ✪

Trish Starks, Director of the U of A Humanities Center

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Writers & Contributors Sandra Birchfield B.A.’87 Nick DeMoss B.A.’11 Jennifer Holland ★ M.E.D.’08 Andra Liwag Shannon Magsam John Post Niketa Reed John F. Thomas Rob Wells Bob Whitby Advertising Coordinator Lee Shoultz ✪ B.A. ’16, M.P.A. ’18

Campus View When it comes to parties, I know how to clear a room. As a historian, I spend most of my day talking with the dead.

My work in the history of medicine tends toward the gruesome. Conversations that drift toward 17th-century syphilis remedies rarely inspire follow-ups. There’s a reason my students dubbed me “Scary Ms. Frizzle.”

Yet, over the last year, my gloomy skill set has never been more in demand.

People who used to flee, now line up – my students: “What did happen in the 1918 flu?” The media: “Are we doing any better than before?” or my 70-year old father (wistfully): “What’s going to happen?”

They all look to me, the purveyor of doom, for hope.

And it’s not just COVID sending everyone scrambling for the people trained in history, culture, and rhetoric.

On campus, discussions swirl over statues. Historians, literary critics and anthropologists are there. Faculty from communication, journalism and philosophy are pressed to contextualize a summer of protest. Humanists of all persuasions are on the front lines of our current moment providing context, explaining the issues and providing hope.

It was this push for answers that inspired

Photographers Cheiko Hara Whit Pruitt ★ B.A’16

the University of Arkansas Humanities Center, which I direct, to sponsor humanities research and workshops into the questions on everyone’s lips: how do we address #BLM and #BlackatUARK to make sure campus is a place where everyone can thrive? What are the implications of COVID lockdowns for regional culture? How do we better inform and provide care for marginal communities? How can we address horrific events of the past to make sure that people feel welcome here today? Humanities faculty and students stepped up to answer.

Humanities research – in English and communication, in history and philosophy, in journalism and world languages – has been relegated by politicians and pundits to the dustbin. Yet, in our current moment, it is the humanists who are crafting hope from the wreckage of our present.

I may know how to clear a party, but, when crisis comes, my fellow humanists and I can uncover the pitfalls of the past, the dangers of the present, and inspire hope for the future. The next time you are feeling confused or in despair, come sit by the humanist. We can help you understand and give you hope that we can all do better.

MEMBERSHIP SYMBOLS ✩ Student Member; ★ Member; ★+ Member, A+; ✪ Life Member; ✪+ Life Member, A+ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are accepted and ­encouraged. Send letters for publication to Arkansas Magazine, Office of University ­R elations, 200 Davis Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and may be edited for length. Typewritten letters are preferred. Anonymous letters will not be published. Submission does not guarantee publication.

Arkansas, E xc l u s i ve l y fo r M e m b e r s of the Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc. (ISSN 1064-8100) (USPS 009-515) is published quarterly by the Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc. at 491 North Razorback Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

Annual membership dues are now $55 per household and a portion is allocated for a subscription to Arkansas. Single copies are $6. Editing and production are provided through the UA Office of University Relations. Direct inquiries and information to P.O. Box 1070, Fayetteville, AR 72702-1070, phone (479) 575-2801, fax (479) 575-5177.

Periodical postage paid at Fayetteville, AR, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to P.O. Box 1070, ­Fayetteville, AR 72702-1070.

ARKANSAS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Mission Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association connects and serves the University of Arkansas Family.

Vision Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association will be nationally recognized as a model alumni relations program.

Value Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association values: • service • excellence • collaboration • relationships • diversity • learning • creativity Arkansas Winter 20-189 All photos by University Relations unless otherwise noted.

Cover photo by: Chieko Hara, University Relations Please recycle this magazine or share it with a friend.

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Campus

Sesquatching

Plans Take Shape for Sesquicentennial Celebration

BY JOHN F. THOMAS

Planning for the U of A sesquicentennial continues with less than three months before the university’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of its founding begins in January 2021.

Due to COVID-19, the sesquicentennial schedule has been adjusted to allow for more in-person activities to be held later in 2021 as well as into the spring of 2022, when the university will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its first day of classes.

“We’re hopeful that we can be together for more

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in-person activities later next year, and most of the 150th events are scheduled for the fall of 2021 and the spring of 2022,” said Mark Rushing, co-chair of the Sesquicentennial Planning Team. “Teams of volunteers have been working since the summer of 2019 to develop events and refine ideas submitted by campus, including virtual ways to take part in the sesquicentennial.”

More than 20 university events and activities are already being planned to help commemorate the university’s sesquicentennial year. Here’s a sampling of what to expect:

Spring/Summer 2021 • Launch of Sesquicentennial website, which will include feature stories and videos, historic photos, new searchable Senior Walk tools and more.

• 150th logo and light-post banners unveiled across campus.

• Virtual celebration of the university’s founding – March 27, 2021.

• Sesquicentennial merchandise becomes available.

• Spring commencement ceremonies.

• Informal history book of the university’s first 150 years published by the UA Press.

Fall 2021 • Come As You Arkansas campus and community celebration officially kicks off fall sesquicentennial season – Sept. 10, 2021.

• Innovative, engaging series of HogTalks (TedTalk-like presentations focused on the impacts of students, faculty and alumni) launches online.

• Portraits of Progress Celebration – A special celebration of Silas Hunt and others who made a difference in helping the U of A become more diverse and inclusive – Oct. 22, 2021.

• Sesquicentennial Homecoming activities.

• Arkansas corn maze designs that celebrate the 150th while reinforcing the university’s agricultural roots.

• Expanded, sesquicentennial edition of Arkansas magazine highlighting the university’s impact over the years and the transformative events underway that will help shape the university’s next 150 years.

• Fall commencement ceremonies.

Spring 2022 • Celebration of the first day of classes.

• Open House for Student Success Center.

• Premiere of the If This Walk Could Talk documentary, connecting the university’s past to its present through stories from Senior Walk • Legislative Day at the State Capitol.

• Founder’s Day event recognizing academic and faculty achievements through the university’s history.

• History Walks featuring architecture, historical events, markers and other similar themes.

• Expanded Chancellor’s Bus Tour across the state.

Other university sesquicentennial activities are also being planned or considered in addition to the many annual campus activities, events and forums that will have a sesquicentennial feel in 2021-22. Colleges, schools, units and other groups on campus are also scheduling activities and events for the 150th celebration. Information about these events will be included in the calendar of events and sesquicentennial website now being developed.

A Sesquicentennial Planning Team and 10 specialized Working Groups continue to lead the planning effort for this important university milestone. Questions and feedback can be addressed to 150@uark.edu.

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Feature

The Stories Behind the Numbers finishes strong and reminds us all why philanthropy is so important.

The mention of Campaign Arkansas might immediately bring to mind a number. Indeed, nearly $1.45 billion is a historic milestone for the University of Arkansas and showcases the incredible generosity of the alumni, friends, faculty, staff and organizations who contributed during the eight-year effort.

But Campaign Arkansas is about more than just the number.

Instead, it is about the impact that has already been made and will continue for years to come. It’s about hope for the future and the prospect of opportunity. It’s about love for education and fondness for the Hill. And it’s about the passion for helping the next generation.

Yes, Campaign Arkansas set new fundraising records and sparked new transformations. But it’s the stories behind the gifts that will forever shape our campus.

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An unprecedented gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation created the first and only accredited, collegiate school of art in the state during Campaign Arkansas, providing the opportunity to transform the university and region into an international hub for the study of art. The creation of the School of Art positively affects the culture of the entire state, with an imprint that will be seen across the nation and beyond.

Since its creation in 2017, new possibilities have taken shape, new faculty have been added and new degree programs have been developed.

The campus itself has also been forever changed by the gift, thanks to funding that will be used to renovate the historic Edward Durrell Stonedesigned Fine Arts Center.

Adding to the impact was an additional transformational gift from the Windgate Charitable Foundation to create the new art and design district in the heart of south Fayetteville, which will serve students, faculty, artists, designers and the community. The Windgate Studio and Design Center will anchor the southern edge of the Windgate Art and Design District and will bring students and faculty together from across seven different current campus locations, uniting outstanding artists and designers with the community.

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The name “Sam Walton” is nearly synonymous with Arkansas business, and now another notable name has been added to the state’s premier business college. Thanks to an endowed naming gift from William T. Dillard II, the William Dillard Department of Accounting will support students, faculty, alumni and external constituents in ways that could not be done previously. The department is named in memory of William T. Dillard (1914-2002), the founder of the Dillard’s department store chain, who graduated with a degree in accounting in 1935.

In the Sam M. Walton College of Business, accounting students are taught the importance of strategic budgeting processes within organizations. Department chair Gary Peters says this gift will allow them to do the same thing in their own nationally prominent department by providing opportunities to identify, plan and support mission-critical and aspirational activities.

While most people might view the university through the lens of the classroom, it’s important to remember that a department’s functions and impact reach much further. With a new department naming – making it one of only two on campus – generations of individuals will pass along business lessons that will positively impact Arkansas’ business economy and continue the tradition of significant contributions to the state’s accounting profession.

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For many, coming to the University of Arkansas is more than just a next step – it’s a destination that is fueled by dreams and a desire for change.

During Campaign Arkansas, the Advance Arkansas scholarship initiative was created specifically to support students from Arkansas, especially those who were the first in their families to earn a baccalaureate degree. It gave students from across the state the financial support they needed to succeed and truly changed the lives of those who wished to pave their own way. Venturing out on your own to be the first in your family to earn a college degree is daunting – it requires determination, bravery, curiosity and perseverance. Thanks to 46 new Advance Arkansas scholarships and more than $7.8 million raised (and counting), more students will have the opportunity to look toward the future with a renewed sense of hope.

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Visionary gifts can transform more than the university – they can launch our state and world on an unprecedented upward trajectory.

The Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R) is made possible by just such a gift. The $194.7 million grant from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation funds multiple projects to grow the university’s crossdisciplinary research, expand the scope of discoveries made by U of A researchers and increase the velocity with which discoveries are transferred to the marketplace where they can improve or save lives.

I3R will drive and promote research across five overlapping disciplines: materials science and engineering, food technology, data science, bioscience and bioengineering research in metabolism, and integrative systems neuroscience. Bringing together some of the most brilliant minds in each of these fields and encouraging their collaboration will yield new discoveries, create vibrant startup companies and address the needs of our society. Coupled with generous support for entrepreneurship education and the establishment of a Bentonville campus, the innovation driven by I3R will make a transformational impact.

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Arkansas is 57 percent forested, and the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design is leading the way in exploring how mass timber can be used in design and construction – and eventually increase production of timber and wood products from trees sourced in the state. This focus on mass timber led to an international design competition for the planned Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation, to be designed by Grafton Architects of Dublin, Ireland, and Modus Studio of Fayetteville, Arkansas. This applied research center follows two other inaugural mass timber construction projects on campus: the Library Annex and Adohi Hall (pictured here). The Anthony Timberlands Center will serve as the epicenter for the Fay Jones School’s multiple timber and wood design initiatives and house its existing and expanding design-build program and fabrication technologies laboratories. Architecture, interior design and landscape architecture students will be trained to be innovative in their design thinking, and faculty can investigate new methods of making and teaching. The work of this center will help build a better future by finding ways to wisely use the natural resources of our state – protecting the vitality of the forests while potentially boosting the economy with new industries.

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Civil engineering students, alumni and faculty have long dreamed of having a facility specifically for hands-on learning. With the addition of the Grady E. Harvell Civil Engineering Research and Education Center, more students will now have the opportunity to conduct research in an environment that is tailored to their needs.

Though supported by many generous benefactors during Campaign Arkansas, Harvell was considered the “heartbeat� of the effort, and his passion for structural engineering helped lead the way to the finish line. Currently under construction, the facility will serve as a hub for academic, government and industrial partners across Arkansas. And as the first of its kind in the state, it will be a living laboratory for students and faculty, giving them the opportunity to advance the field of civil engineering and collaborate with others to provide structures for the future.

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Student success is at the heart of everything that is done at the university, and everything from academics and wellness to financial support and social engagement factors into it. Underlining the importance of this focus is the addition of a new Student Success Center being built in the heart of campus, where students can access all of the resources they need to succeed in one setting. It’s set to complement the university’s one-student-at-a-time philosophy and be a hub for any student requiring assistance. The passion for this initiative comes from the university’s commitment to educate all Arkansans and increase the graduation rates for the betterment of our students and our state. Set to open in 2022, the Student Success Center started taking shape during Campaign Arkansas – both conceptually and literally, with its groundbreaking in 2019 – and its programming will continue to be an important initiative in the years to come. A $5 million gift from the Walmart Foundation is already supporting construction of the new building. With its opening, it promises to bring state-ofthe-art facilities, personalized mentoring and consultation services, and comfort and confidence for all students who wish to earn their degree from the U of A.

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During Campaign Arkansas, a life-changing opportunity was created through a collaboration between the College of Education and Health Professions and the Walton Family Foundation, which established the Arkansas Academy for Educational Equity through a $10 million gift. Though originating in Fayetteville, the Academy has the power to change the lives of teachers and students throughout the state by addressing an urgent need to build a more equitable education system in Arkansas — one that targets teacher shortages in under-resourced schools, retains teachers throughout these schools and provides students with a quality education.

This unique initiative ensures a high-quality teacher workforce for students in high-poverty schools across the state and is a vital example of how the U of A is meeting its responsibility as the state’s land-grant institution. Teachers selected for the program receive support through ongoing, real-time coaching in their classrooms and group professional development sessions. They also emerge from the program with a Master of Education in Educational Equity at no cost to them. Without the financial burden, they can focus on helping dismantle inequity in their classrooms and communities while leading and empowering future generations across the state.

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Ed and Michelle Fryar’s family roots run deep in Arkansas and the U of A. The Fryars, who are both alumni, believe that the success or failure of many farms and companies can be influenced by price risk management, which anticipates and analyzes the potential for adverse financial events and minimizes the impact of those events. It’s shown to be a helpful tool for markets characterized by substantial price risks, such as agricultural commodities, and the Fryars knew that an investment in the science would prove helpful to the university and the state.

The Fryar Family Charitable Foundation Endowment in Price Risk Management will create and support the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence, establish the Fryar Endowed Professorship in Applied Price Risk Management and support research, teaching and extension outreach. The impact promises to be a gamechanger for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and for agriculture nationally by educating students and industry about price risk strategies in grain, financial, energy and livestock markets. These areas, which strengthen the nation’s economy as a whole, will be seen in a new light thanks to the opportunity to disseminate research-based information and decision tools to those who are in the field.

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Richard B. Atkinson, the 10th dean of the university’s School of Law, is remembered fondly as someone who loved teaching and mentoring students. His former life partner, Michael Hollomon, also remembers him as someone who lived his truth and shared his authenticity.

Thanks to a Campaign Arkansas gift from Hollomon and his partner, Eric Wailes, the Richard B. Atkinson Law and Sexuality Fund serves as a tribute to Atkinson’s passion for pursuing truths and helping students examine intricate legal questions. It also ensures Atkinson’s name and legacy live on for future generations of Razorbacks who will not have the opportunity to interact with one of the school’s most beloved and memorable professors.

A colloquium of LGBTQ law and policy experts, scholarly paper award, travel award and summer public service fellowship are some of the ways the Hollomon and Wailes’ visionary fund may give faculty and students the opportunity to enhance the quality of public discourse associated with complex issues related to law and sexuality. Their gift is a timely investment in a legal field that has changed quickly and dramatically in recent years, and it will shed light on how people are judged equally under the law.

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Campaign Arkansas Acknowledgements Executive Committee

Boyce W. Billingsley Beverly Bodenhamer Lee Bodenhamer Marilyn Bogle* Bob C. Connor

Sandra Connor Bill T. Dillard II Johnelle Hunt* Doug McMillon

Shelley McMillon Mark Power (ex-officio) Joe Steinmetz, Chancellor (ex-officio) Steuart L. Walton *Designates an emeritus member

Campaign Arkansas Achievements

36 STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS ESTABLISHED DURING THE CAMPAIGN

THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCES INCREASED FROM

733 1,130

in 2012-2013 TO

1 ENDOWED DEAN’S CHAIR The Henry G. Hotz Endowed Dean’s Chair THANKS TO A

$1M GIFT

COMMITMENT FROM PALMER AND MARIE HOTZ

$2M

AND FROM THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION

$348.9M COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY ’S ENDOWMENT bringing it to over $1 billion

CAMPAIGN ARKANSAS SUPPORT BY AREA

37+25+326 6%

37%

32%

25%

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STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS FACULTY AND STAFF SUPPORT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OTHER KEY INITIATIVES

in 2018-2019

TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR GARVAN WOODLAND GARDENS

$12.59M

TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR UNIVERSITY BANDS

$3.75M

TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR KUAF

$7.48M

TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR PRYOR CENTER

$3M

46

NEW ENDOWED FACULTY POSITIONS CREATED DURING THE CAMPAIGN

Campus

Monsters and Mythos Ayana Gray’s Young Adult Trilogy Follows Two Teens Into the Jungle

BY ANDRA LIWAG

Ayana Gray, B.A.’15, always knew she wanted to write and share the kinds of stories she loves best — those steeped in magic, about historical lands, and full of adventure.

And this summer, Gray achieved her goal when her Beasts of Prey trilogy was acquired by Putnam Books for Young Readers. The first book in the series, which bears the same name as the trilogy, is Gray’s debut novel and will be published in spring 2022.

“Beasts of Prey is a Pan-African fantasy inspired by my exploration of heritage as an African American woman,” Gray said. “It follows two Black teenagers who must venture into a forbidden, magical jungle to hunt down the ancient creature menacing their home – before they become the hunted.”

“It promises all the things I adore — monsters, mythos and #BlackGirlMagic,” she added.

In a recent publication announcement, Entertainment Weekly said about Beasts of Prey, “The hunt for your next YA fantasy book trilogy obsession has ended. … Full of exciting fantasy worldbuilding and complex characters, Beasts of Prey promises ‘a twist you won’t see coming.’”

Gray, who double-majored in political science and African and African American studies, said she was particularly excited to share her work with readers who haven’t seen themselves represented in fantasy, adventure or YA literature nearly enough.

“Growing up, I loved Harry Potter, I loved Chronicles of Narnia, all those magical stories but I didn’t get a chance to see people like me get to have those hero and heroine roles in those stories,” Gray said during a recent interview with Little Rock’s THV11. “So really this is a chance to write a story for kids that were like me and wanted to see themselves in these magical stories.”

Gray said that while Beasts of Prey is a Young Adult trilogy, it’s also a story that anyone could enjoy.

Ayana Gray Photo by Deanna Smith

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The Active Life

Barbara Lofton ✪ Uses Early Lessons Learned to Guide Walton College on Issues of Diversity, Inclusion

BY SANDRA BIRCHFIELD B.A.’87

As a young girl and teenager, Barbara Lofton stood up to racism in her home state of Mississippi.

She participated in public protests, helped minorities register to vote, picketed businesses that discriminated and got others to change their hiring practices to include minorities.

“If there was a march, I was in it,” says Lofton, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

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Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi’s capital, Lofton got her clothing at a white-operated store – after regular business hours and by entering through the back entrance, where the trash was picked up, so as not to be seen. Railroad tracks divided the city, with whites on one side and blacks on the other. When a white man called Lofton a racially offensive name, she swiftly stomped his foot and demanded that he never call her that again.

Lofton’s mother used to tell her, “You’re black, baby. This

is how they treat us. Be proud of who you are.”

In 1963, the year before President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the historic act outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated outside of his Jackson residence, not far from Lofton’s family home. In 1970, two men were shot to death after police opened fire on a crowd of students at Jackson State University, the result of years of racial tension between white motorists who traveled through the campus. Lofton’s brother, though not shot, sustained an injury from the incident. She carries these memories to work each day.

Lofton was born the same year as the famous Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case changed history. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. Mississippi, however, was slow to adhere to the law. As a result, Lofton attended an all-black school and, for a while, a Catholic school. Education was important to her family. She came from a long line of educators, including her father, who was a principal, and her mother, a teacher. Lofton recalls that black teachers would occasionally visit their students’ homes and push them to be the best they could be. It’s a standard that Lofton brings to the Walton College, like surprising students by visiting their dorm rooms or favorite hangouts just to let them know she cares about them and is there to help.

Lofton and her siblings grew up in a home with a huge yard, which was the gathering place for the neighborhood kids. They played baseball and football in a field next door, and Lofton enjoyed the comradery and competition. Her love for sports led to the discovery of therapeutic recreation as a career. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in health, physical education and recreation at Jackson State University followed by a master’s degree in recreation education at the University of Iowa. This led to a move

to Chicago, where she worked at a hospital teaching those with physical and intellectual disabilities to learn basic life skills, often to upbeat music.

“We did activities and made them smile,” Lofton says.

Chicago is also where she met John Lofton, whom she married.

In the early 1980s, she worked at Grambling State University in Louisiana to help create a graduate sports management program and secured federal grants for its expansion. She also helped the university become the first in the country to have an accredited recreation program and developed programs for non-teaching majors and senior citizens – all while earning a doctorate in education degree as she and her husband raised their children.

After a decade at Grambling, Lofton went to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to help develop its recreation program and work with the university’s continuing education program, which included teaching health education to inmates at the Arkansas Department of Correction’s Varner and Tucker units.

Her husband, however, was working toward his doctorate at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, but there were no opportunities there in recreation education at that time. Barbara Taylor, then associate vice chancellor for human resources at the U of A, contacted Lofton about an opening at Walton’s newly created Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Lofton wasn’t sure, at first, if she was a good fit. The Walton College, however, recognized that she was, and she got the job.

Walton’s diversity office, which opened in 1994, has the mission to support, advocate and assist the college in developing plans for diversity throughout the college. During the school year, the office helps students in a multitude of ways, including finding them scholarships and study-abroad opportunities, aiding in career placement and more. Lofton also teaches both undergraduate and doctoral

arbara Lofton at her B office in the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Walton College

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students, including the class The African American Experience in Business.

Except for the summer of 2020, which was interrupted

by COVID-19, the diversity office has sponsored programs for junior high, high school and incoming freshmen students, such as the Business Leadership Academy, Fleischer Scholars Program, the Accounting Career Awareness Program and the Technology Awareness Program.

Through her office and its programs, she hopes that her students – present, past and those who have yet to enroll – will gain a lasting impression and that she has built a strong foundation of what’s to come, she says.

Lofton especially rallies behind underrepresented students.

“She was creating programs that were designed for kids like me,” says Synetra Hughes, a first-generation college graduate who worked with Lofton when Hughes was program director for the university’s Center for Retailing Excellence. Hughes now serves as associate director of Walton’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and sees the impact Lofton has on students daily.

“She inspires me, and her enthusiasm fuels my passion for giving back to underrepresented students from places like my hometown of West Memphis,” Hughes says.

Erica Holliday, lecturer with Walton’s Department of Information Systems, was a graduate assistant when she began working with Lofton back when Walton’s diversity and inclusion office consisted of only Lofton and an administrative assistant. Holliday, who spends summers assisting the diversity office’s summer programs, immediately recognized that Lofton wanted and demanded excellence in her mission to make Walton inclusive. That hasn’t changed.

“She wanted students who never thought they could come to the University of Arkansas,” Holliday says. “She wanted them to realize their dream.”

Lofton’s passion wasn’t reserved for just undergraduates, either.

Ken Ford, a finance assistant professor at Wake Forest University at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, turned to Lofton for support while earning his Ph.D. at Walton. He says Lofton’s daughter babysat for Ford and his wife so that the couple could have a “date night.”

“It was clear that she cared – that she was going to be on your side – and that was very comforting to me,” Ford says.

Ebony Wyatt says that when she was in the job market as a Walton student, she sought Lofton for advice when she was confused why General Mills never followed up after she had a promising interview with the company.

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Lofton strongly urged her to call them. She did and learned that a representative had left her a message she never received. As a result, she was offered a job. “Had Dr. Lofton not told me to reach out, I probably would not be working here 17 years later,” says Wyatt, who is now sales director for General Mills.

During her first year at the Walton College, about 50 percent of the students she dealt with were losing their scholarships on a regular basis. By the end of her second year on the job, she closed that gap substantially.

This was also before smartphones and the widespread use of emails and text messages. Lofton makes it clear to her students that all conversations must take place in person.

That was never an issue for Ford.

“I would walk by her office every day to see if she was there just to say ‘hi,’” he says. “My day wasn’t complete – in fact, I couldn’t get my day started without that – because she meant so much.”

Lofton says that when the diversity and inclusion office began, the focus was on student recruitment and graduation. However, she wanted it to do more. She wanted to see her students get internships, go to graduate school and find jobs. She wanted to mentor them to be their best and prepare them for the future.

The office also serves as sponsors and, at times, its staff serve as historians. As a result, Lofton has a legacy of “strong, fierce students,” Holliday says.

Lofton says her job is far from complete. With the growing diverse population in Northwest Arkansas, she would like to create classes that will enable minorities from all backgrounds to make their mark in the business world.

But diversity goes beyond the color of one’s skin or ethnicity. Lofton tells people that everyone, should they live long enough, will become a member of an underrepresented demographic: senior citizens. “If you think you will never become part of a diverse population, you will,” Lofton says.

Lofton’s accolades are many and include receiving the Tony Walker Diversity Champion Award from the Gerald and Candace Alley Foundation, a Staff Gold Medal from the university’s Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, and being named an honorary alumna by the university’s Black Alumni Society. The American Association of Blacks in Higher Education presented Lofton with the AABHE Exemplary Public Service Award for her work to improve the lives of African Americans, and the Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Council honored Lofton with a lifetime achievement award. She was awarded a scholarship to attend a leadership forum

sponsored by the American Council on Education and the Management Development Institute at Harvard.

Her legacy continues on through her students. “They come back and pay it forward,” Hughes says.

Wyatt is one of them.

“For me, she was my first role model outside of my hometown, so I want to do the same things that Dr. Lofton does for students,” Wyatt says. “Now, I’m one of the people she calls when she needs something for a current student.”

Ford says Lofton is so much to so many.

“In some ways, she wears a motherly hat to us,” he says. “And, in some ways, she’s wearing a sister hat. And, in some ways, she’s wearing your best friend’s hat. And she had a way to switch and put on a new hat when they needed to be worn and, for me, and the people that I’ve observed who used her services, that was tremendous.”

When asked about goals for the diversity office, Lofton doesn’t miss a beat. She

would like to see it become endowed, facilitate more scholarships — especially four-year scholarships — provide a visiting faculty position, and build on research and teaching. She would also like to build connections with universities and high schools with a strong minority student population.

“These are dreams,” she says. “But dreams do come true.”

Lofton reflects on her favorite saying, which is from Freeman Hrabowski II, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County: Watch your thoughts; they become your words.

Watch your words; they become your actions.

Watch your actions; they become your habits.

Watch your habits, they become your character.

Watcher your character; it becomes your destiny.

arbara Lofton talks with B students about diversity, equity and inclusion during a workshop.

Walton College

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 23

Campus

Black Amid White Documentary Film Shows Culture Shock of Campus

BY NIKETA REED M.A. ’10

bove top to bottom: A Filmmaker Obed Lamy, a Fulbright Scholar and Alumnus Dekarius Dawson Photos Submitted

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Three film festivals this fall screened A Promising Voice, a documentary film created by Obed Lamy, a Fulbright Scholar and graduate student in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media.

The documentary chronicles the journey of Dekarius Dawson, an alumnus of the Department of Music, and his life as an African American first-generation student on the predominantly white U of A campus.

In a feature article that Lamy wrote about Dawson and the documentary for Arkansas Soul, Dawson recounts the culture shock he experienced when arriving on campus.

“How do you handle being the only black student in a class where the topic of discussion of the day would be civil rights?

I was the stereotype they would discuss,’’ Dawson said. The weight of responsibility laid on his shoulders to “educate people about my race’’ was enormous, he added.

The film originated as a larger story about the experiences of Black students on campus. And Lamy said he had no clue how timely the film would become when the project began in fall 2019.

“Obed identified the subject, produced and shot the film all within a few weeks’ time, pre-COVID, and before the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud

Arbery, Breonna Taylor and other victims of systemic racism and police brutality catapulted the world into a new Civil Rights movement,” said Colleen Thurston, assistant professor of journalism and Lamy’s faculty adviser.

“What Obed has accomplished here is to present a story of adversity, injustice, racism and ignorance in a hopeful light and demonstrate that it truly is possible for one person to make a difference,” Thurston said. “In these times, when racial injustice is at the forefront of our minds, sharing the stories of change makers like Dekarius provides hope for a more just and equitable society, campus and America.”

Lamy said he hopes the film will move audiences to look beyond the numbers and to learn what it takes to make a college campus more diverse and inclusive.

“Growing up in Haiti, the question of race is not so central in the everyday discussion, and the Black experience is different from that of people of color in American society. It was intentional for me to portray a personal story that inspires others and offers insights on what it takes to make college campuses more inclusive and diverse,” Lamy said.

Read Lamy’s article at http://bit.ly/ promising-voice

Student Success Retention and Graduation Rates Hit New Records

BY JOHN POST

Graduation rates at the U of A, as well as the oneyear retention rate, reached record highs this fall as the university continues to make student success a top priority.

The six-year graduation rate increased to 68.5%, up 2.3 percentage points. The five-year graduation rate has reached 67.2%, a 1.1 percentage point increase from the previous year, while the four-year graduation rate also set a new record at 53.3%, increasing 1.4 percentage points year-to-year.

Additionally, the one-year retention rate – which measures the number of freshmen who continued their education past their first year – rose to 84.7%, improving from the previous year’s 84.2% rate.

“We are pleased to see our graduation and retention rates continue to climb as we implement new programs, scholarships and initiatives to ensure every student who enrolls at the U of A has the resources available to succeed,” said Provost Charles Robinson.

The U of A also saw significant improvement in the graduation and retention rates of diverse students.

“U of A students have demonstrated tremendous grit this year as they continue to push forward with deep learning and achieving their goals,” said Trevor Francis, associate vice provost and director of student success. “The entire academic support network – academic advisers and coaches, tutors, supplemental instruction

leaders and first-year programs – has done tremendous work with being intentional in their outreach and support of students.

Our hope is to continue to build upon this strong forward momentum.”

The interim Student Success Center has expanded its early alerts for students who may be struggling academically, added more academic coaches and grown its 360 Advising Program, which offers proactive outreach to students.

Additionally, first-year experience programs such as University Perspectives, Freshman Business Connections and the Freshman Engineering Program continue to offer strong support for new freshmen.

“Our student success efforts are a campuswide undertaking, involving all aspects of our institution, and I want to thank our faculty and staff for their hard work during this challenging year,” Robinson said. “We look forward to capitalizing on this momentum with the launch of our new Student Success Center next year as we continue to align our academic and student affairs efforts.”

tudents in the Path S Program, one of several initiatives that help students remain resilient while in college, attend class this fall.

Photo by Chieko Hara

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 25

Campus

Bread for the Family M.B.A. Student Bicycles a Mountainous Route to Find Walton College

BY LORI MCLEMORE

One of 6-year-old Farid Noori’s everyday chores in Pakistan was to run down to the local bakery to collect bread for dinner.

It was a social event.

Farid would stand in line and talk to others as he waited for the freshly baked bread. The bakery only sold bread – no pastries or croissants. Upstairs in the loft, bakers would cut the dough and then throw it down to the ground floor to be flattened. Then the bread would be baked in a hot oven in the ground – somewhat like a fire pit – where workers would slap the dough on the oven walls until the bread puffed up and became golden brown.

The cashier would then wrap the naan-like bread in 26 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

newspaper. Farid would take the hot bread home just in time for dinner with his brothers and parents.

As townspeople waited for the bread, they socialized.

For Farid, it was a chance to hang out with friends. One friend had a bike!

“That was the most exciting part of the day,” Farid said.

“I couldn’t wait to buy the bread for the family!”

When his friend came to the bakery, he would teach Farid to ride. One day “I looked behind and my friend was waving – he wasn’t holding on!”

When he realized he was actually riding a bike independently, he promptly crashed into an older man who had just purchased bread.

The whole affair was a secret because his family thought Farid could get hurt riding a bike – there were no specific lanes for cars, much less bikes. His parents thought biking would be a distraction from his studies.

Secret or not, Farid was hooked.

Family Farid is the youngest of five brothers.

His family moved around due to conflicts in Afghanistan. When the Taliban rose to power in the country, his family migrated to nearby Pakistan. Seeking a better life for his family, Farid’s father boarded a tiny fisherman’s vessel to Australia leaving his sons with a directive to learn English.

English classes after school were common in Pakistan, and 6-year-old Farid joined his four older brothers in learning English. They took classes to prepare for life in Australia, but his father returned to Afghanistan three years later after the United States invaded the country.

Farid continued to learn and refine his English. He would listen to Voice of America radio at 3 a.m. and then go back to sleep. He would also listen to the BBC. Years passed and Farid had no plans to migrate to another country until a friend suggested he try to get an academic scholarship to an American school. He did not realize this was even possible. He began to research how to make this happen.

Academics Through an American exchange program that accepted 50 Afghans per year, Farid attended a high school in Maine for six months. From there, he was accepted to United World College, an international boarding school outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico, which he attended for his last two years of high school.

The school was 15 minutes outside of

town by bus, but Farid would opt to bike into town instead. He would hop onto a single-speed bike. While stray dogs might chase him, “It was freedom to ride bikes.”

An older classmate was accepted to Middlebury College in Vermont and encouraged Farid to apply there, too.

Middlebury is surrounded by the Green Mountains to the east and the Adirondack Mountains to the West. The college also had a cycling team.

Farid did apply and was accepted at Middlebury. While there, he joined the cycling team and participated in two collegiate national competitions. While he raced both road racing and mountain biking, his passion is with the latter. At Middlebury, Farid earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Combining his love of biking, his home country and business, he also founded a nonprofit, Mountain Bike Afghanistan.

Farid Noori.

Photos submitted

The Ties That Bind A commonality in the places Farid has lived are mountains. In Farid’s homeland, the majestic Hindu Kush mountains run northeast to southwest, cutting the country into three distinct regions. Farid’s hometown of Ghazni lies in the southern foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains just southwest of the capital of Kabul.

New Mexico’s United World College – Farid’s high school – is located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

The highest point of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan is the Noshaq peak at 24,580 feet above sea level. In comparison, the highest point in the Rocky Mountain Range in the United States is Mount Elbert in Colorado at 14,440 feet. The highest point in Arkansas is Mount Magazine at 2,753 feet.

Mountains and the high altitude have influenced Farid’s mountain bike experience.

Farid’s hometown of Ghazni is located (Bread for the Family continued on page 63)

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 27

Campus

Serving Arkansas Journalism Students Offer Real-Time Data on COVID-19

BY ROB WELLS

Misty Orpin

Rob Wells Photos Submitted

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The School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the U of A began managing and operating Arkansascovid.com, a leading news source for daily COVID-19 data and trends in Arkansas, earlier this year.

Misty Orpin, a journalist, small business owner and mother of two, started Arkansascovid.com last March as a personal project to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting the state and her community. Launched from her laptop, the multimedia site gained statewide acclaim for its data visualizations, frequent Twitter updates and Orpin’s analysis.

In May, Orpin began a partnership with Rob Wells, a U of A assistant professor of journalism who teaches data journalism.

The partnership included adding an intern to assist Orpin in the daily production of demographic data. The internship was sponsored by Arkansas Soul, a site devoted to recruiting and training African American students in journalism, and the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

As the Arkansascovid.com workload grew, Orpin asked if the School of Journalism could operate the site full time. The school, part of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, will devote a mix of graduate students and students in Wells’ data journalism class to operate Arkansascovid.com, providing students an extraordinary opportunity to work with a real-time data journalism website. Orpin will continue to provide analysis and commentary as needed. The transition was due to be finalized Sept. 14.

“I’ve been so gratified at the way the community has embraced this platform and created a welcoming space to share information about COVID in our state,” Orpin said. “Its growth in the past few months wouldn’t have been possible without help from the partnership with the UA. I’m thrilled to be handing it off to the UA team, in whom I have utmost confidence to shepherd it to even greater usefulness for everyday Arkansans.”

The Twitter feed @arkansascovid gained more than 12,500 followers by November, including many state government leaders.

Larry Foley, chair of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, said running the website is yet another example of the high quality professional opportunities available to the students.

“This is a real opportunity for our school to work on a project that delivers critical information,” Foley said. “Misty Orpin has done a great job with her work, and we are honored to move it forward. Dr. Rob Wells is the right person to lead his student team, at this most important time when all of us need data to help negotiate the rough waters of this dangerous, contagious virus.”

Wells said he is grateful that Orpin would provide such an opportunity to his students.

“There are not many journalism programs in the country that offer students an opportunity to operate and publish real-time news and data on a topic that affects every person in the state. We have a big responsibility to keep up the high standards Misty Orpin has set to this point,” Wells said.

Theatre in the Curb Alumni and Students Bring Performances to You

ArkansasStaged, a collective of theatre artists in Northwest Arkansas, has developed a brand-new exploration of what it means to perform live theatre.

Conceived by alumna Laura Shatkus, the artistic director of ArkansasStaged, Curbside Theatre is a new spin on presenting live performance: you stay inside and the performers come to you. It’s like delivery pizza, but better for the heart.

Curbside Theatre is a new play written and performed by local theatre professionals Michael Bell, Mischa Hutchings, Kholoud Sawa and Laura Shatkus, with contributions from Adrienne Dawes. In the tradition of past ArkansasStaged shows, this work will be presented for free and will be supported by donations from the community.

The play was inspired by the idea of a “theatrical care package” and the deep belief in the power of art to heal.

Given the need to adapt and change in the time of social distancing, the play is performed on curbsides, facing your front door, outside of your kitchen window, or in your backyard always observing the rules of social distancing with the goal of making you laugh, engaging your sense of wonder, and bringing you hope in absurd times.

Each performance will be customized and staged with your particular dwelling in mind through a pre-show consultation.

“Using the Moment Work devising technique, which we learned about from our connection to McIlroy Family Visiting Professor Moises Kauffman, in tandem with the devising work we started with our beloved professor of theatre Les Wade, we have been creating the play online with the intention of putting furloughed artists back to work providing live storytelling for our community,” Shatkus said.

As with many past ArkansasStaged productions, the show relies on a coterie of U of A alumni and current graduate students. Shatkus, Hutchings and Sawaf are all graduates of the Department of Theatre’s M.F.A. program, and Dawes is currently completing her first year as a graduate student seeking an M.F.A. in playwriting.

Shatkus said the play takes the audience on a whimsical, interstellar journey with a space traveller experimenting in the realms of the mind and the heart.

“Through dance, music and the heroic hygiene of a fastidious clown, you’ll be engaged in a new way of looking at the world,” she said.

The piece is family-friendly but can be presented to only one household at a time, for best social distancing practices.

Thirty performances will be offered for free with a suggested donation to a taxdeductible online fundraiser. Reservations can be made virtually.

For complete information and to sign up to learn more visit www. curbsidetheatre.com.

ctors for ArkansasStaged A bring physically distanced theatre to the backyard of an audience.

Photo by Lynn Meade

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 29

Campus

Culinary Therapy Teaching Cooking to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

BY SHANNON MAGSAM

U of A alumnus Michael Kocet has been interviewed by CNN, EatingWell magazine and The Washington Post, among others, about how cooking can help reduce stress and anxiety during the COVID19 pandemic.

For over six years, his culinary therapy classes have served many of his mental health counseling students well. But his reach has exploded over the past eight months. Through these interviews, Kocet has been able to share the benefits of mindful cooking and eating with a much wider audience.

A licensed mental health counselor, professor and department chair of the Counselor Education Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Kocet hopes his words have helped bring healing.

He learned about the benefits of culinary therapy when he began taking cooking classes in Boston around 2006. He was working as a Counselor Education faculty member at Bridgewater State University at the time.

When he’d mention the classes to friends or colleagues, they’d inevitably gush about how cooking was great for their mental health. A light bulb went off.

“In the field of mental health counseling and behavioral sciences, there is art therapy, drama therapy, music therapy and more,” Kocet said. “It occurred to me that nobody had really created cooking therapy before.

“As far as I know, I’m one of the only professors in my field who has created a course on cooking therapy.”

Kocet developed the graduate-level counseling class in 2014. It was so well received, he had to expand the program. The course focuses on mindful cooking and eating as a way to work through difficult emotions. As Kocet noted in EatingWell, people all over the globe are 30 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

dealing with collective loss right now — whether it be jobs, routine or, tragically, the people they love — and cooking can be cathartic.

He said cooking or baking a dish from your childhood can evoke strong emotions in the midst of trauma.

“I often encourage clients to make a dish to honor a loved one and use all of their senses to connect with their grief,” he said.

During the pandemic, cooking and baking has become even more meaningful to Kocet.

“It’s been a source of comfort and happiness for me,” he said.

Kocet said at the beginning, when he wasn’t getting out at all, he used the money he saved — by not eating out at pricey Chicago restaurants — to buy gadgets for his kitchen. He ordered new Japanese knives, a silicone dough rolling bag, some cast iron cookware.

“I’ve made some of my comfort food recipes, but I’ve also experimented and tried some new recipes, such as scallops with leek and sugar snap pea risotto and a Dutch baby with raspberries and blackberries,” he said.

All that time in the kitchen has helped him not only eat well, but be well.

“I think for people who enjoy cooking and baking, the process can help reduce depression, anxiety and stress,” he said. “Cooking and baking can help us focus on following a recipe and creating a product — a dish — that we can see, smell and taste. It can be a comfort when there is a great deal of uncertainty in the world these days.”

Kocet earned a doctorate in 2001 from the U of A Counselor Education and Supervision program in the College of Education and Health Professions.

He recently received one of counseling’s highest recognitions in the profession. He was named an American Counseling Association Fellow.

“I was very touched to have been nominated by a colleague and chosen by my peers for this national recognition,” he said.

New Provost, Steady Hand Charles Robinson ✪ Takes Charge of Academic and Student Affairs

BY JOHN POST

Charles Robinson was named provost and executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs in October.

Robinson was appointed to the interim position in July and led the U of A’s academic and student planning for the return to campus with the launch of the fall semester.

“Since assuming the interim role, Charles has demonstrated the strengths and value in having a singular leader over these two critical yet intertwined areas,” Chancellor Joe Steinmetz said. “Charles is the right leader at this time to help us through the various challenges and opportunities we face in advancing the mission of the University of Arkansas. He has a strong connection with the faculty and will work hard to support and develop their academic endeavors. His joint oversight of the academic and student enterprises continues to serve us well as we emphasize the combination of curricular and co-curricular experiences, along with health and wellness, as part of a holistic approach to student success.”

The U of A welcomed 27,549 students to the fall 2020 semester, with a rise in Arkansas residents, as well as graduate students, new freshmen and an increased diversity of the student body.

Prior to serving as provost, Robinson was appointed vice chancellor for student affairs in 2016 and has taught at the U of A for more than 20 years. He served as vice provost for diversity affairs within the U of A Division of Academic Affairs before being named vice chancellor for diversity affairs in 2013. He joined the U of A faculty in 1999, achieved the rank of full professor of history and earlier served as director of the African American studies program.

“I’m thrilled to serve the university in this new capacity and am looking forward to enhancing the synergy between these two divisions of student and academic affairs to better serve our campus community moving forward,” Robinson said in October.

Charles Robinson University Relations

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 31

Campus

A Lifelong Gift Mourot Family Honors Professor Jim Turpin

BY NICK DEMOSS, B.A.’11

Jim Turpin University Relations

32 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

Four family members who all hold degrees in chemical engineering have come together to honor the life of beloved professor and mentor Jim Turpin ★+ B.S.CH.E. ’60, M.S.CH.E. ’61.

A gift from the Mourot family will establish the Dr. Jim L. Turpin Student Advising Center in the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering.

The $50,000 gift from Morrilton, Arkansas, natives Michael (B.S.Ch.E.’76, M.S.Ch.E.’77) and Janet Mourot was made to honor Turpin’s impact on their family. Turpin served the College of Engineering for more than 40 years.

Mourot, his sons and his daughter-in-law all graduated from the department while Turpin was teaching. Joshua and Rebecca Mourot both graduated in 2003, and Jordan Mourot graduated in 2005, all with bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering.

Turpin made it his goal to personally know each of his students, and in doing so encouraged, mentored and profoundly impacted hundreds if not thousands of young lives.

Michael Mourot, who retired after 27 years with Dow Chemical and now is senior vice president with Sinclair Group Consulting, credited Turpin with showing him career opportunities that shaped the course of his life.

“Coming from a small Arkansas town, the idea of chemical engineering was unknown,” he said. My original plan was to be high school math teacher and a coach. Dr. Turpin helped change my plan.

I was able to work for Dow for many years and then as a consultant. It was special to me to have Dr. Turpin as a mentor and then to have my two sons also mentored by him. It is a bond we will always share.”

For Jordan Mourot, who graduated in 2005, Turpin was instrumental in his decision to come to the U of A, and he said Turpin was with him every step of his college career.

“Dr. Turpin was the person who welcomed me and everyone else into Intro I my freshman year and then sent me out with Process Control as a senior and gave me a hug on the stage at graduation,” he said. “His messages in class, in particular the first lecture in Intro 1 and the last in Process Control, had nothing to do with any technical problem solving, but were focused on ourselves and how the next four to six years in school and in industry would shape our lives. In those lectures, he gave us his heartfelt advice in living within your means and challenging yourself to continue learning in all that you do.”

2003 graduates Joshua and Rebecca Mourot both recalled Turpin’s life advice.

“Everyone knew that when you were struggling or feeling overwhelmed that you went and talked to Dr. Turpin,” Rebecca said. “After a visit with him, you’d walk out of his office feeling a little better and knowing that everything was going to be OK.” “Mentorship was at the core of Dr. Turpin’s role in the department,” Joshua said. “He was a great teacher and a transformational mentor. It is nearly impossible to find a student he taught that won’t echo that reality; his ability to understand the individual person and tailor advice to their needs and situation was unique. I am excited to be a part of establishing an advising center in his name as a representation of his tireless efforts to always deliver for his students.”

Determined to Help Alumnus 3D Prints Face Shields for Hometown Families

BY NICK DEMOSS, B.A.’11

Austin Olvera, 2020 biomedical engineering alumnus, has put his skills to work 3D-printing face shields at his house to help fight the spread of COVID-19.

Olvera spent his summer producing the medical devices to help families in his hometown of Plano, Texas. Now pursuing his master’s degree at Rice University in Houston, Olvera said the idea came late in this senior year.

“Right when COVID started and the schools were closing, I was working to finish my senior design project,” he said. “My dad purchased a 3D printer as a hobby, and I realized I really enjoyed it, and I saw it could be used to help fight the pandemic.”

He began by producing hands-free keys — handheld tools with hooks that can be used to open doors or push buttons in public spaces without having to touch a shared surface. He later transitioned into face shields.

What began as a small operation turned into a major business, with Olvera ultimately running ten 3D printers and a laser cutter to keep up with the demand for online orders.

“The majority of my business is online, or through social media,” he said. Olvera recently released a children’s version of the face shield, which was an instant hit.

“Those really blew up,” he said.

Olvera, who was advised by Morten Jensen, associate professor of biomedical engineering, said his biomedical engineering education set him up for success in the endeavor.

“The biggest impact was definitely learning to use SolidWorks (a design software), and learning how to research and develop products,” he said. “I learned you’re not always right — you’re not always making the final product on the first try. You have to try and try again.”

Raj Rao, professor and head of the department of biomedical engineering, said Olvera’s work exemplifies the department’s goals.

“I am extremely proud of Austin for using his biomedical engineering education to fulfill an urgent need in his community,” Rao said. “He is an excellent example of the kind of student we are training through our educational and design programs — to develop healthcare solutions that engage with their local communities with potential for broad impact.”

Austin Olvera Photo Submitted

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 33

Alumni

Conversations on Race President’s Message

Photo by University Relations

The year 2020 continues to present unprecedented times! As we navigate this year, we are facing numerous economic, political and social challenges emerging as a result of COVID-19.

Unfortunately, there are other challenges, like social justice and racial equity, that are not new. Some of the issues that we recently heard from our students and faculty are problems that many in our alumni family have been facing for decades and our society has been facing for multiple generations.

To provide alumni leadership and engagement opportunities, the Arkansas Alumni Association recently launched a five-part series, Town Hall Series – Conversations on Race. I am excited to discuss the motivation for the series and update on recent conversations.

As we celebrated 2020 Homecoming, the theme was “One Razorback, One Community.” I truly believe that the U of A alumni family can only truly harness the potential of “One Razorback, One Community” when all family members feel valued and experience a true sense of belonging and inclusion.

The Alumni Association’s goal is to allow alumni to transparently understand campus efforts and highlight the concerns being expressed. The focus of each “conversation” follows: 1. Understanding our University of Arkansas Campus Climate, 2. Listening to Our Campus: A Panel of Diverse Student Leaders, 3. Listening to Our Alumni: A Panel of Alumni Chapter and Society Leaders, 4. Listening to Our Campus: A Panel of Faculty and Staff 5. Transforming U of A: Combatting Racism to Be A More Inclusive Campus.

34 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

I thank those who took time to participate in the conversations to date and invite others to engage in future efforts. As a result of the conversations, the association hopes alumni will: • Enhance understanding of the social justice and racial equity issues being raised.

• Empathize with current students/faculty and fellow alums as it relates to unnerving experiences which are sometimes traumatic.

• Identify ways to engage with the campus and the association to support resulting initiatives that emerge from these and other conversations.

To date, I have learned of several campus efforts to support our current and future students being implemented. I have listened attentively and heard the frustrations expressed by our current students. I recently commended our student panelists for their leadership and commitment to pursue systemic changes to enhance future student experiences. As I shared with the students, it is important to note that their voices are speaking not just for our current students but also alumni from previous generations that span 10, 20, 30 years ago and beyond. I have personally heard from many of those alumni expressing support for these conversations.

Hopefully, the collective conversations and other efforts will result in not only improved experiences for our current and future students, but also enhanced pride from the U of A alumni family.

I invite all alumni to use their leadership and voices to inspire positive change on these challenging social issues. I hope that you will join in the Alumni Association’s efforts to transparently engage as our campus seeks ways to enhance an inclusive culture and welcoming environment.

Ron Rainey, ✪ B.S.A.’91, M.S.’93, Ph.D.’01 President, Arkansas Alumni Association Connect and Serve the U of A Family

UPGRADE to LIFE

and Never Pay Dues Again! www.ArkansasAlumni.org/join

THANK YOU New Life Members ✪ By becoming Life Members, the University’s friends and alumni help form a strong foundation on which to build the future of the Arkansas Alumni Association. We welcome the newest Life Members, listed in order of membership number: 9810 9811 9812 9813 9814 9815 9816 9817 9818 9819 9820 9821 9822 9823 9824 9825 9826 9827 9828 9829

Dr. Angie Boyer ’13 Chris Briley Andrea Briley Shawn Gray ’06 Dr. Jonathon R. Kimes ’04 Adam M. Chudy ’08 Caitlin Chudy John D. Johnson ’64 Michael Todd Parker ’95 Dwight Lee Yarbrough ’82 Becky Yarbrough Floyd E. Sagely ’55 Jimmie Anderson Sagely Ted L. Glaub ’71, ’82 Jake Norton ’05 Jinny L. Lowe ’09, ’16 John W. Eckart ’80 Laurie B. Eckart Mike Rice ’67 Janice Rice

9830 Tyler John Seidl ’14 9831 Greg Garrison ’86 9832 Lora Oswalt ’70 9833 Dr. Trudy J. Moore ’76 9834 Brent John Nohl ’02 9835 Jessica Dawn Nohl 9836 Martin F. Seifert 9837 Tyler Platt ’17 9838 Wendel A. Fleming II ’76, ’78 9839 J ordan R. Northcutt ’14 9840 Dr. Blake W. Plyler ’12 9841 Scott Bull ’76 9842 Kianna Sarvestani ’20 9843 Dr. Rick A. Finch ’80 9844 R obert G. Serio ’68, ’70 9845 Kevin Beckham ’93 9846 Cathy Beckham 9847 Janet Busby 9848 D r. Kaely M. Kantaris ’10

9849 Chris Granda 9850 D r. Tommy L. Love Jr. ’70 9851 Amber R. Burns ’09 9852 S ean Joseph O’Rourke ’85 9853 Stephanie D. May 9854 Jim Pugh ’69 9855 Shelley B. Pugh 9856 Carrie Eggart ’19 9857 Paula K. Irwin ’78, ’82 9858 Ralph Carruth Jr. ’79 9859 Kaycee Stipe Bruner 9860 Scott D. Bruner 9861 Wil Cheatham ’16 9862 D r. Jason Brian Munsell ’93, ’95 9863 Cody J. Rose ’05 9864 Starla L. Rose 9865 David Boulware ’97 9866 S abine S. Boulware ’96, ’99 9867 R ebecca A. Luebker ’05, ’07

9868 M . Melissa Lee ’86, ’98 9869 Dorothy Blevins 9870 J ames L. Bacon ’60, ’87 9871 Diane W. Bacon 9872 J ohn Richard Myers ’81, ’93 9873 S helley Williams Myers 9874 K athleen Korte Daigle ’72, ’76 9875 Christopher D. Daigle 9876 R ichard M. Pence Jr. ’65, ’68 9877 Jann Pence ’66 9878 Vicki Harp 9879 J aecy Lynn Bradford ’17 9880 M atthew Dean Bradford ’17 9881 Jack R. Wallis ’57 9882 W endy Michelle Gaskill ’94

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Connect • Engage • Inspire 2021 Black Alumni Society Awardees The Black Alumni Society (BAS) plans to host its biennial reunion weekend April 16-18, 2021. During the biennial reunion, BAS will honor eight awardees

Mike Macechko Diversity Advocacy Award This award is named after Myron D. “Mike” Macechko, Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director Emeritus, and recognizes individuals who are instrumental in increasing cultural awareness and diversity at the U of A.

Photos submitted

Sterlin D. Williams ✪, B.S.B.A. ’80, MPA ’87, is a retired public administrator, published academic author and historian. Williams began his career with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the U.S. Department of Transportation and retired after 32 years of federal service. During his career, Williams served as the Division Administrator for 26 years for the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. Williams was responsible for the statewide implementation of the federal motor carrier safety/economic/hazardous materials programs where he partnered with numerous stakeholders and partners. While with the agency, Williams served as the first chair of the National Diversity Committee.

Under his leadership, Williams was instrumental in directing and implementing the FMCSA’s Diversity initiative.

As a former student of the U of A and throughout his life and career, Williams has been committed to promoting cultural awareness and an advocate for increasing diversity inclusion activities. After retirement, Williams penned a published book on multiculturalism, Understanding the Far-Reaching Global Impact of the World Racial Order. The book is on file at several African American museums, bookstores and libraries. It was named a winner in the 2020 International Book Awards

36 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

in four categories. This group of honorees embody the theme for the reunion: Connect with the Past; Engage and Be Present; and Inspire for the Future. @ (IABA) Program in the Non-Fiction Multicultural category by the Afro-American Historical and Genealogy Society.

Sanford I. Tollette IV, B.S.E. ’76 was born in Hope, Arkansas, to a school principal and a librarian.

From a foundation of love and scholarly endeavor, Sanford took the prejudice, hate and abuse directed towards him as a person of color and used it to fuel the furnace of his desire that no child should have to suffer or lack opportunity because of their color or socio-economic background. Tollette’s many achievements include being selected the first black drum major of the U of A and the Southwest Conference in 1971. Following his graduation, he taught elementary school for five years in the Little Rock and Pulaski County school districts.

In 1976, Tollette began his tenure as program director of Camp Aldersgate, where he developed a medical respite care program and camping programs for children with medical issues such as spina bifida and diabetes. At the same time, he served as director of the Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp, transforming it into a camp dedicated to helping troubled youth of all races and genders. In 1984, when the Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp separated from Camp Aldersgate, Tollette became the first African American camp executive director in the state of Arkansas and still serves in that capacity.

Among his many roles in a distinguished life and career, Tollette was the first Black Chair of the Tri-State Region of the American Camping Association. In his work with the Association of Experiential Education, he developed an experiential education wilderness program for high risk youth. This program was the forerunner of his now

nationally recognized program for at-risk third through fifth graders, The Alternative Classroom Experience, which has been operating for 31 years.

Tollette has received appointments to the Advisory Board for the Foundation of the Mid-South and Arkansas Child Welfare Agency Review Board, on which he currently serves. He was also appointed to the first State Commission on Volunteerism, which became Arkansas Service Commission (AmeriCorps) and was elected first Chairman/first Black Chair in the nation.

Sanford Tollette was the first Arkansan and first African American to receive the AEE Michael Stratton Award.

The Arkansas Education Association awarded him the Human and Civil Rights Citizen Award. AmeriCorps presented him with an award to recognize his role as chair and in establishing the Arkansas Service Commission and the AmeriCorps program in Arkansas. Finally, Tollette was recognized by President Obama as a White House Champion of Change.

Marlon Weems Award Recognizes an individual who is not a graduate of the university but has contributed a significant amount of time and/or developed positions with BAS to promote the purpose and mission of the society.

Torii Hunter has established himself as one of the top Major League Baseball players. Hunter is a five-time Major League All-Star and the recipient of nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards for his accomplishments on the baseball diamond. In July 2016, he was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.

Hunter has always had a heart for philanthropy and has been dedicated to investing into his childhood community. Because of his charitable acts with the U of A and outstanding accomplishments, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in December 2014.

Since retiring from baseball in October 2015, Hunter spends most of his time with Katrina, his lovely wife of 24 years. The empty nesters have been opening new businesses, investing in small startups and traveling the

globe watching their sons play minor league baseball and Canadian football. When Hunter not traveling, he is making memories with his grandchildren.

Morgan-Clark Living Legacy Award This award is named after Dr. Gordon Morgan and Dr. Margaret Clark. Dr. Morgan and Dr. Clark were the first two African American professors at the U of A. This award recognizes an alumna, alumnus, staff or faculty member at the local, regional, state or national level who has performed work worthy of recognition.

Gwendolyn BryantSmith, M.D., B.S. ’96 is a native of Arkansas and the division chief of Breast Imaging, medical director of the Breast Center, the director of the Mobile Mammography Program and is the Breast Imaging Fellowship director in the Department of Radiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). A graduate of the UAMS College of Medicine, Bryant-Smith completed her internship at UAMS, followed by a residency in diagnostic radiology and fellowship training in the UAMS Breast Imaging Fellowship program. She is board certified in Diagnostic Radiology.

Bryant-Smith joined the UAMS Department of Radiology in 2006. She served as director of Breast Imaging in the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) Department of Radiology from July 1, 2008, to February 29, 2016. She was named division chief of Breast Imaging at UAMS in the Department of Radiology on March 1, 2016.

She has served as chair of the National Veterans Affairs Mammography Advisory Committee and as a subject matter expert on the Upper Midwest Consolidated Services Center (UMCSC) Biopsy Instruments and Needles Committee with Mayo Clinic. She is a clinical image reviewer for the Arkansas Mammography Accreditation Program, a board member of the Arkansas Cancer Coalition, secretary/treasurer of the Arkansas Radiological Society and an envoy board member of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

Bryant-Smith has a strong interest in patient advocacy and health policy. She testified before the 2017 Arkansas WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 37

Alumni

General Assembly House and Senate Insurance and Commerce Committees in a successful effort to gain insurance coverage for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and Whole Breast Ultrasound for women in the state of Arkansas.

Bryant-Smith is a member of the American College of Radiology, Arkansas Radiological Society, Radiological Society of North America and the Society of Breast Imaging.

Bryant-Smith is married to Derrick Smith, an attorney and partner at Mitchell Williams Law firm, and has a 10-year-old son, Andrew Smith.

Photos submitted

A native of Chicago, Darrell Walker, B.S.E. ’12, helped the Arkansas Razorbacks reach the Sweet 16 in both 1981 and 1983. Walker played one season at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith before spending three seasons at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville under Hall of Fame head coach Eddie Sutton, where he was named a second team All-American and a first team NABC All-District selection in 1983, a two-time Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the 1983 NABC All-Star game.

A 12th overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 1983 NBA Draft, Walker began an NBA career in which he suited up for five different teams playing for NBA Hall of Fame coaches Hubie Brown, Wes Unseld, Chuck Daly and Phil Jackson. He was named to the 1984 NBA All-Rookie Team and played for 10 seasons before closing out his playing career as a member of the NBA champion Chicago Bulls in 1993.

Walker has extensive basketball experience at both the collegiate and professional level. Beyond his 14 years as a player is a 20-year professional coaching career that includes serving as head coach for two different NBA franchises: the Toronto Raptors from 1996-98 and the Washington Wizards in 2000. Walker also spent time as the head coach of the Rockford Lightning of the Continental Basketball Association and the Washington Mystics of the WNBA. He served as an assistant coach in the NBA for the Toronto Raptors (1995-96), New Orleans Hornets (2004-08), Detroit Pistons (2008-11) and New York Knicks (2012-14). Just prior to accepting his role as the Trojans’ head coach, Walker spent two seasons as the head coach at Clark Atlanta University, 38 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

leading the Panthers to back-to-back NCAA Division II tournament appearances.

Currently in his third season as Little Rock’s head basketball coach, he is already causing programs across the country to take notice. Walker was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year for the 2019-20 season, becoming just the fourth Trojan head coach to earn that accolade.

Walker is a 2003 Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame inductee and was enshrined into the U of A Hall of Honor in 2008. He and his wife, Lisa, a former All-American sprinter at Arkansas, hold a unique distinction as the only husband-wife tandem inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.

Dr. Lonnie Williams LifeTime Achievement Award Recognizes an alumna/alumnus who has made significant lifetime achievements professionally or personally, and who is considered to have extraordinary distinction in a chosen field.

Sonya Hunt Gray ★, B.A. ’85, is the chief of the Western Branch Division of Metropolitan HIV/ AIDS Programs (DMHAP), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), within the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Prior to her tenure with HIV/AIDS programs, Gray led and managed the National Federal Demonstration Grants Program in the DHHS Office of Minority Health. Gray served as the principal advisor to M. Joycelyn Elders, MD, the first African American and 15th United States Surgeon General.

Gray is a member of the Board of Directors of the MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, where she is a member of the Governance Committee and the Philanthropy Committee. Gray has received honors for her leadership and management accomplishments.

Among them was the HRSA Administrator Award for Leadership for her role on the CDC/HRSA Integrated Planning Core Team in 2017. Gray was awarded the Leadership and Design Award for the HRSA Roots of Health Inequity agency-wide course in 2016 and the HRSA Administrator Award for Excellence in 2014 “in helping fulfill HRSA mission, particularly in the

BLACK ALUMNI SOCIETY

Black Alumni Society REUNION WEEKEND CONNECT • ENGAGE • INSPIRE APRIL 16 -18 • 2021 arkansasalumni.org/bas

development of HRSA global programs.”

Gray is highly regarded in public health for her tireless commitment, effectiveness, leadership and passion for strategic implementation, planning, operationalizing management and leadership. A lifelong devoted and conscientious community organizer, Gray exercises endtouch with an end-user approach; she builds a pipeline into the future, recognizing young talent and offering support, guidance and coaching and over 30 years of mentorship. Gray is the very proud mother of Nettsaanett Amma Searcy Merdie Frozene Victoria Ruvarshe Hunt Gray, who is a sophomore at Spelman College.

Quinn Grovey ★, B.S.B.A ’90, is the senior director of Development for the Razorback Foundation at the U of A. In his current leadership role, Quinn is responsible for fundraising for the athletic department as well as implementation and execution of Razorback Foundation initiatives.

Quinn has over 25 years of retail management experience with Walmart and Home Depot. Quinn

worked in various roles including human resources, operations and marketing management.

Quinn currently serves on the Board of Directors for Encore Bank as well as the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation which focuses on support and education to caregivers providing care for loved ones dealing with Alzheimer’s, and dementia. In addition, Quinn served several years on the Board of Directors for the Razorback Foundation, the primary fundraising arm for the U of A Athletic Department.

Quinn is entering his 24th year as the football radio analyst for the Arkansas Razorback Sports network, where he continues to engage with Razorback fans all over the state and the world. Quinn is honored to describe Arkansas football to one of the most passionate fan bases. Being no stranger to the microphone, Quinn also serves as a college football analyst for Cox Sports Television.

Quinn was a member of the Razorback football team from 1987 to 1990. As the starting quarterback, Quinn helped lead Arkansas to two Southwest Conference Championships and two Cotton Bowl appearances.

Quinn was named the first team All-Southwest Conference quarterback in 1988 and the second team All-Southwest Conference quarterback in 1989.

Quinn was elected to the Duncan High School Hall of WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 39

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Fame (1998), the U of A Sports Hall of Honor (2001), Southeastern Conference Legend (2005), Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (2011) and the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (2016).

Quinn earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management from the U of A.

Photo submitted

Keith A. Jones, BSE ’85 began his career in athletic training at the U of A, working as a student trainer for Lou Holtz’s football and Eddie Sutton’s basketball teams for four years. He interned with the Philadelphia Eagles as an athletic trainer during his college summers and worked as their full-time assistant trainer during the 1983 season. Upon leaving Philadelphia, Jones spent two seasons with the Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws of the USFL. He eventually rejoined Holtz at the University of Minnesota as the football trainer in 1987 before moving to the NBA. Jones got his start in the NBA in 1988 as the assistant trainer for the Orlando Magic, joining the Clippers the following season when their head trainer position opened.

When Jones was hired by the Los Angeles Clippers in June 1990, he became the first African American, as well as the youngest, trainer in the NBA at age 28. Jones recently finished his 31st season in professional basketball and his 24th with the Houston Rockets. As the senior vice president of Basketball Operations since 2007, Jones oversees player relations and basketball operations for the Rockets. Jones became the fourth athletic trainer in franchise history when he joined the Rockets on July 23, 1996, serving the past 17 seasons as head athletic trainer with Houston. He was voted by his peers as the NBA Trainer of the Year in 2001 before being elevated to the title of Vice President of Basketball Operations/Athletic Trainer in 2002.

During the 2008 Summer Olympics, Jones served as a team athletic trainer for the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team, which captured the gold medal in Beijing, China. He has also served in the same capacity for USA Basketball at the 1998 World Championship of Basketball in Greece, during the 1999 Tournament of the Americas in Puerto Rico, with the gold-medalwinning Senior National Team during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, at the FIBA Americas World Championship Qualifier 2005 in the

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Dominican Republic, during the 2006 World Americas Championship 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He and his wife, Madge, reside in Sugar Land. The couple has two daughters, Morgan and Alex, and a son, Isaiah. Off the court, Jones has been involved with the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program.

More about the Reunion In July 2019, BAS President Ritche Manley Bowden, B.S.I.E. ’86 shared the theme for this reunion: Connect with the Past; Engage and Be Present; and Inspire for the Future. “We know that our University of Arkansas experience did not end with a cap, gown and degree on sheepskin paper,” Bowden said. “Those symbols of completion were actually a call to higher service and a reminder that we are caretakers of the lighthouse. Our shared experiences connect us in a special way, and the farther we cast our light, the sharper our vision becomes for the tasks that lie ahead.”

Find reunion information and ways to connect, engage and inspire at arkansasalumni.org/bas.

azon Am eller s Best

“Only a poet can see this clearly, be this honest, and still hope this much.”

— Douglas A. Blackmon, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize

“Johnson has laid the healing tools in our hands, and left instructions.

This is how it starts.”

— Cornelius Eady, Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Available Wherever Books and Ebooks Are Sold www.pegasusbooks.com Distributed by Simon & Schuster ISBN 978-1-64313-466-6 J. Chester Johnson received the Citation of Distinguished Alumnus, 2010 from the University of Arkansas and Arkansas Alumni Association.

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Arkansas Alumni Presents Spotlighting Our Campus

BY LISY MCKINNON ★ B.A. ‘97

The travel and event restrictions resulting from COVID-19 created both obstacles and opportunities in alumni programming in the fall of 2020. Although our alumni groups couldn’t host their traditional fall watch parties, and tailgates were canceled for football season, the Arkansas Alumni Association led the charge in planning and executing innovative and collaborative programming with our colleagues across campus.

Beginning in late August, association staff began meeting with representatives from each college on campus to plan spotlight weeks for each unit. By mid-September, the association and their partners had developed the framework for Arkansas Alumni Presents – a series of 30 events held over the course of 11 weeks.

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences was presented during the week of Sept. 20-26 and featured a Lunch and Learn via Zoom hosted by the Razorback Bands. The School of Law used their spotlight week to turn their attention to alumni in the Delta. Riding the Circuit, held on Oct. 8, was attended by 40 alumni and friends with Delta ties, featured a presentation by Dean Margaret Sova McCabe and the law school’s first Delta Fellow, Martha Kay “Gus” Mettler.

Additional spotlight weeks and events included: ollege of Education and Health Professions, Oct. C 18-24 • Lunch and Learn for alumni of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing • Recognition ceremony for outstanding students receiving the Bill Ferrell Endowed Scholarship in Athletic Training and the Dean Weber Athletic Trainer Scholarship

42 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

College of Engineering, Oct. 24-30 • Lunch and Learn with Dean John English • Happy Hour hosted by the Civil Engineering Alumni Society • Panel Discussion about the newly-created Black Alumni Society Engineering Scholarship Sam M. Walton College of Business, Nov. 1-7 • Coffee Break discussing the newly named William Dillard Department of Accounting • Coffee Break featuring the Business Integrity Leadership Initiative Honors College, Nov. 8-14 • Panel discussion with Honors College students who interned with the Congressional Black Caucus during the Summer of 2020 • Panel discussion featuring Honors College alumni working on the COVID Front Lines raduate School and International Education, Nov. G 8-14 • Campus Live @ U of A Rome Center • Fayetteville After Five connection event for international alumni residing in the United States and Canada ale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and D Life Sciences, Nov. 15-21 • Presentation of the Effect of COVID Pandemic on Early Childhood Education and Development • Discussion on the Ripple Effect of a Pandemic on the Food Supply Chain

ay Jones School of Architecture + Design, Nov. 29 to F Dec. 12 • Insights With the Department Heads • On Community Engagement and Diversity • Centers of Excellence • Design Futures In all, these collaborative events, our Alumni Town Hall Series and our Homecoming celebration created opportunities for countless alumni and friends to connect virtually with engaging, informative and celebratory programming from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Although everyone hopes for a swift end to the restrictions that keep us from gathering in person, the partnerships that the Alumni Association has strengthened across campus, the alumni populations we have been able to serve and the interesting program and projects that we have been able to highlight are a definite silver lining.

Virtual programming for the spring will use similar formats for engagement but will focus largely on fostering student-to-alumni connections. Recorded events from the fall can be found on the Arkansas Alumni Association’s YouTube channel.

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication title: Arkansas 3. Filing date: 10/7/2020 5. Issues published annually: 4 7. Office of publication:

2. Publication number: 0095-15 4. Issue Frequency: Quarterly 6. Annual subscription price: $24.00 P. O. Box 1070, Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas, 72702-1070 8. General business office: Same as 7.

9. Publisher: Brandy Cox, P. O. Box 1070 Fayetteville, AR 72702 Editor: Catherine Baltz, P. O. Box 1070 Fayetteville, AR 72702 Managing editor: Charlie Alison, 106 Davis Hall, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 10. Owner Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc. P. O. Box 1070, Fayetteville, AR 72702 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, or other security holders holding one per cent or more of total amounts of bonds, mortgages, or other securitites: none.

12. Tax Status: Has not changed during the preceding 12 months.

14. Issue date for circulation data: June (Summer) 2020 15. Extent and nature of circulation A* B* a. Total number of copies (net press run) b. Paid Circulation (1) Mailed outside county (2) Mailed in-county (3) Paid distribution outside mail (4)Other paid distribution c. Total paid distribution 17,099 d. Free or nominal distribution (1) Outside county (2) In-county (3) Other classes (4) Outside mail e. Total free or nominal rate distribution f. Total distribution g. Copies not distributed h. Total i. Percent paid

18,057

13,819

17,049 0 0 50

12,664 0 0 52 12,716

0 0 15 485 500 17,599 458 18,057 97%

0 0 12 488 500 13,216 603 13,819 96%

*A. Average number of copies each issue during the preceding 12 months. *B. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date.

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Being a Razorback Introducing the 2020-21 Freshman Endowed Scholars

BY EVAN HINCHLIFFE ★

The Arkansas Alumni Association Scholarship Program awards Alumni Endowed Scholarships to two top freshman applicants each year. Jacob Vincent and

Isabella Tomboli were selected as the newest Endowed Scholars based on their academic achievements.

Jacob Vincent Germantown, TN

Isabella Tomboli White Hall

“It’s hard to describe the feeling when you walk into someplace and know, this is where I want to be,” this is what Jacob Vincent said as he recalled his decision to attend the U of A. For Vincent, the U of A was an anomaly. The hometown feel, caring faculty and personalized tour experience were above and beyond Vincent’s expectations.

Originally, Vincent had every intention of attending Mississippi State. With his mind now set on becoming a Razorback, Vincent applied for numerous scholarships and turned to the Arkansas Alumni Association for help. He is now one of the newest Alumni Endowed Scholarship recipients and will be the first in his family to attend the U of A. Growing up in Germantown, Tennessee, Vincent attended Christian Brothers High School. His time there was phenomenal, having been a part of the National Honor Society, Honor Council, and serving as a Student Ambassador. Vincent’s athletic abilities include running cross country and track, and his team won several regional championships. Vincent also enjoys music, listening to an eclectic group of artists such as Billy Joel, Elton John, Led Zeppelin and The Kid Laroi.

A criminology major, Vincent says that the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 spurred his interest in the field. This horrific event was an eye-opening experience for Vincent, who now wants to study criminology so he can help make the world a safer place for everyone. An Honors College student, he has an interest in studying abroad. Vincent is driven by a desire to constantly improve. As Vincent says, “Being a Razorback means working every day to become the best version of yourself.”

If you ask Isabella Tomboli, she will say she experienced the typical small-town life. From White Hall, Arkansas, Tomboli had a tight-knit group of friends and was a member of her high school’s dance team. She enjoys everything outdoors including hammocking, hiking and duck hunting with her dog, Luna.

Tomboli is one of the newest Alumni Endowed Scholarship recipients. She has a family legacy with the U of A, where her parents, aunt and uncle graduated. On her tour of the campus, Tomboli found her parents’ names on Senior Walk. She knew from then on that she was also destined to study here; however, financial aid was still a concern. When Tomboli was first notified that she would be the recipient of the prestigious Alumni Endowed Scholarship, she cried tears of joy.

Community service is an important part of Tomboli’s life, from volunteering at Camp Aldersgate to serving children with disabilities. Now, she hopes to become an advocate for those with type 1 diabetes. This interest inspired her to major in exercise science. On a pre-med track, Tomboli dreams of one day becoming a pediatric endocrinologist. She is an Honors College student and plans to study abroad in Italy, to become more familiar with her heritage.

Tomboli’s focus on community is one of the leading reasons she chose to attend the U of A. “It really is a ‘Home on The Hill,’” Tomboli says. “It’s a community here, and even though it’s a big school, you don’t feel like you’re a number.”

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SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Since 1994, Hog Tags have generated more than $4.4 million in scholarships.

DATE PAY TO THE ORDER OF

2020/2021

Alumni Scholars

$ 1,200,000

One million two-hundred thousand

DOLLARS

Ark. Alumni Association :000072701000

0000:

0000

The Alumni Association awarded over 1.2 million dollars in scholarships this academic year.

560 Current Alumni Scholars

Since 1990, The Arkansas Alumni Association has awarded more than $12.7 million in scholarships.

19,000+ Jan. 1-Feb.15 Scholarship dollars raised in the Homecoming Online Auction

Arkansas Alumni Scholarship Application Period

A R K A N SA SA LU M N I .O R G / S C H O L A R S H I P S WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 45

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Homecoming One Razorback. One Community.

The 98th Homecoming celebrations kicked off a week of longstanding tradition and school spirit as Razorbacks.

As with many things this year, Homecoming looked a little different for the health and safety of our Razorback family. This year’s theme was “One Razorback. One Community.”

Homecoming festivities and activities reflected the association’s and the university’s two-fold intention to provide enhanced opportunities to connect safely, as well as to be more intentional in designing programming that recognizes and celebrates the rich diversity of our Arkansas Razorback family. The Homecoming team was excited to see these efforts foster an environment of collaboration, unity and inclusion. Homecoming week was a time in which all Razorbacks participated and showed their love for our great university.

Homecoming kicked off with the fourth annual Pack the Pantry Food Drive hosted by the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry. The entire Razorback community was involved with helping pack the pantry this year through both physical and monetary donations. These donations will help support our campus community. At the university, 38% of students experience food insecurity.

Additionally, while 54% of students know about local food pantries, only 2% use one. Before COVID, the Full Circle Food Pantry served a monthly average of 750 household members, but since COVID hit, the pantry has been serving 1,300-1,400 household members.

This year Lead Hogs hosted a residence hall competition for Homecoming week. Razorback spirit was present at each event. The competition consisted of a golf cart decorating competition and showcase, pack the pantry food drive with the Full Circle Food pantry, Residence Interhall Congress percentage night, social media spirit day, Homecoming banner decorations and a virtual 5k hosted by University Recreation and the Residence Interhall Congress. In a tight race, Hotz Hall collected the most cumulative points throughout the week to win the competition! Congratulations Hotz! Not far behind, in 2nd and 3rd place, were Adohi Hall and Humphreys Hall, respectively. The Alumni Association enjoyed having Campus Housing show their Razorback spirit and engage our students living in residence halls.

For the first time, the Graduate School and International Education, in collaboration with the 46 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

Arkansas Alumni Association, hosted two international Homecoming at your Home events for alumni in Malaysia and Singapore. These were wonderful events, and the association hopes to continue these creative engagement opportunities for future Homecomings to ensure a connection to the entire Razorback community during Homecoming.

Although many of the typical Homecoming Friday festivities were not held, the Alumni Association was still able to host numerous events. The association kicked off the day by recognizing the Class of 2019 as their section of Senior Walk was dedicated. Alumni invited four student leaders from the Class of 2019 to share their stories and speak at the virtual ceremony.

Although they may not be on campus, these alumni are now forever engraved in stone – an idea that Homecoming is meant to remind us of, regardless of the circumstances. The association celebrates their accomplishments and hope they take that appreciation and support wherever they go.

The university concluded the evening with the 90th Homecoming Pep Rally hosted in the Greek Theatre. This was a hybrid event with limited capacity, but, for the first time in history, the U of A was able to livestream the pep rally for all of the Razorback community to experience. At the pep rally, attendees called the Hogs, sang the “Alma Mater” and honored 14 Homecoming Court members.

The highlight of the event, as in years past, was the announcement of the official Homecoming King and Queen for 2020.

Homecoming week concluded with a great Razorback Homecoming football game in which the U of A beat the Ole Miss Rebels 33–21.

Homecoming is more than just a football game (though we all appreciated the win!). It’s a connection to this great university: it’s about us all recognizing that we are One Razorback. One Community. It is a celebration of our school, the far-reaching impact that graduates have had all had over the world and alumni returning to an institution that helped form them into the people they are today. Alumni are already looking forward to next year’s Homecoming, as the university celebrates its sesquicentennial, and continuing to build the tradition and legacy of your Home on The Hill.

Homecoming Week Themes: Sunday: Welcome to Homecoming Week 2020!

Monday: Celebrating Community Tuesday: Celebrating Connection Wednesday: Celebrating Philanthropy & Service Thursday: Celebrating Our Impact Friday: Celebrating Razorback Spirit Saturday: One Razorback. One Community.

Homecoming Banners

Homecoming banners made by Greek chapter houses and residence halls helped make campus festive this year.

Photos submitted

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 47

Campus

Photo by University Relations

Homecoming Team The Student Alumni Board Homecoming Team worked hard to uphold the Homecoming tradition and ensure it was celebrated both on campus and in the community. From left: Peyton Jobe; Elijah Conley; Caitlin Paris; Carlee McGuire, director of the 2020 Homecoming; Kaitlyn Smythe; Katie Strickland; and Linden Van Hoose

2020 Homecoming Court

Photo by Terah Bryson

The Homecoming Court members were recognized by the Associated Student Government at a small gathering outside of the Fowler Conservatory. The 2020 Homecoming Court featured from left Delayne Coleman, Emily Richey, Lizeth Martinez, Katie Gardner, McKenzie Canon, Jessica Gilmore, Eliza Fulton, first lady Sandy Steinmetz, Chancellor Joe Steinmetz, Jack West, Jesus Perera, Phil Necessary, Daniel Webster, Khalil Buckmire, Maxwell McKinney and Colton Simpson.

Homecoming King/Queen Gameday Crowning Katie Gardner, 2020 Homecoming Queen, and Phil Necessary, 2020 Homecoming King Razorback Athletics

Homecoming Pep Rally Photos courtesy of Razorback Athletics

Photos courtesy of ASG

The university celebrated the 90th Homecoming Pep Rally hosted by the Razorback Booster Club in the Chi Omega Greek Theatre. This event was live streamed for the first time for all of the Razorback community to share in Homecoming at their Home! At this event the university also recognized the 2020 Homecoming Court and announced the 2020 Homecoming King and Queen.

The 2020 Homecoming Queen, Katie Gardner, and Homecoming King, Phil Necessary, were crowned at half time of the Homecoming game by Chancellor Joe Steinmetz.

Katie Gardner and Phil Necessary after the being announced 2020 Homecoming Queen and King.

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Katie Gardner, 2020 Homecoming Queen; Chimdera Nzelu, 2019 Homecoming Queen; and Phil Necessary, 2020 Homecoming King.

Homecoming Housing Competition – HogWheels Event

Photos submitted

All residence halls decorated their own golf carts for the Homecoming HogWheels event. They were showcased on campus in the Union Mall for all to cast their votes for their favorite!

Coloring Contest Winners 3 - 5 Year Olds

1st

Name: Livy Milburn Parents: Ashlea Bennett Milburn B.S. ’03 and Michael Milburn B.S. ’08 Hometown: Fayetteville

6 – 8 Year Olds

1st

Name: Lilah Milburn Parents: Ashlea Bennett Milburn B.S. ’03 and Michael Milburn B.S. ’08 Hometown: Fayetteville

9 – 11 Year Olds

1st

Name: Walker Nohl Parents: Jessica ✪ and Brent Nohl ✪ B.A. ’02 Hometown: Fayetteville

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Alumni

Homecoming 2020 G

University of Arkansas vs.

University of Mississippi

10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 K

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WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 51

Events

Securing Your Bag During This Crisis Virtual Alumni & Black Student Mentoring Event

National Coming Out Day The Pride Alumni Society participated in National Coming Out Day. Jordan Garcia B.S.H.E.S. ’10, president of the PRIDE Alumni Society, also participated in a virtual student-led resource fair sponsored by the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education. He presented the roles, resources and support the society provides to the LGBTQ+ community and students through service and scholarships.

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On Sept. 15, the U of A Black Alumni Society provided an opportunity for African and African American students to learn vital skills in navigating the virtual job search, networking and interviewing during the pandemic. This event provided students with a unique opportunity to dialogue with returning seniors, recent grads and other alumni who shared their experiences working during the pandemic. Panelists spoke on balancing work, self-care and being nimble as they navigated their next career steps.

Panelists: • Cristopher Fennessee, Black Alumni Society Scholar, senior mechanical engineering student.

• Justyce Yuille ★, B.A.’20, former Black Alumni Society Scholar, Great Oaks Charter School, teaching fellow.

• Tim Reynolds, B.S.B.A.’19, former Black Alumni Society Scholar, Microsoft customer service account manager.

• Jessica Thompson ★, B.S.B.A.’03, keynote speaker, Park University, director of admissions, executive director, “She Leads.”

The event was co-sponsored by the U of A Career Development Center and the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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Events

National Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrating Latinx Culture and Achievement Latino Alumni Society and U of A partnered for National Hispanic Heritage Month. National Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to learn and celebrate the vastness of Latinx culture and the achievements and contribution of Latinx individuals across the world. This year there were a variety of events ranging from panel discussions to salsa lessons.

Latinx First Friday: Scavenger Hunt LatinX Heritage Month First Friday was an event that highlighted each Latin American country through a scavenger hunt.

Sponsored by: Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education Salsa & Bachata Night Free Salsa dance lessons were offered virtually. This event offered a chance to celebrate, dance and learn about culture.

Sponsored By: University Programs Mosquita y Mari Movie Screening This event featured a screening of the movie Mosquita y Mari and a discussion immediately following. Discussion was led by Erika Almenara, Roselee Ledesma M.A.’19, Magdalena Arroyo B.A.’15 and Aracely Mondragón.

Sponsored by: Latinx Employee Impact Group Coffee and Conversation: Latinx Young Professionals Panel Networking event and virtual panel discussion with a group of millennials who shared their experiences as Latinx individuals in the professional world and offered strategies and solutions for navigating your chosen field and still representing for the culture. See panelists on page 55.

Sponsored by: Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education and Latino Alumni Society Plaza De Las Américas An event that highlighted each Latin Américan country with knowledgeable presentations, performances, language class and connection with the whole campus to the Latin American community within the university via multiple platforms. Plaza de las Americas – Festival de las Manos 54 / ARKANSAS / WINTER 2020

Unidas has been a staple of the Hispanic community in Northwest Arkansas for more than a decade and is one of many events taking place for more than a month throughout the area.

Sponsored by: Latin American and Latino Studies, International Students and Scholars, World Languages, University Housing, New Student and Family Programs, La Oficina Latina, Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education and U of A Hispanic Heritage Month Committee

Historical Importance of Latinx Vote Panel Discussion This year the Latinx electorate became the largest minority body of voters. The growth and dispersion of the Latinx constituency has made them a pivotal vote nationwide and in key swing states. Panelists were Xavier Medina, Juan José Bustamante and Steven Rosales.

Sponsored by: Latinx Employee Impact Group Latinx Happy Hour The mixer was a networking space to give students the chance to meet and connect with fellow Latinx students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

This virtual event featured DJ Mandole Mixx, Sonido Exploxiones.

Sponsored by: Latino Alumni Society and Latinx Impact Resource Group

he LatinX Vote: Left: Juan Jose Bustamante, associate T professor of sociology. Right: Xavier Medina Vidal, assistant professor of political science.

eft: DJ Mandole Mixx of Sonido Exploxiones and Cecilia L Grossberger. Right: DJ Mandole Mixx keeps the music coming.

Coffee and Conversations Latinx Young Professionals Panelists Panelist 1: Gabriela Caceres B.S.B.A.’14, M.B.A.’18 Gabriela Caceres is a proud firstgeneration college student and a twotime graduate of the U of A with an undergraduate degree in marketing and management as well as an M.B.A. She currently works at Tyson Foods as an associate marketing manager supporting its Foodservice Pizza Business in category marketing. She is a Springdale resident and shares her home with her husband, who is a high school assistant principal, and her grandparents who have recently moved under their care.

Panelist 2: Ana Claudia Aguayo B.A.’11, B.A.’11, M.B.A.’18 Ana Claudia Aguayo is a communications and nonprofit professional. Ana holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism and international relations from the University of Arkansas. She was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. In 2015, Ana joined the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art team and has since advanced to serve in several roles in membership and development and is currently a development officer.

Most recently, Aguayo was recognized by Arkansas Business as a 40 under 40 honoree. She resides in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband, Todd.

Panelist 3: Jessica Du Quesne Jessica Du Quesne is a seasoned shopper marketing and sales professional with more than 10 years of experience in multiple industries. Originally from Lima, Peru, Du Quesne currently works at the Hershey Company leading the shopper marketing programs for the Walmart Seasonal business. Du Quesne has the degree of Teacher of English as a Foreign Language from Cambridge University, which is where her passion for people development comes from.

A fun fact about Du Quesne was that she was recognized as one of the 2017 Northwest Arkansas Women in Business and 2020’s Celebrate Magazine One’s to Watch.

Panelist 4: Jimmy J. Sanchez Jimmy Sanchez currently serves as the director of marketing and fan development for Razorback Athletics.

In this role, Sanchez leads advertising, creative planning, fan experience, in-game entertainment and accounting efforts as part of the Razorbacks’ Marketing team.

Sanchez received his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Concordia University-Portland in 2013.

Panelist 5: Armando Briseno B.S.B.A.’18 Armando Briseno is a 2018 graduate of the University of Arkansas, where he received his undergraduate degree in finance. He currently works at PepsiCo as part of the sales team as a merchandise lead. In his free time, he enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.

Panelist 6: Hazel Hernandez Hazel Hernandez currently serves as the vice president of sales and marketing for Experience Fayetteville. She is responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s brand strategy, which includes the organization’s marketing strategy, which includes campaigns, events, digital marketing and public relations.

She also manages the advertising and billing oversight of the organization’s account with the agency of record.

She received her undergraduate degree from Arkansas Tech University in 2008 with a degree in hospitality administration/management.

Moderator: Elvis Moya Elvis Moya is the associate athletics director of fan engagement and community relations for Razorback Athletics and has been at the university for six years.

In his role, he oversees the marketing and promotions for Razorback women’s basketball and gymnastics and serves as the sports administrator for the spirit squad program. Additionally, he works closely with the Associated Student Government to market and promote athletics events to students throughout the year. Moya graduated in 2003 with an undergraduate degree in political science from Texas Tech University and is a proud native of Shamrock, Texas.

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 55

Yesteryear

Yesteryear

1890 • The university confers honorary doctorates on Rev. Charles F. Evans and Gov. William R. Miller.

1910 • The university’s first summer session is inaugurated.

• Professors John Hugh Reynolds and David Yancey Thomas publish a History of

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Razorback Yearbook

Maurice Ash, the first female student to “earn her wings” through the Civil Aeronautic Authority’s Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1940, gets ready to give the prop a turn during a lesson at Fayetteville’s Drake Field.

the University of Arkansas, the first comprehensive history of the university.

1920 • Athletics is made compulsory for all first- and second-year men.

• Chapters of two new honorary societies — Alpha Phi Epsilon, a literary fraternity, and Sigma Delta Chi, a journalism fraternity —

are established on campus.

1930 • Loy Barton, an alumnus and instructor, invents the Class B amplifier, which allows AM radio broadcasting to flourish across the nation.

Barton went on to work for RCA, designing transistor radios and the transmission method for the first color televisions.

• Martin Nelson, dean of the College of Agriculture, spots a rare European starling, the first time the bird had been recorded in Arkansas.

• The U of A marching band travels to Tulsa to perform as part of the dedication of the city’s new Skelly Stadium.

• Milan Creighton and Clarence Geis win a live Razorback pig from the U of A Men’s Press Club.

1940 • Five hundred and twentyfive men on campus register for military conscription.

• A fire breaks out in the upper floors of the northeast part of Old Main, and students lend firefighters a hand with fire hoses being hoisted up the exterior fire escapes.

1950 • E.J. Ball is editor of the Arkansas Law Review. The courtroom in the Leflar Law Center is named for him today.

• The spring semester began with a heavy ice storm and temperatures rising to only 13 above zero.

• As part of the Fulbright International Exchange Program, three students — two from France and one from Germany — enroll at the U of A. • The dean of the School of Law, Robert Leflar, also serves on the Arkansas

Supreme Court during the 1949-50 school year.

1960 • Tuition at the university is raised to $100 per semester.

1970 • Duke Ellington and his orchestra play at the Field House, now known as the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center, and Ellington signs autographs for students after the performance.

• Julie Shepard, the daughter of astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American to go into space, becomes a student at the U of A. • Humphreys Hall, built for men, is changed to a women’s residence hall.

• Hotz Hall switches from being a female residence hall to a male residence hall.

1980 • Chip Hooper and Diann Ousley become the first male and female African American

athletes to win individual national championships, Hooper in tennis and Ousley in the 600-meter outdoor track.

• Construction begins at the southwest corner of Maple Street and Razorback Road on a 10,000-square-foot Alumni Center, now greatly expanded and known as the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

1990 • The Associated Student Government passes a resolution requesting that lights be installed at Razorback Stadium, and the Board of Trustees approves a $400,000 plan to install them so night games can be played.

2000 • The men’s track and field team won its third triple crown with a national championship in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship, held at the university.

• The U of A endowment is a quarter of a billion dollars by the end of 2000.

• The Arkansas Alumni Association recognizes students Angie Maxwell and Jason Reed with the Senior Honor Citation, an award given to the top two students each year since 1965.

2010 • The student newspaper, The Arkansas Traveler, is selected as one of the three national finalists in the Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper category by the Society of Professional Journalists.

• The Associated Student Government and Chancellor G. David Gearhart start a program called Arkansas Reads, in which university students conduct book drives to provide materials for various school districts, starting with the Marvell School District in Phillips County.

WINTER 2020 / ARKANSAS / 57

Photo by Russell Cothren

Senior Walk

From Senior Walk Let us know about your milestones and anything else you would like to share with your classmates — births, marriages, new jobs, retirements, moves and more. Please include your degree, class year, and when applicable, your maiden name. To provide the most thorough coverage of alumni news, we publish notes about members and non-members of the

Class Notes 1960 Kay Gentry Collett Goss ✪+ BA’63 MA’66, Alexandria, Virginia, is the namesake to Arkansas Tech University’s Kay Goss Annual Award for Innovation and Technology in Emergency Management.

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Arkansas Alumni Association and will indicate membership status for reference. You may send us news or simply update your information.

Since the next issues of Arkansas are already in production, it may be a few issues before your item appears.

Submit your news online at www. arkansasalumni.org/classnotes; by mail: From Senior Walk, Arkansas Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1070,

1970 Bev Hargraves ★ BSBA’74, Little Rock, was inducted into the HelenaWest Helena Central High School Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 4 for his statewide and national lifetime achievements in golf.

Fayetteville AR 72702; or by email: records@arkansasalumni.org.

These symbols indicate Alumni Association membership: ✩ Student Member ★ Member ★+ Member, A+ ✪ Life Member ✪+ Life Member, A+

South Carolina, is serving as Chi Omega’s national ritual officer for the 2020-2022 biennium.

Steve Boyes ✪+ BA’94, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is police captain of the Tulsa Police Department.

1990

2000

Gena Staggs Runnion ✪+ BA’91 MED’97, Greenville,

Roberto Nello Loar ✪ BS’03, Georgetown, Texas, was

elected to the Board of the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

2010 Caitlin E. Howle BA’12, Rumford, Rhode Island, received her Master of Arts in English from Rhode Island College.

Senior Walk

In Memoriam

University Relations

Gina King, B.A.’83 Regina “Gina” Darlene King, a former editor of Arkansas magazine for more than a decade, died Oct. 7, 2020, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

She was 59 and an alumna of the university’s School of Journalism and Strategic Media.

King was born June 27, 1961, in Texarkana, Texas, the daughter of Joel and Mattie (Clark) Green. She was a 1983 graduate of what was then called the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism, now the School of Journalism and Strategic Media in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

After graduation, she served five years as a writer and public information officer for the U.S. Army. She returned to Fayetteville in 1988 and worked as a reporter for The Springdale News and its successor, The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas from 1988 to 1995, first covering Springdale education and then as a court reporter writing about state and federal trials. She and her family moved to North Carolina where she was director of public relations for the Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau and also researched and helped write The History of Nucor Steel, which chronicled the history of America’s second-largest steel mill corporation.

She returned to Fayetteville in 1999 to become managing editor of Arkansas magazine, the quarterly publication of the Arkansas Alumni Association, at a time when the university was expanding its public relations efforts during the university’s Campaign for the TwentyFirst Century.

When she was hired, the director of the alumni association at the time, Mike Macechko, said, “When

In Memoriam 1930 Mary Jim Lane Chickering ✪ BA’39, Little Rock, Sept. 1.

1940

I interviewed Gina I was impressed by her energy, enthusiasm and qualifications. I became even more excited upon learning she is an alumna. Gina has walked where our alumni have walked, so she will be able to convey those special university insights in a way that others can feel. It is obvious that she brings a special relationship to the editorship.”

King edited the alumni magazine for 11 years and led the editorial staff of the Office of University Relations during a period when strategies and methods of public relations changed significantly with the rise of online and social media and a shift toward communicating directly with the university’s community. As part of that effort, she developed an email newsletter for the campus called Daily Headlines that evolved into today’s Arkansas News email.

Melissa Blouin, who developed the office’s research and science communications, described King as a colleague, mentor and good friend. “She seemed to know everyone in Northwest Arkansas from her university and newspaper days,” Blouin said. “She had a biting wit, a sharp mind and a generous heart. The world’s light is dimmer in her absence.”

“She was the glue that kept communicators connected across campus. Everyone knew they could count on her for advice and a shoulder to lean on,” said Charlie Alison, editor for University Relations. “I knew her in college, worked with her at The Springdale News, performed crazy sketches with her in the Northwest Arkansas Gridiron and then was hired by her at the university. She was a good boss and friend, and I’ll miss her.”

In recent years she worked as a freelance writer and spent more time with her family. King was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville.

She was preceded in death by her father and granddaughter Berkleigh James Oxford. Survivors include daughter Kate Oxford, mother Mattie Green, brother Joel Green; and granddaughter McKenzie Oxford.

Mary Atkins Schreit FS’47, Paragould, Aug. 29.

Mary Jeanette Wood ✪+ FS’50, Batesville, July 27.

William W. Crawford BSBA’52, Little Rock, June 7.

Douglas E. Bacon BS’48 MS’49, Sugar Land, Texas, Aug. 3.

Milton B. Scott ★ BSA’51, Benton, July 22.

Myron R. Brochinsky MS’53, Orange, Connecticut, Jan. 1.

E.R. Arledge II FS’49, Little Rock, July 18.

A.P. White Jr. ✪ BSBA’51 Hot Springs, July 20.

William K. Bell BA’43, Jonesboro, Aug. 23.

1950

Fred L. Bates Jr. BSPH’52, Kerrville, Texas, Sept. 13.

Sue Hughey Williams ✪+ FS’43, Baytown, Texas, July 10.

Lee B. Parker Jr. ✪+ BS’50, Springdale, Aug. 13.

Libby Campbell ★ BSHE’52, Harrison, July 13.

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Patricia J. Humphries BSSW’53 MED’63, Fayetteville, July 24.

Bennie J. McCoy ✪+ BSCE’53 MSCE’58, Little Rock, Sept. 17.

Betty Jo Cross ✪ BSHE’54, Denton, Texas, Sept. 12.

Alda J. Ramsey BSHE’58, Jonesboro, July 7.

Larry R. Clark ✪ BSBA’64, Fort Smith, Sept. 13.

Carroll R. Falls BSEE’68, Kentwood, Michigan, July 14.

Anthony Wayne Dickinson II BSBA’55, England, July 25.

Robert I. McDonald MA’59, Little Rock, Sept. 9.

Betty Dangeau MED’64, Wynne, July 31.

Fleet N. Lee BSA’69 MS’72, Little Rock, Aug. 26.

James S. Reynolds Jr. ✪+ BSBA’55 MBA’56, Dallas, Texas, June 15.

Bill Teeter ★ BSA’59, Tillar, Aug. 6.

Terry Hayes BSBA’64, Bella Vista, July 30, 2019.

Elbert V. Wann BSA’59 MS’60, Baytown, Texas, July 2.

Rita Leslie MS’69, Conway, Sept. 22.

Tommy L. Hodges ★ BA’64, Little Rock, July 14.

1970

1960

Wayne L. Irwin BSME’64, Hot Springs, July 23.

Wilson H. Busby ✪ BSBA’70 JD’77, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, March 24.

Hattie Clinton ✪ FS’56, Fayetteville, Sept. 8.

Darrel W. Coleman BSBA’56 MBA’62, Little Rock, Sept. 8.

John A. Rockwell Jr. BA’56 MED’57, Jefferson City, Missouri, Aug. 28.

Powell A. Shockley Jr. BSA’56, Stuttgart, July 31.

MayMay Craig BA’57, Newport, July 17.

Leo Jennings BSBA’57 MBA’63 MS’82, Fayetteville, Aug. 5.

Charles R. Owen MBA’60, Maumelle, Sept. 4.

Wanda Whitney Fincher BSBA’61, Prescott, Aug. 2.

James Willis Martin ✪ BSA’64 MS’67, Macks, Aug. 26.

J. David Ensminger MED’62, Little Rock, Aug. 13.

Kay Goodwin Coleman BSE’65, Little Rock, July 16.

Billy J. McAfee Sr. BA’62, Wilson, July 11.

John V. Terry MBA’66, Siloam Springs, Sept. 9.

Glenn Sink BARCH’62, Little Rock, July 14.

Richard J. Hunt ★ BSE’67, Fayetteville, July 21.

Jerry Sanders BARCH’63, Conway, Aug. 13.

Arthur L. Williams BSE’67, Little Rock, Sept. 15.

In Memoriam

Photo submitted

William Lloyd Cook II ✪+ B.S.B.A. ’80 William Lloyd Cook II passed away on November 17. Known as W. L. to many of his University of Arkansas family, Cook was born on October 20, 1955, to William P. and Jane Christopher Cook in El Dorado.

He was a graduate of Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee, and the University of Arkansas.

Following his graduation from the U of A, Cook began his career in public accounting in May of 1980 serving as a staff accountant at Russell Brown & Company.

He began working at William P. Cook & Associates, PLLC – first as a staff accountant, and then as a Certified Public Accountant in August 1981. Cook eventually became managing member of the firm with offices in El Dorado and Fayetteville. Cook served on the Board of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he further served as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and then President in 2012 and 2013. He also served on the Council for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Vera Byrd ✪ BSN’70, Southside, July 26.

David F. Chambers JD’70, Des Moines, Iowa, Dec. 10, 2016.

Stanley H. Williams MED’70 EDD’72, Sherwood, July 23.

Steven W. Cooper ✪ BSCHE’71, Calico Rock, Aug. 9.

Cook was an active volunteer in his hometown of El Dorado and across the state. He was a member of the El Dorado Kiwanis Club, having served on its board, then as president in 1988-89 and 2019-20, and treasurer for over ten years. He also served on the founding boards of both the KBSA Advisory Board and the Union County Community Foundation Board. Cook was involved in historic preservation in the state. He had served as a founding board member and treasurer to Heckatoo Heritage Foundation as treasurer, the South Arkansas Historical Foundation as president, the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas as secretary, treasurer, and vice-president, and nationally on Preservation Action’s board. Cook was an active member of the Washington County Historical Society, Quapaw Quarter Association, Arkansas State Capital Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Cook served on the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design’s Campaign Arkansas Unit Committee through November 2015. He was a staunch supporter of the association assisting chapters and societies programs and serving on the association’s National Board of Directors. “The Arkansas Alumni Association is the foundation to reflect on the past and plan for the future both for the university and its graduates,” said Cook when he was nominated to serve on the board.

Cook is survived by his sister, Nancy Cook Johnson.

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Senior Walk

In Memoriam

John M. Rosso ✪+ B.A.’58

Photo submitted

John Martin Rosso of Fayetteville, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, at the age of 89. He was born July 13, 1931, in Huntington, Arkansas, to Martin and Genevieve Rosso.

Rosso grew up in Huntington and graduated from Mansfield High School in 1949. He attend the U of A and graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. While a student at the university he served in the R.O.T.C. and was a commissioned Air Force cadet.

He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and as a Communications Operation Officer for the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing in Korea and Japan from 19531955. Rosso married the love of his life, Jean, on March 13, 1954. He began his employment at Shell Oil Company in Houston, Texas, as editor of their publication.

He was appointed public relations representative and two years later was made manager of the Public Relations Department.

He left Shell Oil in 1962 to join the Arkansas Alumni Association as assistant director in charge of the Alumni Annual Giving Programs. He then became executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association in 1963 and spent more than 20 years in that role. During his tenure, the association established the UA Foundation, replacing the Endowment and Trust Fund in 1975; the association welcomed its first female board president, Sissi Riggs Brandon ’55, in 1976; and the Alumni Center on the corner of Razorback Road and Maple Avenue opened in 1983. Rosso also oversaw a significant shift in the operation of the association when the U of A established the Development Office in 1981, essentially relieving the Association of university fundraising responsibilities. In 1987, Rosso left the association to become the university’s assistant vice chancellor for Public Relations.

He transitioned to Office of Planned Giving in 1988 and retired in 1993 as associate vice chancellor. He later served on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Alumni Association.

Rosso was a Little League baseball coach for his sons, Stuart and Rick, and served on the Sherman Lollar Little League Board of Directors. He loved to play golf with all three of his children at the Fayetteville Country Club when they were kids and continued to play golf at FCC and then Paradise Valley in his retirement years.

Rosso was an avid sports fan and especially loved the Razorbacks. He rarely missed a home football, basketball or baseball game.

A consummate volunteer, he held leadership positions in many organizations including serving on the boards of the American Alumni Council, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Blue Key of U of A, Lion’s Club, Early Bird Investment Club, Fayetteville Country Club, United Way, City Hospital and Washington Regional Foundation.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean Burnett Rosso; his daughter, Karen Rosso ✪+ B.S.E. ’79, M.Ed. ’85 of Fayetteville; and seven grandchildren.

James E. Grigg BSA’71, Hindsville, Oct. 12.

Nannie Belle Owens MA’71, Junction City, July 11.

Marty Bettis Schaufele ✪ BSE’71, Little Rock, May 31.

Margaret S. Craven BSE’73, Crossett, Aug. 28.

John D. Hollimon Jr. MED’73, Crossett, Aug. 5.

Gerald Kissinger BSBA’73, Little Rock, July 30.

Mary Margaret York Shermer MED’73, Little Rock, Aug. 11.

Kenneth R. Anderson BSBA’74, Jacksonville, July 24.

Ralph C. Carlson BA’74, Marion, Aug. 11.

Curtis Ray Fish BSME’74, Memphis, Tennessee, Aug. 1.

Hershel W. Hooks EDS’74, Searcy, July 31.

Charles Treat FS’74, Springdale, Aug. 14.

Delia Cothrun Bourne ★ BA’75, Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 9.

Arvil H. Hebert ✪ BA’75 MBA’77, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, July 24.

Donald R. Goodwin Jr. BSA’76, Chidester, Aug. 2.

Gary L. Kees MED’78, Hot Springs, Sept. 12.

Patricia Simmons Jeffries BSHE’79, Little Rock, Aug. 17.

1980 Roselyn Grubbs Busby BSE’80, Monticello, Aug. 26.

Clearence E. Lovell MED’81, Pine Bluff, Aug. 22.

Jeanne Lynn Witt BA’89, Alpharetta, Georgia, Aug. 14.

2010 Andrew J. Santiago MACC’18, Keller, Texas, Oct. 6.

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(Bread for the Family continued from page 27)

OFFICERS President Ron Rainey ✪ ’91, ’93, ’01 Little Rock, AR Past President Teena Gunter ✪ ’92, ’97, Oklahoma City, OK Treasurer Don Walker ✪+ ’74, Fayetteville, AR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Class of 2021 Kristen Allbritton ✪ ’04, McKinney, TX Ashley Harris ✪ ’95, Fayetteville, AR Chris Johnson ✪ ’93, North Little Rock, AR Bobby Jones ✪ ’84, Savannah, GA Kristin Kaufman ✪ ’83, Dallas, TX Connie Lewis Lensing ✪ ’74, JD’77, Memphis, TN Drake McGruder ✪ ’06, ’12, Fort Smith, AR Dustin McDaniel ✪ ’94, Little Rock, AR Courtney Backus Norton ★ ’07, Fayetteville, AR Class of 2022 Linda Bedford-Jackson ✪ ’80, Austin, TX Ashleigh Buckley ★ ’07, ’10, Fort Smith, AR Sarah K. Hudson ★ ’07, ’10, Washington, DC Paul Parette ✪+ ’89, Dallas, TX Bill Stovall ✪+ ’72, Charleston, SC Richard Welcher ★ ’99, ’04, Fayetteville, AR Brian Wolff ✪ ’89, Washington, DC Kristen Collier Wright ✪ ’98, ’01, Forrest City, AR Class of 2023 Tori Bogner ✪ ’13, ’16, Fayetteville, AR Kathleen Gonzalez ★ ’11, Rogers, AR Cecilia Grossberger-Medina ★ ’08, Fayetteville, AR Regina Hopper ✪ ’81, ’85, Alexandria, VA Robert Koenig ✪ ’90, Leawood, KS Wes Shirley ★ ’99, ’02, Fayetteville, AR Cameron Sutherland ★+ ’11, ’14, Fayetteville, AR Shambrekia Wise ★ ’08, Dallas, TX STAFF Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Executive Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association Brandy Cox Jackson ✪ MA’07 Director of Alumni Programs and Special Events Deb Euculano ✪ Director of Finance Hal Prescott ✪ Lisa Ault ★ BSBA’94, Associate Director of Business Operations; Catherine Baltz ✪+ BS’92, MED’07, Assistant Director of Communications; Tim Barker ★, Fiscal Support Analyst; Jen Boyer ★ BSBA’19, Special Events Coordinator; Melissa Brawner ★ B.S.B.A.’99, Marketing Coordinator; Florence Galbraith ★, Fiscal Support Analyst; Mercedes Gazaway ★, Assistant Director of Internal Relations; Brock Haegele ★ BA’17, Assistant Director of External Relations; Mary Kate Harrison ★ BA’15, MA’17, Special Projects Coordinator; Evan Hinchliffe ★, Alumni Scholarship Assistant; Ryan Jones ★, Membership and Marketing Assistant; Lisy McKinnon ★ BA’97, Associate Director of Alumni Programs; Emily Piper ★, Administrative Specialist; Patti Sanders ✪+ BSA’08, Associate Director of Alumni Scholarships; Julie Simpson ★, Associate Director of Facilities and Special Events; Elizabeth Lee Shoultz ★ B.A. ’16, MPA ’18, Manager of Affinity Programs and Analysis; Yusra Sultana, Membership and Marketing Assistant

at 7,280 feet. The high elevation can enhance elite athletes’ performance.

This combined with the beauty of the mountainous regions of Afghanistan could possibly create Olympian mountain-biking competitions there, something Farid dreams of.

Farid also dreams of the day when people view Afghanistan as a mountain biking destination and not just a wartorn country. He believes that mountain bike competitions can help change the perception of his home.

Farid hopes that riding a bicycle can give women freedom. It is a visual for Afghans to see how capable women can be and to break the social norms the Taliban started years ago.

“A woman in a classroom is sheltered from the public eye,” Farid said. “But a woman on a bike the public can see. It threatens a patriarchal system. If they will tolerate a woman on a bike, maybe they will tolerate women reading and being educated.”

Farid has four main goals he hopes to achieve through Mountain Bike Afghanistan: 1. Showcase Afghanistan’s beautiful landscape.

2. Make Afghanistan a cycling powerhouse and build pride in the Afghan community.

3. Empower Afghan women; support the “Right to Ride” movement.

4. Promote environmental awareness and create outdoor enthusiasts.

He hopes to obtain sponsorships and endowments to keep the nonprofit financially secure.

Northwest Arkansas In 2019, Farid began to look at several business schools for graduate school. In March 2020, he traveled to Bentonville to make a presentation about his nonprofit at

a community event. Afterward, the Walton Family Foundation invited him to ride the mountain biking trails of Northwest Arkansas.

One thing led to another.

Soon Gary Vernon, a program officer for the foundation’s Walton Personal Philanthropy Group, introduced Farid to Jon Johnson, a biking enthusiast and the head of Walton College’s newly launched Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation academic department. Jon then introduced Farid to Vikas Anand, Walton College’s executive director of M.B.A. Programs and Graduate Program Innovation.

At Gary, Jon and Vikas’ urging, Farid checked out the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the U of A. He applied to the Graduate School of Business, was accepted and is now in the M.B.A. Class of 2022.

“This is the right place to be, and I’m grateful for that,” Farid said. “I want to create a cultural exchange program between Northwest Arkansas and the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan.”

While here, Farid has joined the university’s biking club, where Johnson serves as faculty adviser. He has collaborated with the Women of Oz, a biking club in Northwest Arkansas, which sponsored his nonprofit’s third Hindukush MTB (mountain biking) Challenge in October 2020.

Meanwhile, Farid is focusing on his graduate studies. He may specialize in marketing, but he still has time to decide.

“I’m contemplating life after Walton,” Farid said. He questions whether he will work for a corporation or start his own business.

One thing is for sure. Throughout high school, college and now graduate school, he has proven his parents’ fear that biking would interfere with his studies was unfounded. In fact, it is the perfect complement.

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Photo by Chieko Hara

Last Look

In Honor of Service Celebrating the Veterans of America Razorback Athletics, in collaboration with the Associated Student Government, lit Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in green on Nov. 11 as part of a tribute to all those who have served in our nation’s armed forces as part of Veterans Day.

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GET YOUR LICENSE TO EDUCATE Show your support of alumni scholarships by displaying your Razorback pride.

Official state license plates in Arkansas and Missouri abundantly support undergraduate scholarships for students attending the University of Arkansas. Tennessee Hogs can contribute to their state’s arts programs with their state’s official University of Arkansas license plate.

Visit HogTags.org to learn about purchasing a Hog Tag in your area.

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