ARKANSAS
Spring 2022 For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc. For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc.
Spring 2022 Vol. 71, No. 3
65 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Photo by Chieko Hara
arkansas
SPRING / Vol 71, No. 3
For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc.
8
A Sea Change
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Billie J. Farrell M.S.O.M.’09, an alumna of the university’s online program in operations management, becomes the first woman to command the USS Constitution.
Intimate Projects, Personal Process
Alumnus John Phifer Marrs B.A.’75, designs interior spaces to show off the collections of his various clients. He collected his favorites into a new book.
Artists on the Rise
A dozen students, faculty and alumni — in music, theatre, creative writing and history — were awarded Arts 360 grants. Meet them in this issue.
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Campus View Campus Alumni Yesteryear Senior Walk Last Look
On the cover: International students gather at the entrance to Memorial Hall, then the student union, in 1949.
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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
Photo by Russell Cothren
Associate Editor Catherine Baltz ✪+ B.S.’92, M.Ed.’07
Campus View Cheryl Murphy
Vice Provost for Distance Education, Head of Global Campus
The Global Campus stepped up to assist University of Arkansas students and faculty whose instruction was suddenly classified by the campus as remote when the pandemic took hold in 2020 and people pivoted to doing pretty much everything possible online. This was not new for us. Online education is our passion at the Global Campus. We have seen how it provides opportunities for all learners, regardless of where you live, how much money you have and other circumstances in your life. I came to the University of Arkansas in 1996, my first job teaching after finishing my doctorate at West Virginia University. I was interested in the field because, growing up in rural West Virginia — like many places in Arkansas — our access to higher education was limited. I saw online learning as a way to expand access so more people could improve their lives. The U of A’s high-quality online degree programs rank well every year on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of “Best Online Programs.” This year, we are even more proud that an inaugural ranking by Newsweek magazine put our online programs at No. 11 in the nation. That ranking is heavily based — 70 percent — on a student survey. We are continually improving our 2 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
services to help online learners be more successful. Our Online Student Liaison Office is a call or click away, offering help 12 hours a day on weekdays and four hours on Saturdays. This service helps people from the first time they request information through the enrollment process. We also employ online coaches to assist enrolled students. On campus, faculty have adopted many online strategies and tools. That means there are fewer paper Scantron slips to score tests, more student interaction in large classrooms with electronic clickers, and more class resources and books accessible online. Some books are free through the Open Educational Resources initiative. We are also reaching out to Arkansans who have felt the adverse effects of COVID-19 financially and are seeking job training to advance in their careers or start new ones. We administer the Reimagine Arkansas Workforce Project, a multimillion-dollar federally funded program that pays for training for Arkansans who qualify. And, of course, the application is online. We have a lot to be proud of at the Global Campus, but most importantly, our online alumni, more than 1,100 graduates last year who are full-fledged Razorbacks and whose names will be included on Senior Walk.
Creative Director Eric Pipkin Photo Editor Russell Cothren ✪ Photographers Chieko Hara Whit Pruitt ★ B.A.’17 Writers & Contributors DeLani Bartlette B.A.’06, M.A.’08 Kathleen Condray B.A.’94 Jennifer Cook Robby Edwards Andra Parish Liwag Shannon Magsam Suzanne McCray ✪ B.A.’78, M.A.’80 Matt McGowan Kay Murphy B.A.’90, Ed.D.’19 Michelle Parks B.A.’94 Yusra Sultana M.S.O.M.’21 Amy Unruh M.A.’20 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 Spring -22-013 All photos by University Relations unless otherwise noted. Cover photo: 1949 Razorback Please recycle this magazine or share it with a friend.
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Campus
An Epic Time in Life
Engineering Alumni Keep in Touch Ever Since ‘Big Shootout’ BY JENNIFER COOK
It’s hard to know exactly what kept them in touch for all of these years. They bonded over difficult coursework and a sixday school week at a time the College of Engineering’s orientation told them pointedly that only one-third of them would graduate. In those days, there was a long wait to call home from an off-campus pay phone, so talks with parents were infrequent. There were late nights at the apartment where they studied and partied, and the epic 1969 football game known as the Arkansas-Texas “Big Shootout” where they lucked into 50-yard-line seats. They still crack up over the time Ralph Evans B.S.Ch.E ’71 drove his Pontiac GTO across Old Main lawn. On the downside, each man’s military draft number (the higher, the better) factored into future plans. After graduation, they shared each other’s ups and downs in marriage, children and work. They kept it together through the lowest lows, including when Evans drowned in a scuba diving accident during one of their Arkansas reunions. The group of 1971 College of Engineering alumni, now all retired, descended on campus with their wives in October to reminisce, see how the area has prospered 4 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
and pay tribute to the late Evans by adding to the scholarship his widow established in his name. They were among the first to contribute and have continued to donate over the years. One of the men’s daughters pointed out that it’s unusual for a group of guys to keep in touch in the way they have. “I feel like these are my brothers,” said Gary Reed ★+ B.S.M.E.’71, “When you look at a photo of us together, we even look like family.” Each man treasures his time at the College of Engineering and the U of A for setting them on the right course. “My education at the university made a tremendous difference in my life, in all of our lives,” said Dennis Abell ✪+ B.S.I.E.’71 “It’s a special place that opened doors for us. It grounded us in hard work and made us problem solvers.” Other graduates in the group they teasingly call rom left, back row: College of Engineering alumni Dennis Abell, F Gary Reed, Larry Robertson, Wayne Garrison, Ken Rogers and John Kelly; front row: College of Engineering alumnus Kinch Meyer and Dean Kim Needy. Photo submitted
BTCrew, or Brain Trust Crew, include Bill Rogers ✪ B.S.M.E.’71; John Kelly ★ B.S.C.E.’71; Wayne Garrison B.S.M.E.’71; Larry Robertson ✪+ B.S.Ch.E.’71; Ken Rogers B.S.Ch.E.’71; and Kinch Meyer ✪+ B.S.I.E.’72. Two more, Bob May B.S.Ch.E.’71; and John Oldner B.S.Ch.E.’70 M.S.Ch.E.’72, could not make this trip. The degrees drove members of the group to work in a great variety of roles as financial managers, CEOs, energy executives, insurance company managers, company owners and international consultants. “Engineering is a solid foundation to enter the workplace and achieve success in many areas outside of pure engineering,” Robertson said. On tap during their visit was a trip to Venesian Inn in Tontitown, where they used to travel, without dates, to celebrate big tests or projects being completed. Dickson Street was hopping, and the gang would hit regular hangouts like the Library, D-Lux and a pool hall where they played for 10 cents per cue. There was no Interstate 49. Heck, there was no U.S. 71 Bypass, the precursor to the interstate. U.S. 71 and Arkansas 112, the main highways, would back up with traffic for miles. Some positive changes they see at the U of A today are more diversity in athletics and the student body, and they especially praise the increase of women studying
engineering. Women bring a different and beneficial perspective to the craft. Another great change is a focus on supporting students through graduation and improving the graduation rate, rather than scare tactics that two-thirds of them will be weeded out. Among the activities the group attended during their trip was a reception of the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Advisory Council at Carnall Hall. It was a big deal to these old guys, Abell said, and they dressed in suits and ties for the occasion. The group presented checks to College of Engineering Dean Kim Needy to augment the Ralph Evans Scholarship Fund. “We are so grateful to these gentlemen for their contributions to engineering over the course of their careers. As with all of our students, their success is our success,” Needy said. “Even more, we thank them for their generosity in remembering their friend and the great help this will be to the students who benefit from the Ralph Evans scholarship.” For information about contributing to scholarship programs in the College of Engineering, contact Bill Lansden, senior director of development and external relations, at blansden@uark.edu.
ollege of Engineering alumni C who jokingly call themselves the “Brain Trust Crew” pose beneath the banner they flew at the 1969 Arkansas-Texas football game known as the “Big Shootout.” Back row, from left: Gary Reed, Ken Rogers, Larry Robertson and Wayne Garrison; and front row: Bill Rogers, Dennis Abell and John Kelly. Photo submitted
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Campus
In His Own Words
International Alumnus Gopi Sirineni Recalls Campus Lessons That Guided His Life BY AMY UNRUH M.A.’20
opi Sirineni, second from G right, and his family from left: wife Purnima Sirineni, daughter Mrudhvika Sirineni and son Akshaj Sirineni. Photos submitted
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Alumnus Gopi Sirineni M.S.E.E.’96, the president and chief executive officer of Axiado Corporation, is a veteran of Silicon Valley with more than 25 years of experience in the semiconductor, software and systems industries. As a senior executive, he has demonstrated exceptional skill at building highly efficient, cost-effective organizations while bringing industry-changing technology to market. He recently talked with the Graduate School about his memories of the university and lessons from both inside the lab and outside. “I have so many memories in the short period that I was at the U of A,” Sirineni said. “I came as an international electrical engineering graduate student in August 1994. The Friends of India organization and the Office of International Students and Scholars were very helpful to onboard me. Their support throughout my stay at Arkansas inspired me to be part of those organizations so I could also help other international students. Our apartment became a temporary place for all the newcomers to stay, and we never locked the apartment. “When I arrived in 1994, it was my first time in the U.S., my first time seeing a different culture, different teaching methods, different expectations, and different weather. I didn’t know what the future would hold and how I would get to my goals without clearly knowing the definition of those goals, too. “Is financial success the way we determine our overall success? Is there another way to measure our experiences? Then what defines our success as a student and alumni? It looks like I told my mentor professor that I want to make more money to elevate my family status, start my own company, and name a ballpark with my company brand! But it was just the first week I was in U of A. Gratefully, I did make more money than I imagined and started companies, but I am yet to name a ballpark though! “As far as the people who helped me to be where I am, I can point to two main professors who supported me while I was a student: the late Dr. Bill Brown B.S.E.E ’67 and Dr. Hameed Naseem.
“Dr. Brown was so accommodating and available for the new international students coming to Fayetteville. He spent so much time to listen to my directionless ambitions in my thick accent and patiently guided me on my coursework. He helped me frame my target/ambition properly along with helping on my assistantship in HiDEC (High Density Electronics Center). And interestingly, he was also serving the community as a deputy sheriff. “One evening I was out with one of my civil engineering friends sitting on a remote street where he was counting cars for his project on that street. A couple of us — all international students — were just sitting on the curb and doing the homework. Apparently, we were sometimes trespassing on someone’s land, and the owner was getting freaked out and about to shoot us! Thank god he called the police instead. We were taken to the police station, and in the late hours, were picked up safely by none other than Dr. Brown. He gently explained to us in those days, Arkansas population hadn’t seen dark-skinned guys at all, and it was strange and scary for the property owner to see us walking around his property edge and sitting there for hours. “Dr. Brown continued to keep his connection with us and assembled all U of A alumni whenever he was in the Bay Area after my graduation. “The next experience comes from Dr. Naseem, my mentor and professor. We were supposed to work in tandem, always to watch out for one another in any labs. But as like everyone, we don’t always have perfect attention to detail on those assignments as a student learning in the labs. One night I was doing some bell jar experiment where we seal the product with the bell jar and have to follow specific steps to take it back out. I made a mistake and blew up the jar. Luckily, I was away from the explosion but so scared that I damaged something and that I will lose my assistantship and will not have money to pay for college and will be forced to return to India. “With so much fear, I called Dr. Naseem at home late in the night. It was about 10:30 p.m. — not a time that a faculty member wants to hear from a student in the lab. I was expecting that he was going to jump and yell at me. He picked up the phone and the first thing he asked was if I am OK, should he call 911? And then he came to the lab to see me. There was no talk about how it happened, why it happened, or why did I do that! That response just showed his personality of compassion for people and the university culture of how to treat students. That day, Dr. Naseem became more like a father figure and I still keep in touch with him. “There are so many moments to cherish from my time at the U of A, like the NCAA basketball championship and the parade in downtown, movies in Union Theater, relaxing on the lawn of Old Main, all-night work at HiDEC, my work at the library, hosting Diwali parties for the community, and first snow days and pool parties. “Being an international student wasn’t always easy. There were days I was sitting alone in front of the Union and thinking to myself, ‘How we are going to live, and what future lies in front of us?’ As an alumni, I’m considered to be successful now, and I’m content with it. Yet without the U of A and people there supporting me, I wouldn’t have been here. I’m grateful for that. “It’s not just the education they taught me, but also the life lessons. They are a great community, and I’m proud to be part of the University of Arkansas and call myself a Razorback!” Sirineni has remained connected to the U of A in several ways. He was inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Electrical Engineering in 2018 and was named to the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni in 2020. He helped establish the Professor William D. Brown Endowed Memorial Graduate Fellowship and continues to share his skills and expertise with engineering students and faculty through presentations and special projects.
Gopi Sirineni
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Feature
Change of Command
Alumna Farrell Takes Charge of USS Constitution BY DELANI BARTLETTE B.A.’07, M.A.’08
U of A alumna Cmdr. Billie J. Farrell M.S.O.M.’09 became the 77th commanding officer of the USS Constitution in January and the first woman to serve as captain in the ship’s 224-year history. “I am honored to have the privilege to soon command this iconic warship that dates back to the roots of both our nation and our Navy and to have been afforded the amazing opportunity to serve as USS Constitution’s first female commanding officer in her 224 years,” Farrell said. “There is a picture floating around of me standing next to this remarkable ship back in 1998,” she said. “I could never have imagined that 24 years later that I’d be here today taking command of Old Ironsides.” “USS Constitution serves as a living piece of history,” Farrell said. “She can be visited and experienced firsthand, connecting us to those who had a vision of what this country and government would be. She is also a somber reminder of those service members that gave the ultimate sacrifice on her decks to create the nation we know today.” “I hope to strengthen the legacy of USS Constitution 8 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
through preservation, promotion and protection by telling her story and connecting it to the rich heritage of the United States Navy and the warships serving in the fleet today,” she said. Farrell is a native of Paducah, Kentucky, and is a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where she earned a Bachelor of Science, and the U of A, earning a Master of Science in Operations Management in 2009 while serving in the Navy. op left — The USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” the world’s T oldest commissioned ship, gets underway in Boston Harbor. Photo by Dave Kaylor, U.S. Navy. Top right — Commander Billie J. Farrell, the 77th commander of the USS Constitution and the first woman to command the 224-year-old ship. Opposite top — Cmdr. Billie J. Farrell speaks to a crowd at Boston as she relieves Cmdr. John A. Benda to become the 77th commanding officer of USS Constitution. Photo by Alec Kramer, U.S. Navy. Opposite middle — Ceremonies during normal sight-seeing operations of USS Constitution include firing of the ship’s artillery and sailors in period naval costumes. Photos by the U.S. Navy. Opposite bottom — Commander Farrell, right, salutes the outgoing commander, Cmdr. John Benda. Photos submitted
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Feature
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The graduate program in operations management at the U of A teaches skills for improving operational decisions including process design, scheduling, quality management and logistics. Along with the master’s degree, the U of A program offers graduate certificates in project management, lean six sigma and homeland security. The program is ideal for members of the armed forces who need flexible schedules while serving and taking classes at the same time. The operations management program is offered online and in hybrid format during five eight-week sessions each year. Farrell’s first tour was aboard the USS Vella Gulf as electrical officer. She then briefly took over as an operations division officer before being promoted to navigator for her second tour. After those two tours, she reported to Commander, Naval Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee, where she was named an action officer in post selection board matters. While there, she assumed the duties as delay section head and assistant board screener. After departing Tennessee, Farrell started through the department head pipeline. She was stationed aboard the USS San Jacinto in March 2012 as the weapons officer. She then assumed the responsibilities as the combat systems officer onboard. Her next tour was as the deputy director for professional development at the U.S. Naval Academy. After departing the academy, Farrell reported to Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic as deputy N3. She also served as the executive officer aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Vicksburg. Farrell’s awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and three Meritorious Unit Commendation Medals. “I know the crew is in great hands with Commander Farrell,” said the USS Constitution’s former commanding officer, Cmdr. John Benda. “This historic barrier is long overdue to be broken. I cannot
think of a better candidate to serve as USS Constitution’s first female commanding officer. I look forward to watching what she and the crew accomplish in the next few years.” The USS Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855. The ship earned the nickname of “Old Ironsides” during the war of 1812, when British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. The USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and destroyed or captured 33 opponents. Today the USS Constitution partners with the USS Constitution Museum to promote maritime heritage, naval service and the legacy of Old Ironsides. The active-duty sailors stationed aboard the USS Constitution provide free tours and offer public visitation as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history and maritime heritage and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence. “The USS Constitution Museum is honored to welcome Commander Billie J. Farrell, 77th Commanding Officer of USS Constitution,” said Anne Grimes Rand, president and CEO of the USS Constitution Museum. “This is an exciting time in Boston with a female mayor and a female captain for Old Ironsides.”
pposite top — In 1998, Farrell visited the USS Constitution, but said during her O change of command: “I could never have imagined that 24 years later that I’d be here today taking command of Old Ironsides.” Photo courtesy U.S. Navy. Far left — Cmdr. Billie J. Farrell renders a salute as she passes through Honor Side Boys for USS Constitution’s Change of Command. Photo by Alec Kramer, U.S. Navy. Above left — Commander Farrell talks with her son during her promotion to the Navy rank of commander. Below left — Commander Farrell in period uniform. Photos submitted
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Campus
Playing With Symmetry
Chaim Goodman-Strauss Awarded Rosenthal Prize BY ANDRA PARISH LIWAG
eflections of Chaim R Goodman-Strauss hoto montage by Charlie Alison B.A.’82, P M.A.’04; original image courtesy of Chaim Goodman-Strauss
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Chaim Goodman-Strauss, a U of A professor of mathematics, was recently awarded first place in the 2021 Rosenthal Prize for Innovation and Inspiration in Math Teaching for his hands-on classroom exploration of symmetry, titled “Tooti Tooti.” The Rosenthal Prize is awarded by the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City to recognize and promote hands-on math teaching in upper elementary and middle school classrooms, and first place carries a cash award of $25,000. Goodman-Strauss’ lesson plan will be shared with educators around the world through the museum’s virtual archive of award-winning activities. “MoMath is thrilled to award the 2021 Rosenthal Prize to Chaim Goodman-Strauss for his creativity and innovation in developing a highly engaging lesson plan about symmetry,” said Cindy Lawrence, CEO and executive director of the museum. “Professor GoodmanStrauss is helping to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders with activities that allow young people in classrooms around the world to experience the wonder and beauty of mathematics.” In Goodman-Strauss’ lesson, elementary school students cut open an envelope to craft handmade paper “tiles.” They then piece the tiles together into patterns that can fill an infinite space in a symmetrical manner, the symmetry of the pattern related to the form of the envelope. Goodman-Strauss developed “Tooti Tooti” over several years and tested the concept at the Thaden School in Bentonville, the Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale and a local math circle run by the U of A’s mathematics faculty. “There’s nothing like getting your hands on something to truly understand an abstract concept – plus, it’s a lot of fun!” Goodman-Strauss said. “I’m honored and grateful to the Rosenthals and to the National Museum of Mathematics – and appreciate all the help from local students and teachers in refining Tooti Tooti.” Goodman-Strauss credits his interest in hands-on exploration of mathematics to the Montessori system of math manipulatives, which he encountered when his mother trained as a Montessori teacher. His own outreach began 30 years ago, when he managed to lure sleepy teens to the University of Texas campus for interactive math shows on Saturday mornings. Over the years he has developed toys, trading cards, stickers, games and zines that explore topics from the foundations of logic to the shape of the universe. In collaboration with Kyle Kellams, he produced the Math Factor podcast that aired on KUAF’s Ozarks at Large program from 2004-2012. With noted mathematician John H. Conway and Heidi Burgiel, Goodman-Strauss co-authored and illustrated The Symmetries of Things, on the modern orbifold approach to planar symmetry. Goodman-Strauss has also led a series of participatory public art events that explore mathematical topics, including a series of sculptures assembled on-site for the biennial Gathering 4 Gardner, honoring longtime Scientific American columnist Martin Gardner.
Honored for Mentoring
Alumna Megan Brazle Honored With Checkpoint Charlie Award BY KATHLEEN CONDRAY B.A.’94
Alumna Megan Brazle B.A.’09, M.A.T ’10 was honored with the 2021 Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Award at the national conference of the American Association of Teachers of German. Brazle, a teacher of German at Springdale High School, was nominated by administrators, colleagues and students to recognize her mentoring work that incorporates the latest technology into her teaching and extracurricular learning opportunities, such as field trips to local university language programs. Erin Kemp B.A.’05, M.A.T’06, chair of the World Languages Department at Springdale High School, noted, “Mrs. Brazle has built a legacy that fosters intercultural connections and stellar academic achievement. The SHS World Languages Department is honored to work alongside her.” Brazle said, “Winning this award is so affirming. Teaching can feel very lonely at times because we can be isolated in our own world with little feedback from other adults about our teaching performance. It feels amazing to be recognized for providing my students with opportunities to see beyond their own culture and to develop respect and appreciation for the differences that make us all unique and interesting! Thanks to my colleagues, students and friends for their help!” Brazle has been a faculty member at Springdale High since 2011, where she is also the Programme Coordinator for the International Baccalaureate program. She has served as the Secretary of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German since 2011 as well. She is an alumna of the U of A, where she majored in international relations, German and European studies as a Bodenhamer Fellow. The Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Award was established in 1999 and is given each year to one K-12 and one post-secondary faculty member in recognition of exceptional teaching and extraordinary achievement in outreach and fostering international cooperation.
Megan Brazle Photo submitted
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Feature
Above: Alumnus John Marrs. Opposite: The cover of his book Interiors for Collectors. Photos submitted
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Room for Inspiration
U of A Alumnus John Marrs Writes Interiors for Collectors Book BY MICHELLE PARKS B.A.’94
John Phifer Marrs B.A.’75, a University of Arkansas alumnus, has spent more than 30 years as an interior designer. His experiences working with a range of clients led him to write his first book, Interiors for Collectors. Marrs, a Harrison native, studied drama and speech at the U of A and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1975. After that, he worked for several furniture design stores and design firms in Dallas before founding his own interior design business in the 1990s. In his youth, he often spent time at his paternal grandmother’s house after school and would rearrange her accessories. “She loved beautiful things, and I think she instilled in me a love of beauty,” said Marrs. His mother is an amateur artist, and he learned much about the use of color from her. Marrs also recalls an influential university professor, Preston Magruder B.A.’39, who taught set design. Students researched different historical periods in which plays were framed, and then designed and built the stage sets — such as a French design for a Molière play. Marrs also took an art history class, which inspired an interest in travel and learning about the history of civilization. While in college, Marrs worked part time at the Campbell-Bell and Lewis Brothers stores on the downtown Fayetteville square. He sold men’s clothing at Lewis Brothers and often spent time in the third-floor furniture department. He transferred to the department after graduating and learned much from the woman who ran the department and did design work.
He got his first full-time job in a furniture design store in Dallas, and he was determined to become an interior designer. He worked at Sanger Harris, a department store that at the time had the largest interior design studio in Texas, and he learned a lot about the business side of things. Marrs also continued to fill out his education by getting into a summer program offered by Parsons School of Design, and he went to study in France in his late 20s. “It changed my life. I was never the same since,” he said. “When I came back, I was inspired, and I just kept after it. After working for different design firms, I started my own business.” He also studied to become an associate member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). He then passed the NCIDQ Examination, after which he became a professional member of ASID. In recent years, Marrs has come to know the U of A’s Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design well through his service on the school’s Professional Advisory Board, Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee, and the Campaign for the 75th. He’s also spoken to design classes and provided internships for several students. “The opportunities that the students have are great, and whatever I can share with them from just my experiences of my profession, I’m happy to. Because I didn’t have that,” he said. “And if I can give back through internships or going up and speaking to the students, I think it’s invaluable.”
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Feature
Intimate Projects, Personal Process
bove and opposite: The A collections that Marrs has helped organize run from papier maché to alabaster busts and glass artwork. Photos submitted
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In his Dallas-based practice, John Phifer Marrs Interiors, Marrs focuses primarily on high-end residential work. Reflecting back on his clients and projects over the years, he realized that much of his work had involved helping them organize and highlight their varied collections. Clients and their projects vary, with their particular personalities, ways of living and working, and levels of involvement all making a difference in the design process. “What is better than being around incredibly beautiful things all day long — and really great clients?” Marrs said. “Every day’s different, which some people don’t like. I really do.” With residential design, Marrs gets to know clients better because the projects are more intimate and personal. He learns how they live and entertain, how they fold shirts and store underwear. “I love residential work because I love the process,” he said. “I love getting into people’s lives and seeing what makes them happy and excited.” Over the years, friends and design
community peers have asked if he planned to write a book. He didn’t plan to, but the thought stayed in the back of his mind. As he sifted through photographs of past jobs, Marrs reflected upon the varied collections of his clients. Some have collected Chinese porcelain, antique silver and milk glass. Others collected minerals, geodes, arrowheads or silhouettes (which Marrs also collects). Some clients didn’t realize they had collections among their possessions until Marrs came in with a fresh eye and suggested that they take the scattered pieces and combine them to display in some way. Marrs and his assistant mocked up a prototype of what a book on collections could look like. He sent that to an editor a friend had used, and he got a book deal in May 2020, just at the start of the pandemic. “It was really fun because, when you do a book, they give you specific deadlines with dates. And I took it seriously,” he said. “That was nice to have those goals and to be able to think about that and not be worried about the pandemic.”
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Feature
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A Collection of Collections The book, published in August 2021 by Gibbs Smith, shows more than 230 photos of his clients’ various collections. He worked with several photographers to capture the desired images. Previously completed design projects were re-photographed to focus just on the collections. The book begins with Marrs describing his own love for collecting and offers a brief history of collecting. There is a chapter on entire houses designed for collectors, and another on wings or additions for collections. Marrs writes about specific collections that are interesting — such as arrowheads, turtles, Waterford crystal, dinosaur artifacts, clock hands, Hermès bags and art glass. And he shares his knowledge and suggestions on how best to display collections — considering how to organize them, determining the best cabinet or shelving for display, and accentuating them with lighting and fabric. “I really wanted the text to be in my own voice, and I wanted it to be a little bit humorous with a little bit of knowledge, too,” he said. Perhaps the biggest collection included in the book is that of a client
who commissioned a 12,000-squarefoot addition to his home to house a private library. In addition to books and manuscripts, it holds historically significant pieces such as Abraham Lincoln’s desk and chair from the House of Representatives and paintings by Winston Churchill. Among the documents in the collection are the deed to Mount Vernon and letters that Thomas Jefferson wrote to George Washington. “It was sort of like a dream job that you just might never think you would get,” Marrs said. “And I never in my mind thought I’d get to work on something so fabulous.” He’s currently working on a cottage in Newport, Rhode Island, and also has several clients who have second homes in Colorado and California. He has a lakehouse in Eureka Springs. Marrs is proud of the book created during — and despite — the strange circumstances of a pandemic. “I think it’s a beautiful book. The photography is great,” he said. “When I look through it, I think about all those clients that I worked with and the wonderful experiences that I had putting together that house or that collection or that library, and all of those meaningful things that make your life worthwhile.”
pposite — A bedroom’s O beauty is heightened by a collection of silhouettes. Above — Three more interior images show the range of collectibles and manner of organizing them. Photos submitted
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Campus
Recruitment
Alumnus Kannan Sells Students from India and Sri Lanka on U of A with participation of When the COVID-19 Kannan and Douglas pandemic hit in 2020, Rhoads, director of the alumnus Ragupathy cell and molecular biology Kannan Ph.D.’94 was in program. More than 60 Sri Lanka as a Fulbright students at University of Scholar at the University Ruhuna attended the live of Ruhuna in Matara. The presentation, and many travel lockdowns, though, more shared the video. turned his six-month stay Two new graduate into a 13 month odyssey. students have now been Luckily, he was able to serve offered admission in the as an Honorary Visiting cell and molecular biology Professor of Zoology at the program with several more university. Alumnus Ragupathy Kannan holds a tropical kingbird during a in the process. They will While there, he began research trip. join an existing Sri Lankan giving recruitment talks, student in the program meeting with students about Photo submitted who completed a Master of graduate school applications Science as a Fulbright Fellow and was admitted into the and getting them prepared for the admission tests needed doctoral program. to enter the U of A Graduate School. “I strongly believe in the Fulbright spirit of sustained Kannan, himself, graduated from the U of A with international collaborations,” Kannan said. “I heavily a Ph.D. in biology in 1994. His doctoral adviser was describe these recruitment activities in my other Fulbright professor Douglas James ✪, the university’s longestapplications. For 28 years, I have been recruiting for the serving professor who died on December 17, 2018. University of Arkansas due to strong alumni connections Kannan joined the faculty at the University of Arkansasand fidelity to my alma mater. It’s now in the blood.” Fort Smith and is now a professor there focused on Indeed, Kannan’s son graduated from the U of A research in ornithology. He is also an adjunct faculty honors program with a degree in biochemistry and is member at the U of A and has served on several doctoral now a second-year medical student at the University of graduate committees for U of A students. Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Kannan hopes to earn Since graduating, he has been paying it back to the his fourth Fulbright award to visit Ecuador in 2023. U of A and the Fulbright Scholarship program in part Hopefully, it will result in a flood of Ecuadorian students by working to find graduate applicants from India and to the programs at U of A. Sri Lanka. “We are so grateful that Dr. Kannan carries the torch In 2007-08, Kannan was a Fulbright Scholar to GB for the U of A graduate programs and the Fulbright Pant University in India. While there he helped recruit legacy,” Rhoads said. “We strive to recruit as broadly as five students to the U of A graduate program in cell possible throughout the world. Graduate programs are and molecular biology and brought an additional four greatly strengthened by a high diversity of international graduate students from India to the U of A biology and students and faculty. It is an integral focus of the cell and cell and molecular biology programs. molecular biology program and supports the dream of Similarly, in 2021, the Graduate School and Sen. Fulbright.” International Education held a virtual recruiting fair for graduate students, given by Karl Anderson M.Ed.’08,
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From Ice Cream to Oxford
Coleman Warren Wins Rhodes Scholarship BY SUZANNE MCCRAY ✪ B.A.’78, M.A.’80
Coleman Warren, an honors industrial engineering and political science senior, has been named a 2022 Rhodes Scholar for graduate study at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Elliot F. Gerson, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, announced the names of the 32 Americans chosen as Rhodes Scholars representing the United States on Saturday, November 20. In a press release, Gerson called the Rhodes Scholarships, “the oldest and best-known award for international study, and arguably the most famous academic award available to American college graduates.” He went on to say that “a Rhodes Scholar should show great promise of leadership. In short, we seek outstanding young people of intellect, character, leadership and commitment to service.” Gerson said that the Rhodes Trust seeks students who believe in “the performance of public duties as their highest aim.’” “When they called my name, I was stunned, and the reality of it is just now sinking in,” Warren said. “This is really just part of the many amazing experiences I have had at the University of Arkansas. There are so many incredible people I want to thank. Eight wonderful people wrote letters for me, dedicated faculty members participated in practice interviews, and accomplished research mentors and stellar leadership advisors counseled me along the way. Now, I have the opportunity to build on that support and to learn at Oxford more about how to address persistent problems like poverty and food insecurity and then return home to put all I have learned into practice as we work to address the challenges that face our state and country.” More than 2,300 outstanding students applied for the Rhodes Scholarship this year. For the 2022 competition, 235 finalists from 76 different colleges and universities interviewed for the Rhodes Scholarship on Nov. 19-20. Each year finalists interview in 16 districts and 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholars are chosen. “Coleman Warren is a remarkable person who is very deserving of the highest level of recognition which the Rhodes Scholarship represents,” said Charles Robinson ✪, interim chancellor for the University of Arkansas. “Coleman has made a significant difference throughout his academic career but especially as ASG president. He has worked on a variety of important issues here and in the community, all while being a stellar student. I am very proud of him and his many accomplishments, that go well beyond the winning of this high honor. I am also very proud that he will represent our student body where so many shine in their fields of study, and who like Coleman, have service deeply imprinted on their hearts. He is a leader on this campus — this award and the study at Oxford will build on the foundation that he has laid here. I look forward to watching as the impact he will have on our state and our country unfolds in the years to come.” Warren, a native of Farmington, is also a 2021 Truman Scholar. In addition, he is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship and the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship as well the Industrial Engineering Sophomore Scholar Award, an Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineers Scholarship, and the Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award. In the summer before his sophomore year, Warren served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate for the Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha, Nebraska.
Coleman Warren Photo submitted
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Campus
Artists 360
Faculty, Students and Alumni Awarded Project Grants BY CHARLIE ALISON ★ B.A.’82, M.A.’04
Photos submitted
U of A students, faculty and alumni numbering a dozen were among the 25 recipients of Arts 360 grants this year. Grants were awarded for projects from poets and playwrights to painters and podcasters. Artists 360, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, is made possible through the support of the Walton Family Foundation and is a three-year pilot program that
provides grant funding and professional development opportunities to individual artists of all disciplines in the greater Northwest Arkansas area. Grants include learning opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills and build sustainable careers, creating a network of leading regional artists.
Jane Blunschi M.F.A’16, Writer
Willi Carlisle M.F.A.’15, Podcaster
Blunschi will complete work on Stigmata, Specifically, a collection of essays in which the role of queerness and spirituality in the formation of identity is explored, with pieces focused on body image, addiction, sobriety, fertility, marriage and divorce.
Carlisle will produce A Folksinger’s Almanac, a series of podcasts and live performances featuring field recordings, interviews and folksongs from Arkansas and around the world. A Folksinger’s Almanac will focus on rural, queer and outsider voices.
Robin Bruce, M.F.A. Student in Creative Writing
Renata Cassiano Alvarez, Visiting Assistant Professor of Ceramic Art
Bruce will develop Songs for Gordon, a scored audiobook based on her manuscript of poetry and essays, Dear Gordon, using a variety of instrumentation including cello, classical guitar, piano and singing.
Cassiano Alvarez’s project Siempre Voy a Volver, is an assemblage rooted formally in altars structured like pyramids used during Día de los Muertos that she will use to hold ritual and symbolic objects made of ceramic glaze.
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Sean Fitzgibbon M.F.A.’06, Artist Fitzgibbon explores unusual, real places and events through his work. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States and uses his passion for visual storytelling by illustrating books.
Airic Hughes LM B.A.’11, M.A.’15, Doctoral Candidate in History Hughes said the grant would support the Micheaux Award and Film Labs. He said, “The Artists 360 Community Activator Grant will help scale our education initiatives to better serve creatives of color throughout the state.”
Nikola Radan, Instructor in Jazz Studies Radan said that his All Over the Map multimedia project showcasing Ozark ballads as part of global migration through centuries and cultures would examine Medieval music stories that traveled all over the world. Junli Song, M.F.A. Student in Printmaking Song said, “As a Chinese-American woman, I have undertaken the project of world-building as a way to create a space where I belong, and to make sense of the complex, often contradictory, realities of existing between cultures.”
Karstin Johnson B.A.’17, M.F.A. Student in Creative Writing
Lia Uribe M.M.’02, Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Bassoon
Johnson writes of her work in poetry: “Each poem I write inherently protests the marginalization of the arts. In a patriarchal society that sees women as inferior, resisting patriarchal conventions through writing is revolutionary.”
Uribe said the grant will support the fall 2022 RefleXions Music Series Tertulia/Gathering, which “will hold conversations about social justice initiatives and musical excellence and establish dialogue with our community art leaders and organizations.”
Sarah Loucks, M.F.A. Student in Playwriting
Markeith Woods, M.F.A. Student in Painting
Loucks said, “My work often uses dark humor and vernacular to create realistic portraits of American people as they struggle and celebrate, fight and make peace, and search for themselves against the backdrop of a complicated and often frightening country.”
Woods describes his work as an inspired narrative of life where people demonstrate love, respect, compassion, agony, oppositions, confidence and death. He strives to recreate his personal experiences by using familiar symbols, words and emotions.
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Photos submitted
Feature
From left: Alumni Scholars Taylor Poe, Samantha Giudice and Sally Senn.
Structured for Success Mentor Relationships Help Students Meet Demands of Classroom
BY LISY MCKINNON ✪ B.A.’97
When Sally Senn arrived at the U of A in the fall of 2018, the architecture student and Alumni Endowed Scholar was already a believer in the power of mentorship and the value of hard work. Both of these beliefs would come to serve her in her academic and personal development. Senn was ineligible for the Promise Scholarship that is granted to El Dorado High School graduates who attend all four years, graduate, and pursue public post-secondary education in the state of Arkansas. She only started at EHS as a sophomore after being homeschooled beginning in elementary school. 24 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Being selected as one of two Alumni Endowed Scholars in her class turned out to offer more than just financial support for Senn’s educational goals. Early in her sophomore year, she connected with a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors who also happened to be an adjunct professor engaged with her program. Richard Welcher ★ B.S.C.E.’99, M.S.C.E.’04 teaches Architecture Structures II, a course required for students pursuing their Bachelor of Architecture from the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. Senn was volunteering at the Fayetteville
Town Center during the 2019 Alumni Awards celebration when a member of the association staff made a point of introducing her to Welcher. As Senn remembers it, Welcher looked at her and said, “Yes, four rows from the back on the right side and sometimes about 10 minutes late to class.” Senn made a mental note to never be late again but appreciated that she was more than a number in the class of 91 students. This opened the door to a mentoring relationship that has continued to this day. “Architecture students often come in and they’re not excited about the material I’m teaching but it’s a required course. They need the content for their professional exams,” Welcher said. He tries to connect with students early each semester in unique ways so that they will feel comfortable seeking help with the extremely challenging material. Some students take advantage, and some don’t, but he is committed to removing any barriers over which he has control. Welcher’s light-hearted introduction to Senn created a rapport that allowed her to reach out for help in the early days of Architecture Structures when she was struggling to grasp the material. With his support and dedication (it’s not uncommon for Welcher to meet with groups of students in the evenings when they need help), Senn went from a poor performance on the first exam to a perfect score on the final. “Professor Welcher’s class sparked my interest in the structural side of design,” she said. “He is energetic and light-hearted in his teaching style, which has taught me the importance of balancing cheerfulness and seriousness in my work.” Senn performed so well in his class that Welcher
immediately sought her out as a teaching assistant for future offerings of the course. She is currently in her fourth semester in that role and is already taking advantage of the opportunity to help younger students in those classes who may be struggling as she did. “The mentors in my life have been the catalyst for my success,” she said. Letters of recommendation and job opportunities often result through mentorship, and both Senn and Welcher agree those are valuable. However, a simple email to check in on someone if you haven’t heard from them in a while can make a real difference for a student who may be experiencing the crushing demands of a highly rigorous degree program such as architecture. As Welcher put it, “You have no idea how big an impact even the smallest gesture can make.” When asked what advice they would give to students and potential mentors out there, they echoed one another’s sentiments – put yourself out there. Don’t assume that you don’t have anything to offer a student and don’t assume that those who are ahead of you on the path aren’t willing to reach back and lend a hand. You don’t have to be a donor, alumni group leader or professor to make an impact on a U of A student’s success. Mentor-mentee relationships are as close as your laptop or mobile phone. Alumni, students, faculty and staff can initiate a mentoring relationship through RazorLink, the U of A’s premier online platform for career and professional conversations. Visit razorlink. arkansasalumni.org or email mentoring@arkansasalumni. org for more information.
Help From the Sidelines What can you give that has more value than money? Time invested in mentoring. In 0.64 seconds, Google Chrome returned about 211 million results to the search, “what is a mentor.” The online results are daunting, but the real-life examples I get to see our alumni make are heartwarming. Some of my most inspiring moments have been from the sidelines. I’ve heard our scholarship reviewers take interest in the applicants, cheering for them before they even reach campus. I’ve introduced current students to alumni and know a great conversation followed. I’ve seen the joy of an alumna/alumnus investing interest, time and hope in an alumni scholar. I’ve witnessed an alumni scholar gain self-confidence in knowing someone sees and hears her/him. I’ve watched the
give-and-take of questions, advice, encouragement and appreciation. I see alumni mentoring connections that have grown into true admiration from both sides of the friendship. Some are for the needed moment, but many are for a lifetime. All lay the foundation for the gift to be passed on. It is with Razorback pride that I know many started through the Alumni Scholarship Program and the annual scholarship review. Patti Sanders ✪+ B.S.A.’08 Associate Director of Alumni Scholarships
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Campus
Two-Time National Winners Five Students on Equine Judging Team Place Among Top Ten BY ROBBY EDWARDS
he U of A equine judging T team has won back-to-back titles at the National Cutting Horse Association Judging Contest, winning in 2019 and 2021. There was no event in 2020 due to the pandemic. Photo submitted
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The U of A’s equine judging team defended its title and won the National Cutting Horse Association Judging Contest in Fort Worth in December 2021. Competitors are graded on a test of the judging rulebook, a penalty clip test in which students must identify penalties in videos and in placing two sets of 10 horses. The top 10 individuals then move to a second round and judge a set of 10 horses in a live finals contest. The Arkansas team, coached by Jordan Shore and Sidney Dunkel, placed five students in the top 10 and six in the top 12. Seth Wirtz finished second overall, Lauryn Veach fourth, Max King sixth, Hannah Wright seventh, Kelsey Willis ninth and Braylen Jones 12th. “Our students worked hard all semester in preparing for this contest and it showed,” Shore said. “It’s not very often you see an entire team in the top 10 individually in a contest, but these students accomplished that. The students deserved all they were awarded, and I am extremely proud of them.” The team is housed in the Department of Animal Science in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and all team members were animal science majors. Each of them was awarded a Gist belt buckle and trophies, and the program earned $2,000 for the top finish. Arkansas also won the NCHA championship in 2019, but there was no 2020 event due to the pandemic. In addition to the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity in Fort Worth, the Equine Judging Team travels to competitions held at the country’s largest quarter horse shows, including the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and the American Quarter Horse Association World Show, both located in Oklahoma City. In addition to the equine judging team, the department sponsors a ranch horse team for competitions, too. Competing with 20 different institutions, the ranch horse team travels all over the southwest region competing in ranch horse events and has won a Division II Reserve National Championship (2016) and back-to-back Division II National Championships (2017 and 2018). The teams board and practice at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center. Both teams provide students an opportunity to develop a broader and deeper knowledge of the equine industry. The equine science program uses university horses in hands-on courses each semester for “classroom” instruction, and students can also participate in research pertaining to equine nutrition.
High Marks for Online Courses
Global Campus Extends Learning Beyond the Hill BY KAY MURPHY ★ B.A.’89, ED.D.’19
The U of A ranked 11th in the nation and earned a five-star rating in Newsweek’s inaugural, survey-based ranking of colleges and universities that offer degree programs online. Newsweek and Statista, a market and consumer data company, ranked 150 colleges and universities for 2022 after surveying students who studied online to obtain academic degrees. Rankings also considered other institutional indicators that are publicly available, including enrollment, graduation statistics and research activity. The U of A ranked higher than 139 other institutions, including Arizona State University, the University of Florida, the University of Alabama and Southern New Hampshire University. Online learners who were surveyed evaluated their colleges and universities by rating their overall experience, overall satisfaction and to what extent they would recommend their institutions, according to the methodology listed on Newsweek’s website. “The University of Arkansas is committed to the success of its students, whether they study on campus or online,” said Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education. “We are pleased that our online students gave the U of A high marks in this survey. We know this because 70 percent of Newsweek’s ranking criteria was based on students’ opinions. Their opinions indicate that students appreciate the U of A’s dedication to academic excellence and quality student support.” The U of A offers more than 70 online degree, certificate and licensure programs, which are showcased on the U of A ONLINE website. These include bachelor’s, master’s, specialist’s and doctoral degree programs from six academic colleges: the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; the Sam M. Walton College of Business; the College of Education and Health Professions; the College of Engineering; and the School of Law. Distance Learning Nationally The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System,
also known as IPEDS, does not separate online learning from distance learning, which is defined as education that uses technology to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor, according to a National Center for Educational Statistics blog. Among public higher education, about 96 percent of all four-year institutions offered either distance education courses or degree programs in academic year 2018-2019, the latest data available. That compares with 74 percent of four-year private nonprofits and 71 percent of four-year private for-profit institutions. In the same academic year, more than 7.3 million higher education students — or about 37 percent of all students — took distance learning courses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. One Survey, Two Ranking Lists In partnership with Newsweek, Statista surveyed more than 9,000 online learners between July 26 and Sept. 13, according to Newsweek’s online article. Respondents listed their institutions and evaluated them. Analysts transformed those evaluations and institutional indicators into score values and aggregated them toward final scores. Survey participants rated their experience, their satisfaction and to what degree they would recommend their institutions with score weights of 40 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively, according to the methodology. Institutional indicators made up the remaining 30 percent of the score weight. Researchers gathered institutional indicators from public sources, including the National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the National Science Foundation. Statista divided findings into two ranking groups, based on institution type. The first group, “America’s Top Online Colleges,” ranked 150 colleges and universities, including the U of A, that offer online and hybrid degree programs. Hybrid programs use both online and in-person learning environments. The second group, “America’s Top Online Learning Providers,” includes 32 institutions that are not colleges or universities.
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Campus
Learning by Looking Deeper
Grant Shifts Examination of Chronic Wounds from Qualitative to Quantitative Study BY MATT MCGOWAN
The goal of biomedical engineering professor Kyle Quinn and researchers in his lab is to provide digital histopathology images — the microscopic examination of tissue to study the manifestation and progression of disease — and other quantitative information without the need for an invasive biopsy, tissue processing and staining with histology dyes. Earlier this year, Quinn received a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop non-invasive, real-time “optical biopsies” of chronic skin wounds. yle Quinn, associate K professor of biomedical engineering Photo by Russell Cothren
Chronic Skin Wounds – Chronic wounds are skin injuries that fail to progress through the normal healing process. There are many types of chronic wounds, including pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers and arterial insufficiency ulcers. These non-healing wounds can have different underlying causes, but are often characterized by inflamed tissue, poor blood circulation, callus formation or infection. They affect more than 150 million people worldwide and cost approximately $50 billion in health care annually in the United States alone. The initial clinical assessment of a chronic skin wound involves visual inspection, but more detailed characterization relies on minute structural analysis of wound tissue biopsies. While this approach is useful in clinics and research labs for understanding wound pathophysiology and developing new products to treat chronic skin wounds, it is inherently invasive, time-consuming and qualitative. For several years, Quinn has been working on an alternative, quantitative imaging system that addresses some limitations of these conventional histological analyses. Researchers in his lab use multiphoton microscopy to view tissue in three dimensions at the cellular level and generate 3D maps of wound metabolism. This imaging technique is non-invasive, which allows them to measure changes in cellular metabolism and skin organization over time within the same wounds. Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence – Although their metabolic imaging technique can provide highly detailed assessments of cellular function, the analysis of their image data takes time. Researchers must manually map relevant image regions to specific layers of the skin or wound regions, which is a slow and tedious process. To speed it up, Quinn has partnered with Justin Zhan, professor of computer science and computer engineering. Zhan, a data science expert, is helping Quinn combine multiphoton microscopy and “deep learning,” an artificial intelligence-based approach to analysis. (Continued on page 63)
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A Voice on Global Issues
Law Professor Ofodile Named to Council on Foreign Relations BY YUSRA SULTANA M.S.O.M’21
Early this year, Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile, the E.J. Ball Professor of Law, was elected a lifetime member of the United States Council on Foreign Relations, one of the leading foreign policy organizations in the world. With her election to the council, Ofodile becomes one of the few Arkansans and Africans who has been elected a member of the esteemed organization. Ofodile hopes to use the opportunity to bring attention to some of the pressing issues of our time, including sustainability and climate change; food, nutrition and water insecurity; corporate social responsibility and accountability; global governance issues and challenges; and the risks and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. “I am extremely excited by my lifetime election to the Council on Foreign Relations, whose activities I have followed for well over 20 years,” Ofodile said. “I have been inspired by the lives and accomplishments of the council’s esteemed members, who are all visionaries and changemakers. I hope that through my involvement in this association, I can impact Africa and the world for the better.” Ofodile described how Arkansas plays a major and growing role in global affairs, and said, “It is time for Arkansans to lend their voice to weighty issues of our time, from climate change to plastic waste, human trafficking and artificial intelligence.” Willam Alford of the Harvard Law School said of Ofodile, “She is a worldwide leader in scholarship regarding the China-Africa relationship, and as someone who shares this interest, I can say that her work, which commenced long before this subject achieved prominence, is wonderfully creative while deeply rigorous.” Shontavia Johnson J.D.’06, an alumna of the law school and former student of Ofodile, said, “Professor Ofodile’s scholarship, talks and lectures around the world firmly solidify her position as both a leader in global discourse and a facilitator of law and policy change at all levels of governance.” Johnson, who is currently the associate vice president for entrepreneurship and innovation at Clemson University, added, “At a time when our world faces complex issues and challenges, it is comforting to know that professor Ofodile is positioned, through her membership in the council, to lend her voice on critical global issues and provide advice on important foreign policy choices facing the U.S. and countries and communities around the world.” Ofodile is a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, an Honorary Fellow of the Asian Institute of International Financial Law in Hong Kong and an affiliated professor of African and African American Studies at the U of A’s Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. She researches and writes in the areas of intellectual property law, international trade law, international investment law and international dispute settlement.
Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile Photo by Russell Cothren
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Alumni
Preparing the Harvest
University Relations
President’s Letter
30 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Many of you know that I’m passionate about service to community and truly valuing education. I am an advocate for enhancing educational opportunities for all and a true believer in the career pathways that post-secondary education offers. I have continued to thrive and grow for almost three decades as an economist, working for the families and entrepreneurs that produce food and fiber at home and abroad. I have learned, regardless of my expertise and engagement, that the field of agriculture teaches one to appreciate the nuances of planting, cultivating and harvesting. It is in that same vein that I compare the role of the University of Arkansas — our flagship land-grant institution — to establishing and nurturing the development of future crops of creators, leaders and entrepreneurs. To experience a fruitful harvest, there is a natural order requiring specific time-sensitive actions. Adequate preparation and ongoing engagement are needed throughout the process from start to finish. I invite you to explore and/or continue your interactions with the association as we seek to nurture those engagements to intentionally increase the harvest. Each year during graduation, the harvest is usually self-evident, revealing the investments of time, talents and treasures. We celebrate the family’s accomplishments and ponder about the future contributions and discoveries that the recent graduates will produce. As alumni of the U of A, it is important for us to think of ways that we can strategically engage to help prepare the future crops of students, alums, and U of A supporters. As the university continues its fantastic legacy of enhancing the state’s economic activities and quality
of life, alumni share in the recognized gains to the state. It is estimated that the University of Arkansas contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through teaching knowledge and skills, research and discovery of innovations, and disseminating findings and discoveries to communities across the state. According to the Carnegie Foundation, the U of A continues to thrive as one of the nation’s top U.S. college and university research institutions. We, as alums, are active producers as well as beneficiaries of this return. We stand with pride as we celebrate the numerous ways the university continues to contribute to uplifting our state. During recent discussions at a national board meeting, members debated the processes and impact of the association’s collective efforts through chapters and societies to connect you with the university. Your connection starts with the association linking your campus experience to your personal and professional successes. There are numerous ways for you to connect and support the U of A. Regardless of your passion— scholarships, philanthropy, mentorship, academics, sports, Greek life, student programs, etc. — staying connected to the U of A is “Always in Season!” Whether you are helping to plant seeds, enhancing the environment, nurturing those engaged in the harvest, or sharing the news of the benefits of the investment, your engagement is always in season!
Ron Rainey ✪ B.S.A.’91, M.S.’93, Ph.D.’01 President, Arkansas Alumni Association
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Photo submitted
Alumni
Chapter Leader Spotlight
Susan Mace ✪+ B.S.B.A. ’91, M.B.A. ’93 BY CATHERINE BALTZ ✪+ B.S.’92, M.ED.’07
When Susan Mace was deciding where to attend college, she chose the University of Arkansas for two reasons: her older brother Steve Dubriske B.S.B.A.’89 was already enrolled at the U of A, and it was the best choice for the value. Mace said that her family was relatively new to Arkansas and did not have a previous relationship with the school, however, her generation began a new tradition of belonging to the University of Arkansas family. Their younger brother David Dubriske B.S.’93, M.S.’96 followed them to campus and earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and communications in 1993, followed by a Master of Science in mathematics in 1995. Mace fondly remembers sharing the campus with her brothers when their time as students overlapped. She has two sons, Hayden and Evan, who are current students at the U of A, carrying on this new family tradition. Mace lived on campus all four years and reminisces about sports and pep rallies as a student. Mace said that her mentor as an undergraduate was Deb Euculano ✪, with whom she worked on the Panhellenic Council and during her term as president of her sorority, Phi Mu, in her senior year. She went on to say that she had two mentors in graduate school, Dub Ashton ✪ and Carol Reeves. “Dub was the reason,” Mace said, that she got the job she made into a career. He brought in companies to interview the M.B.A.s and those interviews led to a job post-graduation that put her on the path for a 27-year career as a sales and account manager in the parcel industry. Mace said that “a lot of good things happened because of her time in Fayetteville.” She is proud of her membership in the association and Life Membership helped to strengthen that pride. 32 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Mace became involved with the board of the Batesville/ Independence County Chapter after a friend who was on its board asked her to consider getting involved. She responded positively and has been a member of the chapter board ever since. She currently serves as its president. Mace said the most fulfilling aspect of volunteering is to “help Independence County students to the campus.” The chapter scholarship provides between one and five $1,500, non-renewable scholarships each year. The chapter also produces a luncheon event to recruit high school juniors and an evening event during which recruiters provide advice on scholarship applications. Additionally, the chapter hosts an annual Student Send-off event for those students heading to campus. Mace is adamant that the credit for these programs goes to all members of the chapter board of directors both current and past. The Batesville/Independence County Chapter Endowed Scholarship was established in 2007 and it was endowed over the next five years. The scholarship was first awarded in the 2011-12 academic year and to date, the chapter has awarded $30,500 in scholarships to 33 students. Mace’s advice to current U of A students and recent graduates is “embrace your time on The Hill, learn all you can and continue to network with the University of Arkansas family through the Arkansas Alumni Association.” “If you get an opportunity to work with a local chapter, it really is an honor to bond with other U of A grads,” said Mace in her closing thoughts. “And it is an honor to help students to attend the U of A.”
Why Membership Matters... Connections What does Membership Mean to You? Membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association is a lifelong connection to all Razorbacks young and old, near and far. I come from a long line of Razorbacks dating back to my grandmother who cheered from the football sidelines in the 1940s. My dad was a Razorback tight end and my mom was Homecoming Queen, both in the late 1960s. My sisters and I made our own footprints across campus in the 1990s and 2000s, and now I watch my nieces and nephews do the same. Membership is one way that I continue to support the tradition of excellence at the University of Arkansas. Through the Arkansas Alumni Association, I am able to fulfill my responsibility and feel the honor of promoting that tradition throughout the world.
Bo Morrison ★+ B.A.’94, Member Realtor at Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette
How did the University of Arkansas prepare you for your career? What I’ve come to realize is that getting my degree was my primary focus, but in that journey, it was ultimately about connecting and building meaningful relationships with people. My career journey in public relations, entertainment management and now in real estate is all about relationship development. The Alumni Association consistently reminds us that connection is everything and being a student at the U of A gave me that foundation.
Please renew or upgrade and encourage others to join because membership matters. Join.arkansasalumni.org 888-ARK-ALUM or 479-575-2801 SPRING 2022/ ARKANSAS / 33
Photos submitted
Alumni
Fostering Relationships
Armed Forces Alumni Society Distributes Challenge Coins By Col. Bob Crawford ✪+ B.S.P.A’74
The mission of the Armed Forces Alumni Society is to foster and enhance relationships between alumni, faculty, staff, students and their families who are current and former members of the armed forces. In the 2021-2022 Academic Year, the society debuted its Challenge Coin. Not many people know about “challenge coins.” But they are very important and symbolic for those who do. In celebration of the Armed Forces Alumni Society’s scholarship, donations of at least $100 to the scholarship fund will receive a Challenge Coin. Donations can be made at fundrazor.uark.edu/AFASscholarship.
The Coin Coins are usually associated with military organizations or units because the armed forces use these coins extensively. The coin is usually 1½ to 2 inches in diameter and round; however, it can take many shapes such as pentagon, hexagon, or triangle. It is oftentimes presented by a senior leader, usually the commander, of 34 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
the organization to someone in the unit who performs in an outstanding manner or someone important to the organization (such as someone who provides support or assistance to the unit). The coin takes on added significance because of its relationship to the unit and the people in it. They are usually presented from the leader to the recipient via an inconspicuous handshake but making the event a formal presentation is also acceptable. For many military personnel, coins become collectibles and they proudly display them in their offices or homes.
The Challenge Since coins are supposed to be carried on your person when you are in the unit, recipients of a coin will often “challenge” other recipients to show their coins. Anyone who does not have the coin is required to pay a penalty. But if everyone presents their coins, then the challenger pays the penalty. Traditionally, the challenge occurs at a bar, and the penalty is buying drinks for everyone who has the coin.
Photos submitted
The History No one is sure how the Challenge Coin started, but it is a well-respected tradition that is intended to build camaraderie. There is evidence that a challenge coin or medallion was used in both World War I and World War II. Some scholars believe the history of the coin goes back to ancient Rome. At the end of a successful battle, Roman Legionnaires were given a bonus. The bonus was usually in the form of a special coin containing their Legion’s logo. Because it had the unique logo, many soldiers would keep the coins rather than spend them on frivolous activities like wine and merriment.
Past Arkansas Presidents Alumni Association of the Board of Directors 1923-24 Joseph Kirby Mahone ✪ BA’07 1924-25 Robert Hill Carruth BA’11 1925-26 James E. Rutherford ✪ BA’22 1926-27 Winston Lee Winters BSCE’06 1927-28 J.L. Longino BSEE’03 1928-29 Alfred Boyde Cypert BA’12 1929-30 James William Trimble BA’17 1930-31 G. DeMatt Henderson BA’01 LLB’03 1931-32 Dr. Jasper Neighbors MD’18 1932-33 Scott D. Hamilton BA’24 1933-34 Charles A. Walls BA’07 1934-35 Arthur D. Pope BA’06 1935-36 John C. Ashley BA’11 1936-37 Beloit Taylor BA’19 1937-38 John P. Woods ✪ BA’09 1938-39 Glen Rose ★ BSE’28 MS’31 1939-40 Claude J. Byrd ★ BSA’25 1940-41 Charles Frierson Jr. ’29 1941-42 John B. Daniels BSA’33 1942-44 G. DeMatt Henderson BA’01 LLB’03
ARKANSAS
ALUMNI
1944-45 Dr. M. L. Dalton MD’32 1945-46 Jack East ✪ BSE’24 1946-47 Steve Creekmore ★ BSBA’11 1947-48 Maupin Cummings ✪ BA’32 1948-49 Roy Milum BA’04, LLD’58 1949-50 Paul Sullins ✪ JD’37 1950-51 Francis Cherry LLB’38 1951-52 J.C. Gibson BA’24 MS’38 1952-53 George Makris ✪ BSBA’37 1953-54 Edward B. Dillon Jr. ★ LLB’50 1954-55 Beloit Taylor BA’19 1955-56 Louis L. Ramsay Jr. LLB’47 LLD’88 1956-57 Stanley Wood ✪ BA’23 1957-58 A.L. Whitten MS’40 1958-59 W.R. “Dub” Harrison BA’20 1959-60 E.M. “Mack” Anderson ✪+ BA’32 1960-61 Warren Wood ✪ LLB’32 1961-62 Owen Calhoun Pearce BSBA’41 LLB’41 1962-63 James C. Hale BA’33 1963-64 Jack East Jr. BSBA’48
pposite page, The front and back of the society’s Challenge O Coin. Above left, On December 6, 2021, Col. Bob Crawford, society board treasurer, presented the Armed Forces Alumni Society coin to Rick Frank, Army ROTC commander and professor of military science at the university. Crawford officiated Frank’s promotion to colonel (0-6). Above top center, Crawford presented a challenge coin to Brynt Parmeter, civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army – Arkansas (North), while both were present for Col. Frank’s promotion event. Above right, Crawford presented a challenge coin to Lt. Col. Malloy, U of A Air Force ROTC commander and professor of aerospace studies, on Dec. 8, 2021. Above bottom center, Crawford’s Challenge Coin display with the society’s coin in a prominent position at the left front.
1964-65 J. Fred Patton ✪+ BA’29 MA’36 1965-66 P.K. Holmes Jr. ✪ BA’37 LLB’39 1966-67 William H. Bowen ★ LLB’49 1967-68 Guy H. Lackey ✪+ BSBA’49 1968-69 Robert P. Taylor ✪+ BSBA’47 MS’48 1969-70 John Ed Chambers BA’39 LLB’40 1970-71 Chester H. Lauck ’25 1971-72 Nathan Gordon ✪+ JD’39 1972-73 Charles E. Scharlau ✪+ LLB’51 1973-74 Carl L. Johnson ★ BSBA’47 1974-75 R. Cecil Powers ✪ BSBA’30 1975-76 J.C. Reeves ✪ ’25 1976-77 Elizabeth (Sissi) Riggs Brandon ✪+ BSE’55 1977-78 Roy Murphy ✪+ BSIM’49 1978-79 Fred Livingston ✪ BSBA’55 1979-80 Tracy Scott ✪ BSE’53 1980-81 Edward W. Stevenson ✪+ BSBA’60 1981-82 Fred Livingston ✪ BSBA’55 1982-83 Don Schnipper ✪+ BA’63 JD’64 1983-84 Mary Trimble Maier ✪+ BA’49 1984-85 Bart Lindsey ✪+ BSBA’67 1985-86 W. Kelvin Wyrick ✪+ BSE’59 1986-87 Larry G. Stephens ✪+ BSIE’58
1987-88 Rebecca Shreve ✪+ BSE’60 MED’63 1988-89 Robert T. Dawson ✪+ BA’60 LLB’65 1989-90 Gregory B. Graham ✪+ BSBA’70 JD’72 1990-91 Blake Schultz ✪+ BA’51 1991-92 Chuck Dudley ✪+ BSBA’76 MBA’77 1992-93 Harriet Hudson Phillips ✪+ BA’72 1993-94 Richard Hatfield ✪+ BSBA’65 LLB’67 1994-95 Jenny Mitchell Adair ✪+ BA’62 1995-96 Jack McNulty ✪+ BSBA’67 JD’70 1996-97 Sylvia Boyer ✪+ BSE’63 1997-98 Morris Fair ★ BSBA’56 1998-00 H. Lawson Hembree IV ✪+ BSA’82 2000-02 Jeffery R. Johnson ✪+ BA’70 2002-04 Edward Bradford ✪+ BSE’55 MED’56 2004-06 Brian M. Rosenthal ✪+ BSBA’84 2006-08 Kenny Gibbs ✪+ BSBA’85 2008-10 Gerald Jordan ✪+ BA’70 2010-12 Steve Nipper ✪+ BSBA’71 MBA’73 2012-14 John Reap ✪+ BSBA’70 2014-16 Stephanie S. Streett ✪ BS’91 2016-18 Don Eldred ✪+ BSBA’81 2018-20 Teena Gunter ✪ JD’92 LLM’97
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Photo submitted
Alumni
Society Leader Spotlight Marco Barker ✪ B.S.I.E.’00
Marco Barker serves as the inaugural vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and associate professor of practice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to UNL, he served as chief diversity officer at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Barker is also founder and associate for Barker Diversity Consulting, a diversity strategic leadership firm. His scholarship includes cross-race advising, doctoral education and diversity leadership in higher education. Barker is a graduate of Leadership Triangle and Leadership Utah and has also been recognized as a Utah Business Forty Under 40. He has served on the Utah MLK Human Rights Commission and KeyBank Utah Advisory Board and currently serves on the Lincoln 2050 Forward planning committee, Lincoln Community Foundation board, and NCAA governance diversity committee. His contributions to the University of Arkansas have included serving as an admissions ambassador for the 36 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Arkansas Alumni Association, a member of the Arkansas Libraries Capital Campaign Committee, and a board member and current president-elect for the Black Alumni Society. His direct impact on the University of Arkansas included starting an Arkansas Black Alumni Society Facebook page, co-leading fundraising efforts for Black engineering students — resulting in an endowed scholarship; participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion outreach efforts to reach prospective students; and serving on the BAS Ad Hoc Committee focused on advancing campus climate, enrollment, work-life, and student retention. Barker earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the university in 2000. He has also earned a Master of Business Administration from Webster University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership and research from Louisiana State University.
Photo submitted 1953 Razorback
Razorback Generations Coming Home
BY USMC COL. (RET.) LESTER NIBLOCK ✪+ B.A.’81
On Nov. 17, 2021, as the Niblock (née Hammond) matriarch, Marjorie ✪ B.A.’53, turned 90, we celebrated at Ella’s Table – a most appropriate place! Three generations of Razorbacks gathered, telling stories and embellishing our hometown experiences: • Walking to Razorback Stadium to Call the Hogs from the old north end zone. • Experiencing the Hog Wild Band in Barnhill. • Seeing the names of family and friends etched in the Senior Walk as we stroll across campus.
op - Back row, from left: T Lt. Col. (Ret.) Fred Niblock ✪+ B.S.B.A’77; George Niblock B.A.’86, J.D.’86; Marjorie Hammond Niblock ✪ B.A.’53; USMC Col. (Ret.) Lester Niblock ✪+ B.A.’81; Ray Niblock J.D.’93. Middle row: Ann P. Niblock ✪+ B.S.B.A’78; Suzanne Niblock B.A.’81, M.S.A.’88; Debbie Niblock ✪+. Front row: Brannon Niblock, Walt Niblock ✪ B.SM.E.’19. elow, The first of three B generations of Razorbacks: Marjorie Hammond Niblock ✪ B.A.’53 and Walter R. Niblock B.S.P.A.’51, L.L.B.’53 (deceased).
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Alumni
Unity Week
Supporting Higher Education Access Across Arkansas BY ANGELA MOSLEY-MONTS ✪ B.A.’80
Helping all Arkansas students access higher education was the primary goal of a series of events held in Central Arkansas the week leading up to the first football game between the U of A and the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff. Before the Razorbacks and Golden Lions met at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 23, 2021, members of both university communities had multiple opportunities to come together in support of shared goals. “By coming together through both work and play, we create stronger and more accessible pathways to higher education for all students in Arkansas,” said Yvette Murphy-Erby ✪, vice chancellor of diversity, equity and inclusion at the U of A. “With our friends and colleagues at our fellow land-grant institution, we are proud to collaborate on unifying weeks such as this.”
The following evening, the U of A hosted Together, Forward: A Conversation About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Emcee for the reception was Victor Wilson ✪ B.S.B.A.’85, senior director of priority initiatives and development, Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Speakers included Murphy-Erby, Mark Power ★+, vice chancellor of Advancement, Derita Ratcliffe Dawkins, assistant vice chancellor and deputy director of Athletics/ senior woman administrator, and Deacue Fields III, Dean of Dale Bumpers College and Sr. Associate VP - Academic Programs, University of Arkansas.
Photos submitted
On Oct. 18, the U of A’s Central Arkansas Chapter hosted the inaugural Steak Out Dinner at the Letterman’s Club in War Memorial Stadium. Net proceeds from this dinner went to the John L. Richardson Memorial Alumni Chapter Endowed Scholarship. The U of A and UAPB collaborated on a series of college preparedness and college fair events in the Pine Bluff area during the week. On Oct. 20, they made visits to Watson Chapel High School and Pine Bluff Dollarway High School. That evening they hosted Pathways to Higher Education College Readiness Night on the UAPB campus. This event focused on prospective U of A and UAPB students, and dinner was provided for community partners, families, students, faculty and staff. The speakers included Murphy-Erby; Braque Talley, vice chancellor for enrollment management and student success, UAPB; U of A and UAPB agriculture deans Deacue Fields and Bruce McGowan; U of A Honors 38 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
College representatives Xochitl Delgado Solorzano and Annette Fields. The following day, interim Chancellor Charles Robinson ✪ spoke at Pine Bluff High School during its “My Purpose, My Passion, My Plan” College Fair. Special thanks to Dedric Jones, PBHS Career Coach, for extending the invitation. Also on that day, representatives visited Hall High School in Little Rock for its college and career Fair. Rafael Arciga Garcia B.A.’10, M.Ed.’18, assistant dean for diversity recruitment; Riley Wilson, admissions counselor for diversity recruitment; and Adrain Smith ✪ M.Ed.’04, director of the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education, coordinated the U of A’s participation in the college fairs. Special thanks to the Honors College, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, Enrollment Services, Walton College, Graduate School and International Education, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and the Center of Multicultural Diversity and Education, for collaborating on these events.
The U of A Black Alumni Society welcomed interim Chancellor Robinson and other university leaders to its fall board meeting held in Little Rock on Oct. 21. Synetra Hughes ✪ B.S.B.A.’04, Ed.D.’12, president, presided over the meeting. Officers present for the meeting were Marco Barker ✪ B.S.I.E.’00, president-elect, Lindsey Leverett-Higgins ✪ M.S.’19, secretary, Khadish Franklin ✪ B.A.’05, treasurer, and Ritche Manley Bowden ✪ B.S.I.E.’86, immediate past president. Also in attendance were Murphy-Erby; Angela Mosley-Monts ✪ B.A.’80, associate vice chancellor of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and BAS executive secretary; Mark Power, vice chancellor of advancement; Brandy Cox Jackson ✪ M.A.’07, executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association and associate vice chancellor; Ron Rainey ✪ B.S.A.’91, M.S.’93, Ph.D.’01, president
of the Arkansas Alumni Association National Board of Directors; and Barbara Lofton ✪, assistant dean of the Walton College.
The BAS Golf Tournament at the Country Club of Arkansas in Maumelle was held on Oct. 22. This event serves as a fundraiser to support the Black Alumni Society scholarships. Also on Oct. 22, the Dr. Barbara A. Lofton Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Walton College, and the Arkansas Urban League partnered with the U of A and UAPB to host the Virtual Black Business Summit. The forum featured the Arkansas Black Mayors Association, Black business owners and former athletes Celia Anderson B.A.’01, M.A.’03, Torii Hunter ✪, and Sidney Moncrief B.S.E.’80. The day wrapped up with the U of A and UAPB VIP Reception. Speakers included UAPB Chancellor Alexander; U of A interim Chancellor Robinson; Vice Chancellor Murphy-Erby, U of A Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; George R. Cotton, Division of Institutional Advancement, UAPB; Mark Power, vice chancellor of Advancement; Brandy Cox Jackson, associate vice chancellor, executive director of Arkansas Alumni Association; Ron Rainey, president, Arkansas Alumni Association. Gameday started with a pre-game tailgate that welcomed alumni and fans of both universities before the Razorbacks and the Golden Lions took to the field for their inaugural game on the gridiron. Special thanks to Courtney Strickland, UAPB office of institutional advancement, engagement manager and Amy Linimon B.A.’98, the U of A office of engagement, Ella Lambey M.Ed.’07, DEI administrative executive assistant, Carolyn Allen ✪, professor and special assistant to the provost, and Airic Hughes ✪ B.A.’11, M.A.’15, founding director of Visionari.
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Events
Black Alumni Society Tailgates Black Alumni Society Brings DEI Societies and Campus Organizations Together for Tailgating Throughout the 2021 Razorback football home season, the Black Alumni Society hosted a series of tailgates in Alumni Alley at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. The tailgates were held in partnership with the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Latino Alumni Society, the Dr. Barbara Lofton Office for Diversity and Inclusion, the Center for Multicultural Diversity and Education and the Indigenous Employee Impact Group.
Each home game tailgate had more than 60 participants per game.
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Photos submitted
Synetra Hughes ✪ B.S.B.A.’04,Ed.D.’12, said, “I envisioned a space of belonging and mattering for all alumni, administrators, faculty, staff, students and friends returning to campus for home football games. Tusk 1 in Alumni Alley at the Arkansas Alumni Association became this space for Calling the Hogs, hearing and seeing interim Chancellor Charles Robinson ✪, coach Eric Musselman, coach Ronnie Brewer Jr. B.A.’15, Razorback Band, Razorback Spirit Squad, and sharing Razorback stories over amazing food and beverages.”
Outback Bowl 2022
Victorious Weekend in Tampa
Arkansas alumni, friends and fans descended upon Tampa, Florida, in the week leading up to the 2022 Outback Bowl. They took part in assorted activities produced by the bowl, including a Battle of the Bands in Busch Gardens, the New Year’s Eve Parade and the Pregame Bowl Bash. The Arkansas Alumni Association offered two additional events. Photos submitted.
• A Razorback Rally was held on Dec. 31, hosted by the Arkansas Alumni Association, the Tampa Bay Alumni Chapter and the Razorback Foundation in Ybor City. • The Arkansas Alumni Association and the Penn State Alumni Association joined together to complete a beach cleanup service project for the town of Tampa Bay on Dec. 31. Photos by Steve Manuel, Penn State.
Photos by Steve Manuel, Penn State.
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Events
Fall 2021 Méritos Latinos The Latino Alumni Society celebrated its 10th year at Méritos Latinos on Dec. 17, 2021. Méritos Latinos recognizes community leaders, faculty, staff and graduating seniors as well as serves as a fundraiser for the society’s scholarship. Ron Rainey ✪ B.S.A.’91, M.S.’93, Ph.D.’01, president of the Arkansas Alumni Association National Board of Directors, gave the welcome address. Associate Vice Chancellor Angela Mosley-Monts ✪ B.A.’80 brought greetings from the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The emcees were Elvis Moya, associate athletics director for community relations, and Crystal Martinez, morning news anchor for KNWA TV.
Rocio I. Greenwood ★ B.A.’14, M.A.’17 and Garcia presented the 2021 graduating university seniors. Associate Vice Chancellor Brandy Cox Jackson ✪ M.A.’07, executive director of Arkansas Alumni Association, gave final remarks and closed the celebration with the Hog Call!
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Photos by Russell Cothren
Rafael Arciga Garcia B.A.’10, M.Ed.’18, assistant dean for diversity recruitment, presented the Legacy Award to Cecilia Grossberger-Medina ★ M.A.’08. Garcia also presented the Northwest Arkansas Latinx Business Award to Daymara Baker M.B.A.’99.
Drag Brunch Ticket Sales Fund Scholarships The PRIDE Alumni Society hosted its annual scholarship fundraiser at the Fayetteville Town Center on Nov. 14, 2021. Members of the PRIDE Board attending the event were Jordan Garcia B.S.H.E.S.’10, president; John Forrest Ales ✪ B.A.’02, vice president; Quincy Spencer ★, event and engagement chair; and John Berry ✪, board of directors. The Drag Brunch emcee, and returning performer, was the fabulous Taylor Madison Monroe. Also performing were Lady Kakes and Brooklyn Bisette. There were approximately 150 attendees and sponsors for the event. Funds generated from ticket sales and sponsorships fund the PRIDE Alumni Society Scholarship. The scholarship provides support for students from the LGBTQ+ communities. Two students shared their experiences with the attendees and how the scholarships assisted them in their academic endeavors at the U of A. The Pride Alumni Society appreciates the individuals who purchased tickets and our sponsors. Presenting Sponsors were the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Photos submitted.
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Events
Official Ring Monument
Photos submitted
The official U of A Ring Monument was delivered to the Arkansas Alumni Association by Balfour on Dec. 8, 2021. It is currently on display in Sturgis Hall in the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni and will be permanently placed in fall 2022.
Méritos Latinos LATINO ALUMNI SOCIETY
SAVE THE DATE - MAY 13, 2022
6:30 p.m. Reception | 7 p.m. Dinner Hilton Garden Inn - Fayetteville 44 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
www.arkansasalumni.org/las
Official Ring Ceremony The Arkansas Alumni Association hosted the first in-person ring ceremony since 2019 on Dec. 10, 2021. The tradition began in February 2002 at the U of A with the unveiling of the Official U of A Class Ring. The Official Ring was developed as the single ring that not only symbolizes the goals achieved by U of A graduates but also establishes a tradition that fosters loyalty, pride and recognition among U of A alumni. At the ceremony the association announced a new part of this tradition that quietly began in fall 2020. All the U of A rings created by Balfour have been made with dust from Senior Walk.
University Relations
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Events
Watch Parties
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It was so great to gather again to support our Hogs in the 2021 Football season! 3.
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5. New York City Chapter 6. Raleigh Chapter 7. Seattle Chapter
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Photos submitted.
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GA M E DAY ALU M N I A L L E Y •
Premier tailgating opportunity with reserved parking
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Steps away from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
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20x20 spots with electricity
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Season and single game spots still available
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Tent and event rentals provided exclusively by Intents
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$5,000 per season or $1,000 per single game
ALU M N I H O U S E VI P PA R KI N G •
VIP Parking in the visitors parking lot located on the west side of the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House
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Just a short walk to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
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$2,000 per season ($1,500 for Life Members) Special Life Member Discount of 25%
For more information about all of the tailgate areas around the Alumni House and to reserve your space, visit arkansasalumni.org/tailgaterental or contact Julie Simpson at 479-575-4493.
Arkansas Alumni Association
Special Life Member Discount of 5%
Hog Wild Tailgates What a great year 2021 was for coach Sam Pittman and Razorback football! The Arkansas Alumni Association hosted its Hog Wild Tailgates in outdoor spaces to provide a fun and safe environment with a bird’s-eye view of the football team’s Hog Walk for our alumni attendees and friends. The tailgates featured some local vendors including McBride Distributing, Catering Unlimited, Magnolia Coffee,
Andy’s Frozen Custard, and McClard’s Bar-B-Q. As always, we were proud to feature some exciting specials guests including the U of A Women’s Golf Team, Miss Arkansas, and coach Eric Musselman, not to mention appearances by U of A Spirit Squads and Razorback Marching Band. The Razorbug also made an appearance and provided a great photo op for our attendees. SPRING 2022/ ARKANSAS / 47
Events
Celebrating Scholar Achievements
Photos submitted.
The San Antonio Chapter hosted its first chapter scholar, Walker Butler, for lunch to celebrate his achievements.
The International Alumni Society hosted a virtual event, “Celebrating the U of A’s 150th Around the World” on Oct. 7, 2021. The event was hosted by Curt Rom ✪+ B.S.A.’80, interim dean of the Graduate School and International Education. It featured presentations from Charlie Alison ★ B.A.’82, M.A.’04; Larry Foley ★+ B.A.’76 and Yassaman Mirdamadi Ed.D.’86 related to our year-long celebration of the university’s sesquicentennial. The event concluded with a Hog Call led by special guest Coach Eric Musselman.
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Photos submitted.
Celebrating Around the World
An Evening with Amy Tu 1.
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The Asian Pacific Americans Employee Impact Group, Diversity & Inclusion Student Council, and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a reception and “An Evening with Amy Tu” to close out Diversity Month. Amy Tu ✪ J.D.’96 is executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Tyson Foods. 1. Amy Tu and professor Er-Gene Kahng, Department of Music, engaged in a conversation about career trajectories and successes. 2. Amy Tu with the Asian Pacific Americans Employee Impact Group.
Photos submitted.
3. Amy poses with the host organizations as well as representatives from the School of Law, the University of Arkansas System, and Tyson Foods. 3.
DEI Society Breakfast Interim Chancellor Charles Robinson ✪ hosted an informational breakfast with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alumni Societies.
Photo submitted.
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Events
Green Heart Project
Photo submitted.
Over the summer, the Charleston Chapter gathered for their annual service event. This year the chapter supported the “Green Heart Project.”
Fall Semester Final Study Breaks
Photos submitted.
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Black Alumni Society, and the Center of Multicultural Education hosted an allstudents Final Study Breaks and presented students with fall semester Final Prep Tools. Thomas Davis and Taylor Gathings were the project managers for the Division of DEI.
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Multicultural Graduation Celebration The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Asian Pacific Americans Employee Impact Group, the Black Alumni Society, Latino Alumni Society, and the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education hosted the end of the semester Multicultural Graduation. Special thanks to DEI undergraduate students Ashanti Wesley, Taylor Gathings, Thomas Davis, and graduate assistants Dana McGee and Nadia Salley.
Photos submitted.
Museum Tour The Oklahoma City Chapter enjoyed a day at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum last October. The tour was led by chapter President Steve Berner ✪ B.S.B.A.’69. Photo submitted.
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Razorback Yearbook
Yesteryear
Yesteryear In 1922, engineering students were expected to look their Sunday best when testing steam and gas engines in the university’s Mechanical Labs.
1872
• The first classes at the Arkansas Industrial University begin on Jan. 22, 1872, with just eight students the first day. More students arrive from across the state through the spring until more than 100 are listed by June. The university focused on the “agricultural and mechanic arts,” “scientific and classical studies,” and “military tactics.”
1882
• The university considers canceling classes due to an outbreak of smallpox
52 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
in Fayetteville.
1902
• Isaac Fisher, a graduate of the Tuskegee Institute, becomes principal of the university’s Branch Normal College at Pine Bluff, the present-day University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
1912
• When the University of Arkansas Law School at Little Rock reopened on Sept. 18, there were 40 new students present. • The name of the Normal Department, which trains students to become
teachers, is changed to the College of Education.
1922
• Governor T.C. McRae proposes purchasing Camp Pike outside of Little Rock and relocating the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering there, but is vetoed by U.S. Army chief of staff, Gen. John Pershing, who declared Camp Pike should remain for military purposes. • Kate Campbell, niece of the builder of Old Main, W. Zeke Mayes, donates the original contract to the university.
• Three university barns suffered major damage from fires that spread between the structures but students were able to save cattle from the buildings. • The ancient oak tree that overlooked the Spoofer’s Stone, shading young couples who visited it, was cut down due to danger of it toppling on its own.
1932
• University President John C. Futrall in the Razorback yearbook states: “In these trying times that the nation is now facing, the state universities will help carry
on the torch of learning” and UA students will be “among the guiding stars that [lead] America to a greater destiny.” • The campus radio station, KUOA, considers making a phonograph recording of a Razorback pep song to use as the theme of the station.
1942
• In winter of 1942, second semester enrollment drops twice the usual amount after over 100 men leave school to join the U.S. Armed Forces. • Reba Gray becomes the first woman to serve as editor of the Razorback yearbook.
1952
• The Guild Ticker, the College of Business Administration magazine, expands its readership and The Traveler, the student newspaper, expands its size to 16 pages weekly. • For the first time, the University of Arkansas Graduate School offers courses leading to Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education degrees. • George Howard, a law student, becomes the first African American student elected to a student office as president of Lloyd Halls, the temporary student housing primarily for veterans of World War II. • A $464,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to the College of Education is intended to develop a longrange training experiment in teacher education that would require students to complete four years of undergraduate work and a final year of graduate work, resulting in the Master of Arts in Teaching program. • Professor Norman DeMarco, director of the Fine Arts Center, works with students to start a student radio station called KUA. Its
broadcast range was about 1 mile when it started in February.
1962
• The Razorback yearbook features a photograph of “a certain group of students,” as the yearbook’s caption put it, who protest not being allowed to live in the campus’ many new dormitories — a small glimpse into the local struggle by African American students to integrate the university amid the larger nationwide civil rights movement.
1992
• More than 2,000 fans of Mike Conley welcome him home to Fayetteville after he wins the triple-jump Olympic gold medal in track and field in Barcelona, Spain. • Country singer George Straight performs to a nearcapacity crowd at Barnhill Arena. • Kimbra Bell becomes the first African American student awarded the Arkansas Alumni Association’s Senior Honor Citation.
2002
• The one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is commemorated at the Fulbright Memorial Peace Fountain with speeches by several students and Chancellor John A. White.
2012
• The Arkansas Alumni Association establishes its first international alumni chapter in Panama.
• Demonstrators protest the university’s discriminatory policy of excluding Black students from residence halls.
1972
• Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk speaks at the University of Arkansas, eliciting demonstrations on campus of Vietnam veterans against the war. He later meets with the protestors for nearly two-and-a-half hours. • The folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary perform at the Men’s Gym to a standingroom-only crowd. • KUAF Radio goes on the air as a student radio station, eventually broadcasting from a house near the southwest corner of Dickson Street and Duncan Avenue.
1982
• The U of A alumni magazine profiles Jim Robken, the director of the “Hog Wild Band,” the University of Arkansas band that performed at basketball games. • The rock band Chicago and lead singer Peter Cetera perform to a sold-out show at Barnhill Arena. • Merike Manley becomes the first African American student to be elected Homecoming Queen.
Martin Terry B.S.E.’77, M.Ed.’78, a guard for the Razorback basketball team, swings past a Texas Aggie player during a 1972 game at Barnhill Fieldhouse. Terry started all 26 games and scored 24 points per game on average. Razorback Yearbook
SPRING 2022/ ARKANSAS / 53
Photo by Chieko Hara
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 Linda Jopp Goytia BSE’69, San Jose, California, serves on two California school boards, Campbell Union HSD and MetroEd/Silicon Valley Career Technical Education. Goytia was recently instrumental in persuading the California State Legislature to double grant funding available for 54 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
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,
CTE from $150 million to $300 million. James E. O’Neal ✪ BA’69, Alexandria, Virginia, has been promoted to Life Senior Member in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers based on his professional achievements in technology and the significant impact he has made on the growth and development of IEEE.
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+
1970 Jeff R. Johnson ✪+ BA’70, Springfield, Missouri, was inducted into the Springfield Missouri Public Schools Hall of Fame. Victor A. Mirontschuk ✪ BA’72 BARCH’74, New York, New York, published 2020 Unmasked, in partnership with two colleagues. The book recorded the events of 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts,
Washington, D.C., and New York, New York, and has been accepted into the permanent collections of the Library of Congress and the Scottish National Libraries. It has been sold in various countries all over the world. In November 2021, Mirontschuk and his colleagues gave presentations about the book at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and the American Institute of Architects.
1990 Greg Phillips ★ BA’91, Dallas, Texas, is a global cloud marketing executive at IBM. Randy M. Robinson ★ BS’91, Alexander, is director of the Risk Management Division in the Arkansas Insurance Department. Bradley A. Roethlisberger ✪+ BSBA’91, Rogers, is a member of Landmark PLC, a leading Arkansas-based accounting firm effective Jan. 1. Cindy K. Bushur-Hallam LLM’98, Springfield, Illinois, is senior project manager at Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Springfield headquarters. She is responsible for the management of land acquisition projects.
2000
In Memoriam 1940s Quinn D. La Fargue Jr. FS’41, DeWitt, Oct. 5, 2011. Lloyd C. McCuiston Jr. ★+ BSCE’41, West Memphis, Nov. 9, 2021. Betty Webber BSBA’46, Texarkana, Nov. 22, 2021. Elizabeth Campbell Hatfield FS’47, Bauxite, Aug. 3, 2020. O.L. Echols ★ BS’48, Port Neches, Texas, Nov. 21, 2020. Marie G. Fair BSE’48 MSE’69, Little Rock, July 28, 2021. William G. Kerwin Jr. BSBA’48, Fort Smith, Nov. 23, 2019. Mary Jane McDonald BA’48, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Aug. 28, 2021.
Roberto Nello Loar ✪ BS’03, Austin, Texas, earned his Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. This is an honor less than 6% of dentists achieve after earning over 500 hours of continuing education and passing a comprehensive examination.
Stanley Wood Jr. ✪+ BSBA’48, Batesville, July 20, 2021.
Jason R. Edgar MA’06, Villa Park, Illinois, was granted tenure at Morton College in Cicero, Illinois, and will teach Speech Communication and coach the debate program.
Mary Trigg Garrett BA’49, Russellville, Dec. 20, 2019.
2010 Arianna G. Goodman BA’10, Dallas, Texas, was named as one of “Ones to Watch” by Best Lawyers in America 2022 Edition. Rachael Kelley BSBA’12 MSOM’13 announces the birth of a future alum, Cooper Kelley, April 10, 2021, Dallas, Texas. Proud grandparents are Patricia ★+ and George Howell ★+ MS’83.
Lindy Verdell Bollen BSE’49 MS’54, North Little Rock, 2021. Lloyd T. Bryan BSBA’49, Mountain Home, July 14, 2021.
Avis D. Hammond BSBA’49 MBA’52, Fayetteville, Sept. 20, 2021. Dual B. Hart BSBA’49, Walnut Ridge, Nov. 29, 201. Grace L. Harvey ✪+ BSE’49 MED’72, Fayetteville, Sept. 10, 2021. Nan Hopper Hawkins BSBA’49, Little Rock, Aug. 1, 2021. Bob Robinson ✪+ BSBA’49, Owensboro, Kentucky, July 15, 2021.
Robert L. Box BSA’50, Pocahontas, Nov. 30, 2021. Jo Ann Brown Bushart ✪+ BA’50, Arlington, Texas, Dec. 3, 2021. William S. Ferguson BSA’50, Clinton, Jan. 4, 2014. Gene W. Miller ✪ BSAGE’50, Holly Grove, Aug. 30, 2021. Sarah Moore ★ BSE’50, Blytheville, Sept. 23, 2021. Fran Barton Nutt ✪+ BSHE’50, Ozark, Missouri, Aug. 16, 2021. Billye Breimo Howell Owen BA’50, Dallas, Texas, July 22, 2021. Patricia Durham Thompson BA’50, Marietta, Georgia, Aug. 18, 2021. Robert R. Basham BSBA’51, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Jan. 21, 2021. Donna H. Demuth BSHE’51, Memphis, Tennessee, Jan. 10, 2021. Bob D. Harrison Jr. BA’51 MA’55, Holiday Island, Nov. 28, 2021. Autrey Crawford Hess FS’51, Biloxi, Mississippi, Feb. 18, 2021. Jack W. Hess BSE’51 MED’57, Iuka, Mississippi, Aug. 22, 2021. Evelyn Jones BS’51, Denver, Colorado, Nov. 14, 2021. Marquerite Margo Low BSHE’51, Brinkley, Aug. 29, 2021.
Nancy Sue Dodson ✪+ BA’52 ADN’77, Fayetteville, Sept. 18, 2021. Bob Hall ★ BSBA’52 MBA’58 PHD’61, Fayetteville, Sept. 25, 2021. Frank B. Hawkinson FS’52, Forks Township, Pennsylvania, Nov. 24, 2021. Ernest L. Hogue BS’52, Jonesboro, Sept. 16, 2021. Alex A. Marzek ✪ JD’52, Waterman VillageMount Dora, Florida, Aug. 26, 2021. Harold R. Morgan ★ BSIM’52, Troy, Missouri, June 13, 2021. Margaret Ann Hickey Stockton BSE’52, East Bedford, Texas, April 4. Dolores Durnil Bean BSHE’53, Wichita, Kansas, July 9, 2021. Jentie Chappell BSE’53, Evergreen, Colorado, Nov. 10, 2021. Sally J. Garrison ★ BSSW’53, Fayetteville, Sept. 29, 2021. Billy C. Jones F’53, Keller, Texas, Nov. 10, 2021. Billie Flippo Lassiter ★ BSHE’53, Searcy, Sept. 25, 2021. Jimmie Barham ★ BSBA’54, Earle, Nov. 19, 2021. Charles E. Davis LLB’54, Springdale, Nov. 5, 2021. Wilson Kell ★ MED’54, Marianna, Aug. 4, 2021.
Muriel McCord ✪ BA’51, North Little Rock, Nov. 13, 2021.
Jack G. Newsum BSBA’54, Los Altos Hills, California, July 29, 2020.
Melva D. O’Neal ★ BSHE’51, Arlington, Texas, Oct. 30, 2021.
Anita Noel ★ BSHE’54, Lamar Heights, Missouri, July 21.
John H. Talbot III BS’51, Pine Bluff, Nov. 23, 2021.
Ed Nunnelee ★ BSBA’54, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oct. 16, 2021.
1950s
Katheryn Taylor Wilson BA’51, Castle Hayne, Aug. 6, 2021.
Bobbie Bland ✪+ BSE’50, Conroe, Texas, Oct. 15, 2021.
Carol L. Crom BSEE’52, Garland, Texas, Nov. 21, 2021.
George G. Porter ★ BSE’54, Bentonville, Sept. 14, 2021. Roy B. Shaver ★+ BSE’54 MED’60 EDD’68, Neosho, Missouri, July 14, 2021. SPRING 2022/ ARKANSAS / 55
Senior Walk
In Memoriam
Doyle Z. Williams ✪+
Photo by Russell Cothren
Doyle Zane Williams, former dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, passed away Sept. 29 in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was 81. “Doyle Williams had an everlasting influence on Walton College, the University of Arkansas, and the state,” said Matthew A. Waller, dean of the Walton College. “Because of his leadership, Walton College received a transformational grant, which propelled our college into one of the top business schools in the nation. He helped set the foundation for even larger grants for the university. These gifts have benefitted an untold number of students, faculty and staff. He was an amazing leader and mentor. He will be missed.” Williams served as dean of Walton College from 1993 through 2005. During his tenure, Walton College received a $50 million gift in 1998 from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, created its Graduate School of Business to manage its master’s and Ph.D. programs, and opened the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development, adjacent to the business administration building. With Williams’ leadership, the college launched the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 1999 to recognize business leadership within the state, opened the Office of Diversity and Inclusion — now known as the Dr. Barbara A. Lofton Office of Diversity & Inclusion — in 1994, and launched the Center for Business and Economic Research’s annual Business Forecast Luncheon in 1994. Williams was inducted into the National Accounting Hall of Fame in 2020. He believed strongly that members of any profession should give back to their profession through active service. His 192 professional offices and leadership service appointments include serving as president of the American Accounting Association, chair of the Board of Directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, president of the Administrators of Accounting Programs, and president of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy. Williams received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northwestern State University in 1960, and a master’s and Ph.D. in accounting in 1965 from Louisiana State University. Williams is survived by his wife Maynette ✪+, a son, a daughter and three granddaughters.
56 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Travis M. Smith BSCE’54, Heber Springs, Sept. 11, 2019.
Baxter F. Womack ★+ BSEE’56 MSEE’58, Austin, Texas, July 14, 2021.
Virginia Gay Van Vleck MS’54, Mountain Home, Oct. 25.
Sara Akers FS’57, Starkville, Mississippi, Jan. 22, 1996.
John R. Wood ✪ LLB’54, Naples, Florida, Aug. 4, 2021. Jane Davis Davenport BSE’55, Texarkana, July 20, 2021. Jerry Friedman BS’55, St. Louis, Missouri, May 18, 2021. Robert Charles Laurie Mitton MA’55, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1974. William R. Randall BSBA’55, Hot Springs, July 30, 2021. Sterling C. RutherfordBoyle BSE’55, Naples, Florida, Oct. 20, 2021. Floyd E. Sagely ✪ BSBA’55, Fort Smith, Sept. 21, 2021. Graham Sudbury ✪ BSJ’55, Little Rock, Sept. 4, 2021. Lula Johnson Walton MED’55, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Nov. 5, 2021. JoAnn Bowling ★ FS’56, North Little Rock, Oct. 2, 2021. Jimmy C. Cheatham BSBA’56, Magnolia, Aug. 4, 2021. Shirley Petzing Eastman ✪ BSE’56, Bella Vista, Nov. 11, 2021. Rev. Ed G. Matthews BSA’56, Little Rock, Oct. 23, 2021. Marvin Harrell Ownbey BSBA’56, Gentry, Dec. 18, 2019. David R. Perdue ✪ BA’56, Pine Bluff, Jan. 24, 2021. Charlotte Mailliard Shultz FS’56, San Francisco, California, Dec. 3, 2021.
John Day BSBA’57, Springdale, Nov. 14, 2021. Obie G. Fuller BSEE’57, Kennedale, Texas, Aug. 14. Molly A. Goodman ✪+ BA’57, Iowa City, Iowa, Nov. 11, 2021. William L. Holman Jr. BSBA’57, Little Rock, Nov. 27, 2021. John W. Nabors BSBA’57, North Little Rock, Nov. 16, 2021. Sue Patterson Pine BA’57,Hot Springs, Sept. 18, 2021. Jewel G. Rainwater BSCHE’57 MSCHE’59, Bulverde, Texas, Sept. 10, 2021. Samuel R. Sims Jr. BSBA’57, Benton, Nov. 6, 2021. Arthur E. Bartell Jr. BSBA’58, Fort Smith, Oct. 12, 2021. Donald R. Bickford BSBA’58, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Aug. 19, 2021. Jon R. Busse ✪ BSME’58, Stuart, Florida, April 5, 2021. James D. Coe BA’58 MA’63, Ocala, Florida, Nov. 30, 2021. Jerry W. Ferguson BSE’58, Bentonville, Aug. 2021. Bernal L. Green BSA’58 MS’61, Harrison, Aug. 29, 2021. Lucile Horton BSHE’58, Marshall, Oct. 23. , 2021 Warren F. Housley BA’58 EDD’71, Starkville, Mississippi, Dec. 25, 2021. John H. Kelly BSCE’58, Fayetteville, Nov. 5, 2021.
Harold M. Steelman BSE’56 MED’61, Little Rock, July 24, 2021.
Murell D. Kennedy ✪ BSA’58, White Hall, Sept. 21, 2021.
Olen Thomas BSA’56, North Little Rock, July 24, 2021.
Robert Steiner ✪+ BSA’58, Marvell, Sept. 22, 2021.
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Paula K. Taylor BSHE’58, Sherwood, Oct. 14, 2021. William S. Tucker BSEE’58, Benton, Oct. 14, 2021. Philip Tugwell BSA’58 MS’60, Fayetteville, Oct. 20, 2021. Jimmy D. Akers BSEE’59, Starkville, Mississippi, Aug. 23, 2021. Sam L. Chaffin ✪+ BSCHE’59 MSIE’60, Benton, Nov. 19, 2021. William L. Darnell Jr. BSPH’59, Little Rock, Nov. 6v. James T. Dyke BA’59, Little Rock and Palm Beach, Florida, Oct. 11, 2021. William H. Eldridge BSBA’59, Little Rock, Oct. 11, 2021. Gene C. Finley MED’59, Star City, Sept. 29, 2021.
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Willie H. Morrison Jr. BSCHE’59, Omaha, Nebraska, March 26, 2020.
Anne Hobbs ★ BA’60, Georgetown, Texas, Aug. 3, 20210.
Bill Nutter ★ BSBA’59, Hot Springs Village, July 15, 2021.
Phyllis Judkins Holleman BSHE’60, Tyler, Texas, Sept. 8, 2021.
Richard I. Patterson BARCH’59, Joplin, Missouri, Oct. 10, 2021. Bobby G. Phelan BSE’59, Yellville, Nov. 22, 2021. Sue Jobe Smith Poirier BSE’59, North Chatham, Massachusetts, Oct. 23, 2021.
Lydia Lincoln Kingsborough ★ BSHE’60, Brentwood, Tennessee, Oct. 10, 2021. Sam E. Maben BA’60, Austin, Texas, Sept. 28, 2021. James Eugene McAllister BSEE’60, West Palm Beach, Florida, Oct. 11, 2021.
Pat Bass ★ BSAGE’61, North Little Rock, June 4, 2021. Joseph Alexander Hale Sr. MED’61, Little Rock, Nov. 8, 2021. Alvin Huffman III ★ BA’61, Fairhope, Alabama, Aug. 31, 2021. William R. Kremer BSBA’61, Little Rock, Sept. 23, 2021. Jerry A. Leach ★ BSME’61, Midland, Texas, Sept. 27, 2021. Charles Curtis Mann ✪ BSME’61, New Orleans, Louisiana, Feb. 13, 2021.
Charles A. Vines Jr. ★ BSBA’59, Little Rock, Dec. 14, 2019.
Donald R. Nutt ★ BSCE’60 MSCE’61, Little Rock, Oct. 27, 2021.
1960s
Thomas L. Parkey BSEE’60, Midwest City, Oklahoma, Nov. 18, 2021.
Linda Moore McKenzie BSPH’61, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Sept. 26, 2021.
Donald R. Peacock BSCHE’60, Baltimore, Maryland, Nov. 9, 2021.
Winfred C. Mullen BSBA’61, Little Rock, Aug 12, 2021.
A. K. Pippin BSA’60 MS’61 PHD’75, Russellville, Nov. 16, 2021.
Eugene M. Page BS’61, Frederick, Maryland, Oct. 6, 2021.
Kenneth H. Thompson BSBA’60, Collinsville, Oklahoma, July 29,2015.
Sara S. Sharp ★ BA’61 MA’67 BM’82, Fayetteville, Oct. 6, 2021.
Lionel S. Burkes BSE’60, Lowell, Oct. 7, 2021. James Raymond Chaney ★ BSCE’60, Batesville, Oct. 10, 2021.
Keith B. Garton BSBA’59, Rogers, Oct. 9, 2021.
James H. Cornelius ★ BSIE’60, Shreveport, Louisiana, Dec. 19, 2018.
Carolyn McLeod ★ BSE’59, Little Rock, Aug. 3, 2021.
George Fritz ★ BSBA’60, Fort Smith, Oct. 5, 2021.
SPRING 2022/ ARKANSAS / 57
Senior Walk
Charles R. Summerford BSCE’61, DeGray, Dec. 4, 2021.
Delton H. Houston Jr. ✪ BSBA’63, Houston, Texas, Aug. 28, 2021.
Sherry Wood ✪ BSE’65 MED’91, Oklahoma City, Sept. 21, 2021.
Phyllis C. Terhune BSE’61, Nashville, Tennessee, July 10, 2021.
James W. Locke ★ BSCHE’63, Hot Springs, Oct. 22, 2021.
Joseph T. Wilson Jr. BS’61, Jonesboro, April 23, 2021.
John B. Mayes BSBA’63 LLB’66, Blytheville, Aug. 13, 2021.
Barbara Haley Chapman BSE’66, Mabelvale, Aug. 26, 2021.
Ray Coston BA’62 MS’64 PHD’69, Springdale, Nov. 21, 2021. Derrell Eugene Cox MBA’62, Greenbrier, Oct. 7, 2021. Janinne Giroir BA’62, Quitman, Oct. 17, 2021. Don K. Hall ★ BSPH’62, Benton, April 1, 2021. Clarence A. Hamilton MBA’62, North Little Rock, Oct. 4, 2021. Eugene Starke Harris ★ LLB’62, Fayetteville, Aug. 22, 2021. Cleveland M. Jones BSIM’62, Little Rock, July 12, 2021. James J. Malik Jr. BSBA’62, Morrilton, Nov. 28, 2021. Charlotte Petree Plegge ★ BA’62, Newport, Oct. 19, 2021. James Luther Rea BSEE’62, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 18, 2021. Joe Franklin Watson BSBA’62, Sherman, Texas, April 22, 2021. George W. Whitfield MA’62 EDD’64, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 27, 2021. John Garry Carroll FS’63, Fort Smith, Aug. 23, 2021. David G. Dodd ✪ BSCE’63, Horseshoe Lake, June 18, 2021. Susan McShane Grygiel BSE’63, Pine Bluff, Nov. 17, 2021. James E. Hicks BSEE’63, Burns, Tennessee, Sept. 30, 2021. Robert C. Holt ✪ BSBA’63, Austin, Texas, June 28, 2020. 58 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Suzanne Jones Ortt BA’63, Union City, California, March 4, 2019. Thomas G. Wright BSBA’63, Benton, Oct. 10, 2021. Robert D. Finch ✪ MD’64, Blacksburg, Virginia, Oct. 27, 2021. Anna R. Buffington Harrison BSE’64, Arlington, Texas, Aug. 25, 2021. Norman C. Koeller BA’64, Siloam Springs, Aug. 6, 2021. Robert L. Lanford BSBA’64, Little Rock, Oct. 20, 2021. Hershell R. Lee MED’64, Foreman, June 24, 2020. Donald L. Oglesby BSA’64, Rogers, Sept. 30, 2021. William L. Patton Jr. ✪ LLB’64, Little Rock, Oct. 21, 2021. Janice Marie Stone Smith BSE’64, Stuttgart, Oct. 4, 2021. Perry F. Smith BSE’64 MED’72, Madera, California, Aug. 13, 2021.
Carson Davis BA’66 BS’67 MS’74, Magnolia, Nov. 23, 2021.
Nonnie S. Wilson ✪ BA’67 MA’71, Eureka Springs, April 18, 2021.
Virginia V. Littlejohn MED’66, Pine Bluff, Sept. 27, 2021.
Roger G. Cunningham BSBA’68, Fayetteville, Nov. 15, 2021.
Missy Moody BA’66 MA’70, Knoxville, Tennessee, June 23, 2021.
Horace F. Grifford Jr. BSPH’68, Benton, Dec. 14, 2021.
Donald Roop ✪+ BSBA’66, Santa Ana, California, June 2, 2021.
William F. Steiner MBA’68, Palm Harbor, Florida, Nov. 11, 2021.
Bobby S. Roper BSE’66, Raleigh, North Carolina, Oct. 20, 2021.
Philip Allan Tate BA’68, Malvern, Oct. 18, 2021.
Catherine Buskirk Warren BSBA’66 MED’92, Fayetteville, May 18, 2021. Sandra Gail Wheat BA’66 MS’69, Little Rock, Aug. 27, 2021. David R. Brockmann BSBA’67, Memphis, Tennessee, Oct. 7, 2021. Tommy Burnett BSE’67 MED’69, Springfield, Missouri, July 22, 2021.
Annette A. Baim ★ BSE’65, Hot Springs, July 17, 2021.
Sherry Frazier Goodner ✪ FS’1967, Fayetteville, May 29, 2021.
Hubert McKeown Sr. MED’65, Rock Springs, Sept. 12, 2021.
Hugh A. Nutt ★ BS’67, Fordyce, July 30, 2021.
Pauline Ventrece Calloway ★ BSE’68 MED’71, Fayetteville, Nov. 6, 2021.
Ned S. Coates MA’67, Cogan Station, Pennsylvania, Jan. 6, 2019.
Ellen Yeager Cargile MED’65, Bosque, New Mexico, Aug. 27, 2021.
Anne Newell BA’67, Fayetteville, July 14, 2021.
Herbert Carl Hedstrom MED’66, Valparaiso, Indiana, Aug. 23, 2021.
James B. Terhune Jr. BSBA’64 MBA’75, Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 3, 2021.
Donald Rae Bunn BSCE’65, Little Rock, July 11, 2021.
Pat Nichols BS’67, Harrison, Nov. 12, 2021.
Betty Ann Harris ✪ BSE’67, Joplin, Missouri, June 25, 2021. David Thomas Jennings BSPH’67, Ash Flat, Dec. 9, 2021.
Karen Plumlee ★ BSHE’65, Salem, Oct. 1, 2021.
Eugene T. Kelley ★ BSBA’61 LLB’67, Rogers, Nov. 16, 2021.
Mopsy Pottorff ✪ BA’65, Niantic, Connecticut, Oct. 19, 2018.
Henry M. Meinecke ✪ MD’67, Spokane, Washington, Oct. 16, 2021.
Donald M. Thompson BA’68 MA’73, Hilton Head, South Carolina, June 5, 2021. Michael Edward Arrington BA’69 MA’70 PHD’83, Rome, Georgia, Oct. 2, 2021. Bette Bibby BSE’69, Tulsa, Oklahoma, July 20, 2021. Chuck C. Boardman EDD’69, Palm Harbor, Florida, Nov. 4, 2021. Richard E. Davis BA’69, Carbondale, Illinois, Oct. 2, 2021. Betty Lou Pugh BSE’69, Paris, Aug. 19, 2021.
1970s James P. Adcock MA’70, Arkadelphia, Sept. 4, 2021. William King Beard BA’70, Hot Springs, Sept. 9, 2021. Richard F. Detweiler BSE’70, Fort Smith, Oct. 9, 2021. Richard D. Ezell BS’70, Atlanta, Georgia, April 3, 2021. Charles S. Gibson Sr. JD’70, Dermott, Dec. 15, 2021.
Susan Alexander Keathley BS’70, Little Rock, Oct. 21, 2021. Donald J. Pennington EDD’70 BS’88, Arkadelphia, July 13, 2021. Ed W. Weisenfels BSBA’70, Greenwood, Oct. 6, 2021. Gary L. Whitby MA’70, Denton, Texas, Sept. 3, 2021. Paul Blume BSBA’71, Little Rock, Aug. 26, 2021. Ronald Fred Bond MBA’71, Hot Springs Village, Nov. 11, 2021. Marion Lee Correll MS’71, Brookville, Ohio, Sept. 25, 2021. Michael F. Fuller BSCE’71, Little Rock, July 20, 2021. Kenneth Ray Hargis BSE’71, North Little Rock, July 22, 2021. Elige Hickman MED’71 EDD’76, Evans, Georgia, Dec. 13, 2018. Mary Jolitta Konecny MED’71, St. Louis, Missouri, July 20, 2021. Ronnie McGhee BSA’71, Decatur, Oct. 12, 2021. Thomas W. McNair BSBA’71, Fayetteville, Nov. 11, 2021. Bill McVey Jr. ✪+ BSEE’71, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sept. 3, 2021. Beverly A. Perchan BA’71 MED’74, Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 20, 2021. Jane Nesset Senkbeil MA’71, Waukesha, Wisconsin, Dec. 20, 2021.
Fred K. Noggle EDD’72, Conway, Dec. 7, 2021. John F. Scott II BSME’72, Thornton, Oct. 19, 2021. Timothy D. Webster BSE’72, Grove, Oklahoma, June 30, 2021. Kathleen Beckworth MED’73, Hernando, Mississippi, Oct. 14, 2021. Robert A. Clarke BSME’73, Rogers, Dec. 23, 2021. Robert L. Ferrell BSE’73, Fayetteville, Sept. 8, 2021. Lee Hankins ★ BA’73, Homer, July 27, 2021. Bill Hodge JD’73, Bentonville, Nov. 2, 2021. Benita Terry Jones BA’73 JD’76, Little Rock, Sept. 7, 2021. Jack McHaney BSBA’73, Rogers, Oct. 22, 2021. John C. Simmons BSE’73 MED’74, Pine Bluff, Dec. 4, 2021. Michael Lloyd Welborn BSIE’73, Little Rock, July 15, 2021. Dickie J. White BSBA’73, Fort Smith, Sept. 11, 2021. Kathryn H. Widder BSE’73, Fayetteville, Nov. 3, 2021. Betty Jean Chapman MED’74, Little Rock, Oct. 5, 2021. Carl William Cole BS’74, James Island, South Carolina, Nov. 22, 2021. Terry C. Cole BSA’74 MS’77, Dardanelle, Oct. 20, 2021. Larry P. Davis BSPH’74, Fayetteville, Nov. 1, 2021. Danny H. Dorman BSA’74, Prairie Grove, Dec. 9, 2021.
Tom Erman BSBA’72, Springdale, Nov. 27, 2021.
Nick D. Elkins BSBA’74, Fayetteville, Oct. 21, 2021.
John W. Etherly MED’72, Pine Bluff, Dec. 21, 2021.
Lynn Schuhknecht Firmin ✪ BSE’74, Plano, Aug. 25, 2021.
Cleatous Barry Hall MED’72, Monticello, July 15, 2021. Kathleen D. Lordan BSE’72, Sebring, Florida, Dec. 24, 2021.
Bobby Graves MED’74, Russellville, Aug. 26, 2021. Sharon Dee Igou MED’74, Bella Vista, June 20, 2017.
In Memoriam
Alicia “Lisa” Faye Lee B.A.’91 Lisa Lee, senior vice president of creative and content for the Academy of Country Music, died August 21, 2021, from brain cancer. She was 52. Born Alicia Faye Young in Cabot, Arkansas, on Dec. 24, 1968, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. After graduation, she began her career in journalism at the Cabot Star-Herald. Early on, she transitioned to broadcast journalism, working with local affiliates and focusing on entertainment news. She had a passion for country music and eventually served as a reporter and producer at TNN Country News based in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1995-1999. In 2000, Lee joined CMT and CMT.com as a news correspondent and producer. During this time, she also wrote and produced the Prism Award-winning special “Addicted to Addiction,” as well as other TV news specials. In 2004, Lee relocated to Los Angeles and became the Hollywood-based correspondent and West Coast news bureau chief for CMT Insider. In 2007, Lee accepted a new challenge from the Academy of Country Music and became the lead staff producer. She was the senior vice president of creative and content. She oversaw all video production as well as the design, creation and editing of ACM logos, digital and printed materials including ACM Tempo magazine, the ACM Awards program book and both the ACM and ACM Lifting Lives websites. She also served as the liaison with CBS television for the annual ACM Awards and was the producer of the Academy of Country Music Honors, a live industry event dedicated to celebrating the Academy’s special award honorees, off-camera category winners, and ACM Industry and Studio Recording Awards winners. Lee wrote and created the coffee table book This Is Country: A Backstage Pass to the Academy of Country Music Awards celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ACM Awards in 2014. Lee was a member of the Writers Guild of America. She was also a Leadership Music alum. Lee is survived by her husband, Phillip Douglas “Doug” Lee II B.S.B.A.’93, her parents, a daughter and a son.
Photo submitted
Richard F. Griswold BSCE’70, Haughton, Louisiana, May 31, 2021.
Photo: Courtesy Academy of Country Music
SPRING 2022/ ARKANSAS / 59
Senior Walk
In Memoriam
Photo submitted
Wayne Hachenberg ✪ B.S.E.E. ’79 Alumni chapter leaders and members from around the country are saddened by the loss of longtime Austin Chapter leader Wayne D. Hachenberg. Hachenberg passed away on Jan. 2 in Driftwood, Texas. Hachenberg was born on a military base in Newfoundland, Canada in 1952. He attended the University of Arkansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1979. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Hachenberg was a longtime member of the Austin Alumni Chapter and had served on its board in a variety of capacities over the last 20 years, most recently serving as its scholarship chair. He was one of the leading forces in the establishment of the Austin Chapter Kimberly Stine Endowed Memorial Scholarship in 2001. Hachenberg was the founder of the Austin SEC Club. He is survived by his wife Lynn Hachenberg ✪, a son, a daughter and five grandchildren. Sharron J. Leslie BA’74, Fayetteville, Aug. 31, 2021.
Jane L. Treat ✪+ EDD’76, Fayetteville, Sept. 19, 2021.
Patricia Gray Pitts ADN’74, Fayetteville, Oct. 27, 2021.
Ann G. Warren BSHE’76, Sherwood, Oct. 21, 2021.
Ronald M. Ross ★ BA’74 MED’88 EDS’90 EDD’92, Fort Smith, Nov. 11, 2021.
Suzie Winton DeLozier BSDH’77, Fayetteville, Sept. 1, 2021.
Ronald A. Coleman JD’75, Pine Bluff, Oct. 7, 2020. John Campbell Davis BA’75 BSBA’77, Pocahontas, March 13, 2021. Paul D. Medley BA’75, Hot Springs, Aug. 15, 2021. George M. Bruen ★ MS’76, Fairfield Bay, Aug. 18, 2021. Harvey Dean Chambliss FS’76, Pine Bluff, Dec. 15, 2021.
Clyde B. Garrett Jr. EDD’77, Spiro, July 8, 2021. Larry J. Petroff MSE’77, Watkinsville, Georgia, Nov. 17, 2021. Jeffrey M. Teague BSBA’77, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Sept. 26, 2021. Keith Vaughan JD’77, Houston, Texas, Dec. 16, 2018.
Walt E. Greene PHD’76, Edinburg, Texas, Sept. 19, 2021.
Mary Pat Cullum ★ MED’78, Conway, Aug. 8, 2021.
Alice Brewer McConnell MED’76, West Fork, Dec. 10, 2021.
Fred J. Derwin IV BARCH’78, Winslow, July 11, 2021.
60 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Fred W. Hagemeier MED’78 EDD’82, Fort Smith, Nov. 21, 2021. Gregory J. Mullins BA’78 JD’83, Danville, Alabama, Sept. 28, 2021. Tommy Joe Comstock MED’79, Cabot, Oct. 9, 2021. Mark Joel Giles ADN’79, Springdale, Sept. 18, 2021. Wayne D. Hachenberg ✪ BSEE’79, Driftwood, Texas, Jan. 2, 2021. Ruth A. McCorkle BSE’79, Russellville, Oct. 15, 2021. Larry D. Morse II BA’79, Merced, California, Sept. 16, 2021. Elizabeth Ralls Peters BSEE’79, Memphis, Tennessee, Sept. 29, 2021. Conrad N. Sawyer BA’79 BS’86, Fayetteville, Dec. 4, 2021. Kathleen M. Ward BSBA’79, Lowell, Aug. 4, 2021.
1980s John M. Mills BSA’80 MED’94, Farmington, Oct. 5, 2021. Jerald Norton Jr. ✪+ BSCE’80, Bentonville, Aug. 31, 2021. Frederick Wesley Tollette BA’80, Little Rock, Dec. 3, 2021. John R. VanWinkle JD’80, Fort Smith, July 24, 2021. Patricial P. Goode MED’81, Cabot, Oct. 9, 2021. Mark L. Pozzi BSEE’81, Omaha, Nebraska, Jan. 29, 2018. Frank Michael Soos Jr. MFA’81, Fairbanks, Alaska, Aug. 24, 2021. Jerry Dean Villines BSBA’81, Bella Vista, Aug. 27, 2021.
Oma L. Blackwell EDS’82, Fayetteville, Aug. 15, 2021. Dianne Boyd JD’82, Fayetteville, Oct. 19, 2021. Ardeen Bryant MED’82, Little Rock, Sept. 30, 2021. Gretchen B. Gearhart BA’82, La Grange, Illinois, Aug. 5, 2021. Michael Gene Gunn EDS’82, Clarksville, July 9, 2004. Donald Houldcroft MS’82, Newington, Connecticut, Oct. 7, 2019. Mark Alan Luker BSBA’82, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nov. 12, 2021. Gloria A. Minor MED’82, Birmingham, Alabama, Aug. 23, 2021. Martha G. Park MS’82, Lexington, Kentucky, Nov. 18, 2021. Naoto Sekiguchi BARCH’82, Fayetteville, Sept. 2021. Peggy Carey MED’83, Little Rock, Nov. 24, 2021. Derrick A. Curtis MS’83, Coppell, Texas, Jan. 30, 2019. James C. Howser BSME’83, North Little Rock, Sept. 4, 2021. Stephen W. Mackey BA’83, Little Rock, July 23, 2021. Hoong K. Chow BSBA’84 MBA’85, Felton, Delaware, Sept. 12, 2021. Jackie Gaithe BSE’84 JD’02, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Sept. 4, 2021. Gerald Armond Johnson EDS’84, White Hall, Nov. 13, 2021. Lynn Billings FS’85, Denver Colorado, May 3, 2021. Ruth M. Amos Box AS’85, Fayetteville, Oct. 7, 2021.
Daniel Lynn Wyatt BS’81, Fayetteville, Nov. 23, 2021.
Lynne M. Miller BSBA’85, Makawao, Hawaii, April 27, 2021.
Stanley L. Allison AS’82, Springdale, Aug. 26, 2021.
Donna L. Sparks MED’85, Springdale, Nov. 12, 2021.
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: 10101 Don Cox ’57 10102 Ruth Ann Cox 10103 Larry Black ’58 10104 Betty C. Black 10105 John C. Auffet ’67 10106 Shirley F. Auffet 10107 John H. Lindsey ’91 10108 Megan R. Lindsey 10109 Dr. Chuck Fehlig 10110 Suzy Fehlig 10111 Daria Wineland ’71, ’73 10112 John R. Porton 10113 Andrew V. Pisechko ’16 10114 Madison E. Hurley ’21 10115 Don A. Ringler Jr. ’04 10116 Danielle M. Ringler 10117 Shirley Montgomery 10118 Darla Lee Marion ’11 10119 John David Marion 10120 Patrick Dennis Bowen ’08 10121 Lisa Benge ’81 10122 John J. Benge 10123 Marguerite Pomfret Farber ’66 10124 Peter Goodwin Sykes 10125 Kay E. Marak ’76 10126 Spenser J. Boan ’12 10127 John Thomas Peterson ’96 10128 Beverly Pitts Bear ’70 10129 Rose Farrar Burns ’19 10130 Dr. Mark Stacy Newman ’74 10131 Ningwen Chen 10132 Tom D. Ferguson II ’77 10133 Jennifer M. Ferguson 10134 Paul David Bartlett ’90 10135 Nanci Hinds-Bartlett ’80 10136 Matthew L. James ’92 10137 Lynann Tullos Hill ’85 10138 Kenny Hill 10139 Dr. John E. Hearnsberger ’69 10140 Gail Hearnsberger 10141 Bill Joseph Adams ’08 10142 Constance Renee Petros 10143 Melissa Spratt Waldron
’01 10144 Jud H. Copeland ’67 10145 Irene G. Mauss ’80 10146 Daniel H. Mauss 10147 Lynn Buck ’91 10148 Lee Buck 10149 Gail A. Abramson ’59 10150 Parker Fiscus ’21 10151 CeDale Smith ’16 10152 Chassidy S. HurstSmith ’16 10153 Jim Lewis III ’82, ’87 10154 Diana Lewis ’82, ’87 10155 Jeff A. Miller ’94 10156 Ginny Freeman Miller ’94 10157 Elizabeth Emmanuel ’03, ’05 10158 Wayne D. Hachenberg ’79 10159 Lynn Hachenberg 10160 Gary Wayne Crain ’07 10161 Bonnie Faye Crain ’94 10162 Dr. Katelyn Bobbitt ’11 10163 Dr. N. Scott Bobbitt ’10 10164 Roderick E. Price ’82 10165 Exie Price 10166 Tyler Roy Mitchell ’89, ’91 10167 Penny Marie Wagner ’97, ’99 10168 Jacqueline C. Waldhoer ’11 10169 Brenda Entler Rush ’84 10170 Dean Allen Rush 10171 Dewey G. Glasscock ’51 10172 Austin Bareis ’18 10173 Kristine E. Prentice ’05, ’08 10174 Sarah E. Holt ’11 10175 Dr. Tiffany C. Raymond ’99 10176 Aaron Raymond 10177 Dixie Kay Shrum ’96 10178 Dr. Steven Mark Shrum ’95 10179 Dr. Inza Lee Fort ’82 10180 Jen Boyer ’19 10181 Derek S. Wilson ’95,
’11 10182 Krisha M. Wilson 10183 Steve Malcom ’86 10184 Carol Malcom 10185 Mary Hosch Line ’95, ’16 10186 Keith F. Line ’97, ’98 10187 Doo Myung Kim ’73 10188 Yoon Kim 10189 Jeffrey D. Claunts ’87 10190 Pamela K. Claunts 10191 Janice Huddleston ’83 10192 Roger Huddleston 10193 David A. Gilbert ’80 10194 Bonnie Gilbert 10195 Kent Alan Gray ’87 10196 Rachel Anne Cash ’95 10197 Dr. Trace B. Cash 10198 DavidM. Harrison,Esquire ’84, ’87 10199 Kathleen Keisner Harrison ’85 10200 Sherry Dodd 10201 Brittany R. Hale 10202 Les Carnine ’69 10203 Linda Carnine 10204 Robert J. Schepers ’20 10205 Ernest Cunningham ’60 10206 Cathy Cunningham 10207 Amanda J. Cockrum ’04 10208 Chancy Cockrum 10209 Clayton Rust Turney ’90 10210 Stacy Wilson Turney ’91 10211 Benny J. Barbour ’61 10212 Carmen Rose ’90 10213 Britt Carlin Feik ’81 10214 Bobbie Lee Fontenot ’81 10215 Lisa Ann Fontenot ’79 10216 Lenna Moreland Quinn ’84 10217 Dr. Philip F. Rice ’63, ’65 10218 Jane Brady Rice ’63 10219 Richard E. Simmons ’82 10220 Carla Simmons 10221 Lisy McKinnon ’97 10222 Leonard McKinnon
10223 Victoria Lynn Kilgore ’78, ’79 10224 Kenneth W. Kilgore 10225 Bobby Childers ’95 10226 Garrick D. Hildebrand ’04, ’10 10227 Kim Forrest ’81 10228 Bryan K. Huntsman ’89 10229 Carolyn M. Huntsman ’89 10230 Jennifer Flippin Coleman ’96 10231 Adam Barton Coleman ’95 10232 Yancey C. Bowen ’11 10233 Ginger Bowen ’98 10234 Dr. Nicole Scogin ’08 10235 Adrienne Hanna ’81 10236 Bill Hanna 10237 Zachary Spero ’20 10238 Stan Martin Jr. ’61 10239 Ann Martin ’62 10240 Randy Lawson ’70 10241 Michelle Lee Bell ’19 10242 Latanyua Taylor Robinson ’92 10243 James E. Robinson 10244 Chance S. McCune 10245 Morgyn B. Sallie ’21 10246 Jack C. Chalmers 10247 Jacob M. Kulangara ’78 10248 Lynn Alan Yandell ’92 10249 Melissa A. Yandell 10250 Peter Thomas Bannon 10251 Bailey Moll ’13 10252 Rebecca A. Moll 10253 Etta Hall Dickinson ’99 10254 Lee Rush ’91 10255 Kim Rush 10256 Gregory L. Baltz Sr. ’80 10257 Mary Triffet Baltz ’79 10258 Kendra D. Curry ’07 10259 Lee A. Curry 10260 Brandi Nichole Gibson ’14 10261 Michelle L. Hodgson ’92 10262 Mark Stodola ’74 10263 Jo Ellen Stodola
SPRING 2022/ ARKANSAS / 61
Senior Walk
Nick Aston MED’86, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Aug. 15, 2021.
David M. Bauer BSE’91, Bentonville, June 4, 2013.
Mark Bowlin BSBA’86 JD’89, Hot Springs, Dec. 16, 2021.
Katie Lyle Blake MED’91, Star City, Aug. 29, 2021.
Jill P. Dufour BSE’86 MED’95, Bixby, Oklahoma, Oct. 18, 2021. Ronald Scott Ezell BSE’86, Mountain Home, Oct. 2, 2021. Jerry Lynn Franks Jr. BSBA’86, Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 9, 2021. Alvin Howard Rebsamen MS’86, North Little Rock, Oct. 29, 2021. Lyle Randall Smith BA’86, Fayetteville, Oct. 20, 2021. Eric R. Vaughn BSBA’86, Rogers, Oct. 27, 2021. Bernard Knox Youngblood MED’86, Lake Village, Sept. 26, 2021. Dennis Lichti ✪+ BSA’87, Dry Fork, July 30, 2021. John William Rago EDD’87, Fayetteville, April 14, 2021.
Alicia Faye Lee BA’91, Los Angeles, California, Aug. 21, 2021. Beverly Jane Kannady Woodward MED’91, Fayetteville, Dec. 12, 2021. Michael Johnston Carey BA’92, Fayetteville, Sept. 22, 2021. Charles Fred Smith MS’93, Plano, Texas, July 30, 2021. David Franklin Ruff PHD’93, Travelers Rest, South Carolina, Oct. 6, 2021. Joe Burle Simpson FS’93, Rogers, Oct. 19, 2021. George L. Stephens III BSBA’93, Fayetteville, Sept. 21, 2021. Harold Thomas Copeland MBA’94, Fort Smith, Aug. 10, 2020.
Joy B. Ross MED’88, Van Buren, Aug. 31, 2021.
Gregory Sean Dawson BSBA’94, Pea Ridge, Sept. 18, 2021.
Mona Lou Rothwell MED’88, Hot Springs, July 27, 2021.
Kristy D. Glorfeld PHD’94, Kansas City, Missouri, Dec. 30, 2020.
Pamela K. Shaffer PHD’88, Hays, Kansas, July 29, 2021. Terri L. Stricker BSE’88 MA’95 PHD’00, Farmington, Dec. 10, 2021. Russell B. Chitwood MS’89, Cabot, Oct. 8, 2021. Sara Jo Fendley MED’89, Leslie, Nov. 16, 2021. Sharon Annette Garman MED’89 MS’00, Palm Springs, California, Dec. 11, 2021. Martin O’Neil Jordan BA’89, Fayetteville, Dec. 28, 2020. Kelly Billings Taylor BS’89, Loveland, Colorado, Sept. 26, 2021.
1990s Cathy L. Burge BA’90, Pocohontas, Sept. 23, 2019. 62 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
Vickie Claflin EDD’96, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sept. 2, 2021. Donald Wayne Duty FS’76, North Little Rock, Nov. 11, 2021. Raoul Clinton Foster MED’96, Charlottesville, Virginia, Jan. 24, 2021.
Mary Frances Mallett MED’06, Harrison, Aug. 14, 2021. Linda K. Goodrich PHD’08, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Oct. 22, 2021.
Michael Lewis Lejong ✪ BARCH’96, Greenwood, July 19, 2021
Jennifer Michelle Johnson BA’07 MSW’08, Fort Smith, Aug. 10, 2021.
Timothy Ray Poteete MA’96, Sterling, Oklahoma, Dec. 13, 2021.
Meagan LeAnne Fritts BA’15, Austin, Texas, Oct. 2, 20211.
Marlene Louise Waterson FS’96, West Fork, Oct. 22, 2021.
2010s
Patti W. Beavers FS’97, Elkins, Sept. 7, 2021. Sean Anthony Harrell BSBA’97, Sherwood, Oct. 31, 2021. Amanda K. Brewer BA’98 BM’03, Rogers, Sept. 27, 2021. Mary Jane Keel ★ EDD’98, Fort Smith, March 21, 2021. Robin Rene’ Rogers BA’98, Springdale, July 8, 2021.
Brian A. King PHD’94, Prairie Grove, Aug. 26, 2021. Daryl Don McGehee BSBA’94, Cave Springs, Sept. 18, 2021.
Bennie Charles Lockhart FS’99, Camden, Aug. 18, 2021.
Michael Todd Pace BSBA’94, Carthage, Missouri, Dec. 17, 2021.
Robert Lee Walker FS’99, Pea Ridge, Nov. 4, 2021.
2000s Richard P. Calhoun FS’00, Omaha, Nebraska, Sept. 23, 2021.
Jennifer Leigh Blankenbeckler FS’95, Santa Barbara, California, Aug. 9, 2021.
Evelyn E. Yates FS’01, Pine Bluff, Oct. 4, 2021.
Lloyd Fink ★ MED’95, Fayetteville, Sept. 1, 2021.
Brock Earl Gossett FS’02, Fayetteville, Oct. 2, 2021.
Heath Wade Lance BSIE’95, Fayetteville, Nov. 4, 2021.
Patrick Theon Niederkorn MS’02, Rector, Dec. 1, 2021.
Rebecca Salome Chavez PHD’96, Springdale, Oct. 14, 2021.
Erica Nicole Williams BA’05 MED’10, Little Rock, Dec. 19, 2021.
Lynn Franklin Garst FS’96, Rogers, Sept. 25, 2021.
John D. Briggs FS’99, Rossville, Tennessee, July 17, 2021.
Vince R. Shirley BSA’94, Elkins, Oct. 2, 2021.
Marcus W. Dorman FS’03, Cave Springs, Aug. 16, 2021.
Judith Robertson PHD’02, Fayetteville, Nov. 22, 2021.
Kendall C. Hunter MBA’10, Mulberry, Jan. 23, 2021. William T. Jean BS’12, Texarkana, Texas, Aug. 30, 2021.
Friends
Douglas Arthur Albertson ★, Bella Vista, Aug. 26, 2021. Carl Bear ★, Harrison, May 2, 2021. Glyn S. Crane ✪+, Little Rock, July 14, 2021. Frances Welch Farrell ✪+, Brinkley, Sept. 17, 2021. William P. Huddleston ★, Batesville, Oct. 23, 2021. Michael Roberts ★, Sherwood, Sept. 7, 2021. Edward A. Ross ★, Fayetteville, Nov. 30, 2021. Doyle Z. Williams ✪+, Silver Spring, Maryland, Sept. 29, 2021.
(Kyle Quinn continued from page 28)
OFFICERS President Ron Rainey ✪ ’91, ’93, ’01, Little Rock, AR President-Elect Don Walker ✪+ ’74, Fayetteville, AR Treasurer Kristen Collier Wright ✪ ’98, Forrest City, AR BOARD OF DIRECTORS 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 Class of 2024 Amy May Hopper ✪ ’15, Belton, MO Chris Johnson ✪ ’93, Little Rock, AR Bobby Jones ✪+ ’84, Savannah, GA Faheem Khan ✪ ’91, Lewisville, TX Connie Lewis Lensing ✪ ’74, ’77, Memphis, TN Nathan Looney ✪ ’09, Little Rock, AR Courtney Norton ✪ ’07, Fayetteville, AR Oliver Sims ✪ ’85, Carrollton, TX Kristine Stover ✪+ ’81, Tulsa, OK Cedric Williams ✪ ’93, Forrest City, AR 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 ✪ Interim Director of Marketing and Communications Lisy McKinnon ✪ BA’97 Lisa Ault ★ BSBA’94, Associate Director of Business Operations; Catherine Baltz ✪+ BS’92, MED’07, Assistant Director of Communications; Tim Barker ★, Fiscal Support Analyst; Shanedra Barnes ✪, Assistant Director of Revenue Management; Jen Boyer ★ BSBA’19, Special Events Coordinator; Collin Brunner ★ BSHES’10, Assistant Director of Membership Experience; Beth Dedman BA’20, Digital Media Specialist; 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; Katie Leonard ★ B.S.B.A.’19, Alumni Scholarship Assistant; Elaine Olson ★; Administrative Specialist-Alumni Programs and Special Events; Emily Piper ★, Administrative Specialist; Patti Sanders ✪+ BSA’08, Associate Director of Alumni Scholarships; Julie Simpson ★, Associate Director of Facilities and Special Events
Deep learning is a subset of machine learning, which uses computer algorithms to extract meaningful information from data, using neural networks inspired by the organization of neurons that make up the human brain. Deep learning uses computer algorithms to train neural networks with multiple layers, which enables the algorithm to learn more complex tasks. The deep learning approach will enable Quinn to provide rapid quantitative analysis of chronic skin wounds. “Through deep learning we can train a computer algorithm to delineate wound regions accurately and very quickly,” Quinn said. “This will greatly speed up our analysis and remove the subjectivity and bias that is inherent when you ask humans to assess images and identify features.”
Quinn and Jake Jones, Quinn’s former doctoral student, have published preliminary results on the use of deep learning to identify wound features in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. Jones, who earned his Ph.D. and now works as a product manager for an optics manufacturing company, performed most of the preliminary work. In addition to Zhan, Quinn will collaborate with leaders in the wound healing field, including Aristidis Veves, research director of the Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, and Marjana Tomic Canic, professor of dermatology at the University of Miami. By combining wound image data from multiple labs, the team will have a more diverse set of data to rigorously train neural networks that can broadly work for different kinds of wounds.
Correction on Name A story about Walton College incorrectly referred to Sam Walton’s widow as Alice. His widow was, of course, the late Helen Walton, and their daughter is Alice Walton.
senators had pointedly said they wouldn’t fund a homosexual organization. University administrators rejected appeals from the association, maintaining that they wouldn’t interfere with Associated Student Government decisions.
Correction on Profile A story in the Winter edition of Arkansas magazine made errors of fact and omission in a profile about Sandra Kurjiaka, a former director of the Arkansas ACLU. While director, she oversaw the attorneys who argued a First Amendment lawsuit on behalf of the Gay and Lesbian Students Association against the University of Arkansas, but she was not the lawyer making their arguments at trial. Attorney Clayton Blackstock filed the suit on behalf of the student association and represented it in the trial, which included testimony from president of the association, Linda Lovell, and its vice president. The case turned on whether the Associated Student Government had discriminated against the Gay and Lesbian Students Association in its decision to withhold funding from the association and whether the University of Arkansas was by extension also discriminating against the association.
In U.S. Western District Court of Arkansas, the federal judge, Franklin Waters, heard the case and ruled that the University of Arkansas is responsible for overseeing such funding but that no discrimination had occurred in the case. On appeal to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, a decision written by Judge Morris Arnold overturned the lower court’s ruling, saying: “In brief, we hold that a public body that chooses to fund speech or expression must do so evenhandedly, without discriminating among recipients on the basis of their ideology. The University need not supply funds to student organizations; but once having decided to do so, it is bound by the First Amendment to act without regard to the content of the ideas being expressed.”
The Gay and Lesbian Students Association had sought an appropriation of $164.36 to show the documentary film Before Stonewall in 1985 but was turned down by the Associated Student Government. They were the only student organization turned down for funding, and student
The decision in Gay and Lesbian Students Association v. Gohn remains a landmark legal decision for the advancement of LGBTQ rights in Arkansas, changing the administrative oversight of funding decisions on campus and opening a path to greater tolerance and acceptance of gay and lesbian students at the University of Arkansas. The editor regrets that the errors were made in these two stories.
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Photo by Chieko Hara
Last Look
A Tangible Embodiment
East Entrance to Vol Walker Named in Honor of Wali Caradine B.Arch.’74 Students, faculty and staff gathered around the Peace Fountain in March to celebrate the naming of the east entrance of Vol Walker Hall in honor of Wallace “Wali” Caradine, the first Black student to graduate from the School of Architecture, now the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. “Wali Caradine’s legacy exemplifies the value of openness, accessibility and courage to us all, but perhaps most especially to all of our students,” said Peter MacKeith, dean of the Fay Jones School. “Architecture and design both reflects and shapes our society and our culture. It is therefore necessary for architecture and design education to be open, accessible and diverse in its participants and in its approaches, which also brings immeasurable creative benefits.”
64 / ARKANSAS / SPRING 2022
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unlimited on all other purchases
Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in these combined purchases each quarter, then earn 1% thereafter.
To apply for a credit card, please visit bofa.com/arkansasalumni This offer is unique to this solicitation. Our credit card offers may vary and this offer may not be available elsewhere. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now. For information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of this card or to apply, please visit bofa.com/arkansasalumni Residents of the US and its territories only. See full disclosure for details.
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Bonus Cash Rewards Offer. You will qualify for $200 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of purchase transactions totaling at least $1,000 (exclusive of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit 1 bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to customers opening a new account in response to this offer and will not apply to requests to convert existing accounts. Your account must be open with active charging privileges in order to receive this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8–12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance. The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither we, nor our affiliates, provide tax advice.
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Mobile Banking. Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. By opening and/or using these products from Bank of America, you’ll be providing valuable financial support to Arkansas Alumni Association. This credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association, and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. The Contactless Symbol and Contactless Indicator are trademarks owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC.
©2022 Bank of America Corporation
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Members, alumni, friends and family – anyone can travel with R azorbacks on Tour.
Discover the Canadian Rockies by Rail August 3-9, 2022
On board Rocky Mountaineer's all-dome fleet, travel through otherwise inaccessible terrain to unlock the unparalleled beauty of British Columbia, Alberta, and the Canadian Rockies. Journey through inspiring mountain vistas, and revel in the grand landscapes of some of Canada’s most remarkable national parks.
Journey Through Britain: England, Scotland & Wales
Journey to South Africa October 2-17, 2022
August 6-19, 2022 On this wide-ranging tour we travel from city to country and back again: from gracious Edinburgh to England’s legendary Lake District, from spectacular Snowdonia to the rural Cotswolds and Roman Bath, ending in cosmopolitan London. As we see history and legend come to life on our journey, we also enjoy the region’s timeless hospitality.
Join an exceptional adventure that reveals the raw beauty, wildlife and unparalleled wonders of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. From vibrant Cape Town, follow a compelling route to Robben Island, majestic Victoria Falls and fascinating towns that hold powerful history lessons.
For details on the r azorbacks on tour trips
Visit: www.arkansasalumni.org/travel or Contact: travel@arkansasalumni.org or 800-775-3465. SPRING 2022/ ARKANSAS /
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