The University of Arkansas at Monticello
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A New Way To Teach Algebra
CHANCELLOR’S | M ESSAGE
Webster’s
defines success as “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Since
becoming UAM’s Chancellor in 2016, my primary aim has been to take the necessary steps needed to create a learning environment that will allow our students to achieve academic success. One of those steps is the creation of a UAM Degree Pathway Plan. I believe this plan will redefine the meaning of open access and direct students, based on their test scores, to the degree or technical certificate entry point most likely to ensure their academic success. The plan is being developed by the Division of Academic Affairs – with input from faculty leadership, Deans, the Office of Enrollment Management and the Executive Council – and will be forwarded to the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees in the fall.
We have also formed a new group, called Connecting the
Student Success Dots, to review procedures and processes within student services to help students move from enrollment to graduation to alumni status in a fluid and efficient manner. Another group, The Student Success Collaborative, is working to improve student advising and is working with various offices on campus to install scanners to track student visits. The most visible manifestation of our student success plan is the Student Success Center, which is nearing completion and will be dedicated this fall. I am excited by the prospect of bringing together under one roof programs that directly impact student success. But student success is about more than plans or work groups or even buildings. It’s about
ON THE COVER:
UAM’s 56th Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Tommy Roebuck, on the deck of his Hot Springs home. For information, you may contact: Michael Owens, Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Communication Strategies (870) 460-1028 (office) (870) 460-1324 (FAX) owens@uamont.edu Lisa Jo Ross, Alumni and Development Officer (870) 460-1028 (office) rosslj@uamont.edu If you want to find out what’s happening on campus, or want to contact us about something significant that’s happened in your life, check out our website at www.uamont.edu. Parents, if your son or daughter attended UAM and is no longer living at this address, please notify our office of his or her new address. Thank you.
creating something lasting, an infrastructure we can build upon yearly to achieve student success and enrollment sustainability. I am grateful for the support of alumni, donors, friends of the institution, faculty and students as we move toward our goal of making UAM a model open access institution dedicated to student success. Best Wishes, Karla Hughes, Ph.D. Professor and Chancellor
Get your UAM News on Twitter (@ UAMNews), on Facebook (UAM News and UAM Alumni & Friends) or from WeevilConnect.
UAM MAGAZINE
FEATURES SUMMER 2018
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A Fortunate Choice
Sixty years ago, Tommy Roebuck took the advice of a legendary Arkansas A&M professor and never looked back. UAM’s 56th Distinguished Alumnus reflects on a life well-lived.
INSIDE Chancellor’s Letter | IFC Campus News | 2-9 Sports | 20-21
Tech Campus News | 22-23 Foundation Fund | 24
Alumni News | 25-27
Sports Association List | 28-29 UAM MAGAZINE is published three times a year by the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the UAM Alumni Association, and the UAM Foundation Fund. Jim Brewer, Editor Director of Media Services (870) 460-1274 (office) (870) 460-1974 (fax) brewer@uamont.edu
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Call Her Madame President
Problem Solving
Nearing Completion
Dana Brooks Christy heads a national lobbying organization for the pet food industry.
A new way of teaching College Algebra has students succeeding in a difficult subject.
The University Police Station and Student Success Center are nearing completion.
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Highly Ranked UAM’s online master’s degree in special education receives national recognition
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THE MASTER OF EDUCATION degree (special education track) at the University of Arkansas at Monticello has been rated the 11th best online program of its type in the nation by Top Masters’ in Education, which rated the top 50 programs nationwide. UAM was one of two Arkansas universities ranked in the top 50. The other was Arkansas State University, which was listed as 13th. “This speaks well for our program and the opportunities available through our online program offerings,” said Dr. Peggy Doss, vice chancellor for academic affairs. “This is an indication of both the strength of our master’s degree program in special education and the commitment of our education faculty to provide a program comparable to the best programs nationwide.” Kim Level, interim dean of the School of Education, called the ranking “a valida-
tion of the work of our faculty and the school’s mission to provide quality graduate-level programs. I want to commend Deborah Givhan, our special education coordinator, for her work in creating this program. The people we are graduating are difference-makers in the lives of students with special needs. It’s gratifying to know we’ve had a part in preparing them.” In ranking UAM 11th nationally, Top
Masters’ in Education cited the availability of scholarships and the success of the program’s graduates, including a 100 percent pass rate on the Praxis examination. The top 10 programs were Indiana University, Michigan State, Western Governors University, Florida State, Ball State, Fort Hays State, Georgetown College, Graceland University Lamoni, Bemidji State, and Purdue.
John Davis Appointed To Rural Development Commission Dr. John Davis, director of university relations and assistant professor of political science, has been appointed by Governor Asa Hutchinson to a five-year term on the 11-member Arkansas Rural Development Commission (ARDC). The ARDC is a group of citizens from rural areas throughout Arkansas charged with oversight of the programs of the Department of Rural Services (DRS). Seven ARDC members are appointed by the Governor, two by the Senate President Pro-Tem, and two by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The primary mission of the ARDC and DRS is to enhance the quality of life in rural Arkansas. Davis, who joined the UAM faculty in 2015, holds bachelor’s and master’s of arts degrees from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. “I’m honored that Governor Hutchinson has chosen me to be part of the ARDC,” said Davis. “The Commission, in cooperation with the DRS, plays an important role in the lives of the people of this state. With 82 percent of Arkansans living in rural areas, it’s vital that we are responsive to the needs of our rural communities.” The DRS, formerly the Office of Rural Advocacy, is a state agency charged with assisting rural communities with a population of 20,000 and under. Established under Act 302 of 1991, DRS assists local agencies in rural areas with information and technical assistance. One focus of the agency is to be a source of information for rural citizens and provide support services to rural communities. DRS publishes a quarterly newsletter that covers rural policies and topics. The agency also hosts an annual conference and local forums around the state throughout the course of the year.
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Spotlighting Pride & Success
Student Success Award Aug. 2016 UAM Library Staff Sept. 2016 Student Success Team Oct. 2016 Bryan Fendley Nov. 2016 Alice Lindsey Feb. 2017 CIS Faculty Mar. 2017 John Davis Apr. 2017 Sharon Cantrell Sept. 2017 Anissa Ross Oct. 2017 Janie Carter Nov. 2017 Suzanna Guizar Feb. 2018 Treshai Hudspeth Mar. 2018 Algebra Rev. Team Apr. 2018 Dr. Seungyeon Lee
Awards recognize faculty and staff who go the extra mile to foster student success and pride in the University.
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ONE OF THE MANY CHANGES INITIATED by Chancellor Karla Hughes since assuming the role of UAM’s Chancellor in 2016 was the creation of two awards to be presented periodically through the school year to faculty and staff to spotlight student success and pride in the institution. The Student Success Award is presented to someone involved in any activity or program that promotes the ultimate success of UAM students, with particular emphasis on retention and graduation. The UAM Pride Award is given to a faculty or staff member who best exemplifies pride in the university through their activities on campus and in the community.
APRIL WINNERS
Mary Foster and Dr. Seungyeon Lee
“I thought this was a good way to draw attention to our ultimate goal of creating an environment and a culture for student success,” says Hughes. “These awards are my way of saying thank you to special individuals who go the extra mile to help the institution meet these goals.”
UAM Pride Award Aug. 2016 Renea McClendon Sept. 2016 Thomas Bedward Oct. 2016 Nina Greenham Nov. 2016 UAM Police/Staff Feb. 2017 Kristin Cowling Mar. 2017 Naomi Williams Apr. 2017 Physical Plant Sept. 2017 Peyton Shelton Oct. 2017 Brittany Shedwin Nov. 2017 Mark Carter Feb. 2018 Terri Richardson Mar. 2018 Becky Ryburn Apr. 2018 Mary Foster
Nursing Receives Six-Year NLN Accreditation
Facilities like the Sim Lab have made the UAM nursing program one of the state’s best.
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UAM’s School of Nursing has received full accreditation for both its associate and baccalaureate degree programs for a maximum of six years, according to Dr. Brandy Haley, associate professor and dean of nursing. The accreditation was awarded by the National League for Nursing’s Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation, the national accrediting body for nursing programs in institutions of higher education. UAM offers both the associate of applied sciences in nursing degree and the bachelor of science in nursing degree. “I want to thank all of our stakeholders for their role in the accreditation process,” said Haley. “We are so grateful for the support of our faculty, students, administration, support staff, advisory board and the community during this process.” UAM Chancellor Karla Hughes praised the nursing faculty and students for “creating a legacy of excellence in our nursing program. UAM has a long and proud history of providing quality nursing education and for meeting the needs of the nursing profession throughout the region. This accreditation is recognition of the overall strength of the nursing program and the academic integrity of the institution as a whole. Congratulations for a job well done.”
Take Us Out To The Ballgame! Family Night with the Arkansas Travelers July 12
Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock Game tickets and buffet supper in the Rightfield Pavilion Contact: Lisa Jo Ross Alumni & Development Officer (870) 460-1028 or RossLJ@uamont.edu or scan the QR code on this page
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Honoring the
Class of ‘18
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SPRING COMMENCEMENT / MAY 11, 2018
UAM Graduates Are Ready To Take The Next Step In Their Lives 1. A smiling forestry graduate is ready to receive his degree. 2. Dr. Tommy Roebuck, UAM’s 56th Distinguished Alumnus, addresses the Class of 2018. 3. Dr. Chris Sims receives the Hornaday Distinguished Faculty Award from Chancellor Karla Hughes. 4. A smiling Chancellor Hughes greets an equally happy graduate. 5. Getting a personal photo taken. 6. One last smile before receiving her degree. 7. Some graduates got creative with their customized caps. 8. UA System President Donald Bobbitt greets a new graduate.
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A New Degree A two-year degree in Agriculture provides more options
Dr. Lu Liang (left) and graduate student Bishwa Sapkota, with a Sensefly EBee Plus fixed wing drone, which they used for aerial photogrammetry.
Using Drones For Research A scientist in the School of Forestry and Natural Resources and a graduate student from Nepal map forest canopies from above.
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THE USE OF HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGERY TO MAP THE DISTRIBUTION OF trees in bottomland forests is the subject of a research paper published recently by a University of Arkansas at Monticello forestry student and his academic advisor. Bishwa Sapkota, a graduate student from Nepal enrolled in the UAM School of Forestry and Natural Resources, along with his advisor, Dr. Lu Liang, recently published work from their research in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry. The paper, entitled “A multi-step approach to classify full canopy and leafless trees in bottomland hardwoods using very high resolution imagery,” described how to map the distribution of trees in bottomland forests using remote sensing and GIS technologies. According to Dr. Phil Tappe, dean of the School of Forestry and Natural Resources, the results of the study can help forest managers gain insight into forest productivity, the presence of invasive species and provides guidelines for future remote sensing projects. The study was conducted in Clark County and supported by the Ross Foundation, Arkansas Forest Resources Center and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, bring together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The School and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide.
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The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees has approved a new two-year degree in agriculture at UAM. The associate of science in agriculture degree will be a reconfiguration of the existing bachelor of science in agriculture degree, giving agriculture students who do not qualify for the university’s associate of arts degree the option of pursuing a two-year degree in their chosen field. UAM currently offers four-year baccalaureate degrees in agribusiness, plant and soil science, animal science and general agriculture. No new courses will have to be created for the two-year degree. “This associate’s degree will give our students an exit point if they wish to enter the workforce early or as they progress toward a four-year degree,” explained UAM Chancellor Karla Hughes. “Our students majoring in agriculture will now have the same options to pursue either a two- or four-year degree and if they stay in the program for four years, will graduate with both an associate’s and a bachelor’s degree.”
Coming Attractions An on-campus Chick-fil-A is just one of the meal plan changes Changes are coming to the meal plans and meal options at UAM, including the addition of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the new Student Success Center. The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees has approved a $25 increase for declining balance per residential meal plan with the exception of the 45-block plan, which increased by $5. The board also approved the addition of a $125 declining balance commuter meal plan for all undergraduate students enrolled in six hours or more on the Monticello campus. The declining balance will be available for use at all on-campus food venues. “These changes to both our meal plans and meal options are a direct result of our conversations with students,” said UAM Chancellor Karla Hughes. “One of our goals is to create a student-centered campus that attracts and retains students while providing the amenities they expect. Restaurants on college campuses are a growing trend and we are excited to have Chick-fil-A as a corporate partner.”
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Cowgirl Up! A trio of tough, talented young ladies have led the UAM women’s rodeo team to a second place finish in the NIRA Ozark Region. Now it’s on to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. THE 2018 COLLEGE NATIONAL Finals Rodeo will include a contingent of three tough, talented women from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Abby Searcy of Monticello, Jessica Rowland of Hot Springs and Whitney DeSalvo of Springfield will represent UAM when the nation’s top collegiate cowboys and cowgirls gather in Casper, Wyoming June 10-16. Searcy is making her third trip to the CNFR, this time as the reigning season-long barrel racing champion of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Ozark Region. DeSalvo is making her second trip to the CNFR, her first for UAM and will compete in both team roping and breakaway roping. DeSalvo earned a trip to the national finals last year at UA Cossatot. Rowland will head to Wyoming for the second time, this time as the Ozark Region’s 2018 women’s all-around champion. The College National Finals Rodeo is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event and team champions. Individual events include saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer
wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. Team national championships are awarded for both men’s and women’s teams with over 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges competing. The UAM women’s team finished second in the 2018 Ozark Region standings, earning the right to compete as a team at the CNFR. The top two teams from each region receive automatic
qualifying spots in the national finals. Searcy, Rowland and DeSalvo will be competing as individuals and as a team. “I’m really proud of these girls,” said UAM Rodeo Coach Rusty Jones. “They’ve performed well all season and have earned the right to compete with the best.” The College National Finals Rodeo will be available for viewing live using the WatchESPN app June 13-16.
ROWLAND DeSalvo SEARCY
(From left) Whitney DeSalvo, Abby Searcy and Jessica Rowland qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.
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DISTIN GUISH ED ALU M N US
A Little Luck & Lots of
Hard Work THEY MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR UAM’S
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56TH DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS
TOMMY ROEBUCK’S LIFE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE values of hard work and perseverance, with a little luck thrown in. The son of sharecroppers and one of five children, Roebuck learned about hard work growing up on a farm near Gould, a tiny community north of Dumas in the Mississippi delta. He would use those values to forge a successful career as a dentist and politician. For his contributions to his profession and the state of Arkansas, Dr. Tommy Roebuck has been chosen as the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s 56th Distinguished Alumnus. Roebuck graduated with a senior class of 13 students from Gould High School in 1955, then chose to attend what was then Arkansas A&M because it was close to Gould. “My first summer semester I had to hitchhike to school so I needed to go someplace close,” Roebuck remembers. In time, Roebuck’s three brothers and one sister would all attend A&M. For each of them, attending college was a financial hardship. Tommy received a work scholarship but was still struggling to pay his bills, so he joined the Army National Guard to help with expenses. Unaware of what career opportunities might be available, he decided to
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follow in his older brother Gene’s footsteps and major in physical education with plans to become a coach.“I was majoring in physical education because that’s the only thing I knew,” Roebuck says. “My older brother, Gene, had a football scholarship to Fayetteville and he was in physical education.” A class in zoology under legendary A&M professor Wilburn C. Hobgood turned out to be the stroke of luck Roebuck needed to change the course of his life. The head of A&M’s pre-med and predental programs, Hobgood saw promise in Roebuck. “Mr. Hobgood called me in right before Christmas break my freshman year and told me I was wasting my time in p.e.,” remembers Roebuck. Over the holidays, Roebuck sought advice from a family friend, Dr. Basil Gibbs, a Star City dentist. When he returned to campus in January, he changed his major
Dr. Tommy Roebuck relaxes at his picturesque Lake Hamilton home in Hot Springs.
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and entered the pre-dental program. “I had some wonderful professors,” says Roebuck. “Dr. Claude Babin made history come alive and I credit him with helping me get into dental school. I took three courses under him and I made A’s in all of them and that made my grade point high enough to get into dental school.” Roebuck was accepted to the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis in 1959 before he was able to complete his undergraduate degree at A&M. He graduated from dental school in December 1962, and on January 2, 1963, began a two-and-a-halfyear hitch in the Army. Six years earlier, Roebuck had just missed being part of an historic moment in Arkansas history when portions of his national guard unit were mobilized and sent to Little Rock during the Central High School integration crisis. “(A&M Coach) Convoy
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Leslie was our commanding officer and a bunch of the guys in our unit were on the football team,” says Roebuck. “If we’d been called up, I guess they would have had to cancel the season.” When his active duty was complete, he remained in the Reserves and purchased a dental practice in Arkadelphia. Roebuck practiced in Arkadelphia for the next 36 years before retiring in 2001. Respected by his peers at both the state and national levels, he held numerous offices in the Arkansas State Dental Association, including serving as the organization’s president in 1977-78. He was also an Arkansas delegate to the American Dental Association, serving the ADA in a number of capacities. Roebuck received multiple appointments to the Arkansas State Health Coordinating Council from Governors Frank White and Bill Clinton and in 1997 was honored
by the Arkansas Dental Association as an Arkansas Distinguished Dentist. About the time Roebuck was considering retirement, he started pondering a second career in politics. In 2000 he was elected to the first of three two-year terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives. “I had gotten involved in helping other candidates get elected,” he says. “I started thinking about it in 1999. I really started campaigning for the 2001 legislative session. I thought it was something I wanted to do because it was an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the folks I was representing. It was six really good years.” Roebuck served as chair of the Legislative Audit Committee and was a member of the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, the Aging, Children and Youth Committee, and the Legislative and Military Affairs Committee.
A Life Well-Lived Dr. Tommy Roebuck (left) enjoys a busy retirement at his Hot Springs lakeside home. (Clockwise, from top) The awards and honors from a life of service to his state and nation, a young Tommy Roebuck pictured in the 1959 Boll Weevil, as a dentist turned legislator, as a career officer in the Army Reserve, and with his wife, Johnnie, as a new member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
In 2004, he was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Arkansas State Police and received the same honor in 2005 from Arkansas Advocates for Children, the CASSP Coordinating Council and the Arkansas Health Care Association. The Arkansas Counseling Association named Roebuck its 2005 Advocate of the Year. At the same time Roebuck was distinguishing himself as a dentist and legislator, he was also serving in the U.S. Army Reserve Dental Corps. From 1987 to 1991, he was commander of the 4005th Dental Detachment based in Houston, Tex. His unit was activated in 1991 as part of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, although Roebuck remained stateside. A retired Colonel, Roebuck is a recipient of the Arkansas National Guard Diamond Award, the Patrick Henry Award, the National Defense Service
Medal, two Army Meritorious Service Medals, and the Legion of Merit. In 2010, Roebuck received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UT Dental School. Now living in a spacious home on the shores of Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs with his wife, Dr. Johnnie Roebuck, a retired educator and former state legislator herself, Tommie Roebuck seems content in the role of father to four children and grandfather to six grandchildren. Being honored by UAM carries special meaning. “It’s got to be at the top of the list,” says Roebuck. “I’m still wondering why they picked me. There’s no question going to A&M made the biggest impact on my life, more than anything else. It gave me the education that made me what I am today. I got an unbelievable education there. That made all the difference in the world.” Summer 2018
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In Charge
DANA BROOKS’ LATEST CAREER MOVE HAS PUT HER AT THE TOP OF A NATIONAL LOBBYING ORGANIZATION FOR THE PET FOOD INDUSTRY
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DANA BROOKS HAS NO TROUBLE ACCUMULATING FREQUENT FLYER MILES. She averages nearly a quarter-million miles in the air annually, so it was no surprise that a recent phone interview with Brooks took place while she waited for her luggage at the Phoenix airport. Brooks is the newly-minted president and CEO of The Pet Food Institute, a national lobbying organization representing 98 percent of American pet food manufacturers. She was in Phoenix for two days of meetings with the board of directors of PetSmart. Later this year she’ll fly to Japan for meetings with global pet food companies. ‘When my mother calls, she always asks ‘What state are you in, what country are you in?’” says Brooks with a laugh. Brooks’ mother, Iris, still lives in Portland, Arkansas, a tiny farming community in rural Ashley County a few miles north of the Louisiana line. Dana grew up there helping her mother and father, the late David Brooks, work the family’s 40-acre farm. With farming in her blood, Brooks enrolled at the University of Arkansas at Monticello as an agriculture student and earned a B.S. in general agriculture in 1996. As a student, Brooks wasn’t content to concentrate solely on academic pursuits, working as a cotton scout, rice research technician, retail sales clerk and student assistant in UAM’s Office of Admissions. After graduation, she accepted a position as a grain merchandiser and rice buyer for Riceland Foods. When a fatal farm accident took her father’s life, she decided she needed to be closer to her mother, becoming a cotton buyer in Dumas and then an insurance agent in McGehee. Brooks had already made some political connections when she worked for U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln’s 1994 re-election campaign and in 2000 accepted a position as agricultural legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Marion Berry. The move to Washington, D.C. was a life-changing experience.
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“I fell in love with Washington,” she says. Brooks eventually worked for members of Congress from both parties before landing a job as director of congressional relations with the American Farm Bureau. She left D.C. in 2007 to become national affairs coordinator for the Florida Farm Bureau but missed Washington. She returned to the capital in 2009 as senior director of governmental relations for the National Milk Producers Federation, moved on to become corporate adviser of government affairs for Elanco and later, senior director of government affairs for Land O’Lakes, Inc., which required her to split time between Washington and company headquarters in Minnesota. Brooks was named president and CEO of The Pet Food Institute in January. She didn’t seek the position and was happy in her job at Land O’Lakes, but when a headhunter called she was immediately interested.“With my background in agriculture, lobbying and the food industry, it was a perfect fit for me,” says Brooks. “And when they said they were looking for a president and CEO, I couldn’t turn it down.” An avid scuba diver, Brooks met her husband, Mark Christy, on a diving trip. They’ve been married four years, splitting time between homes in Washington and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After nearly two decades in Washington, Brooks is hoping this is her last career move. “I hope this is it,” she says. “This was a good career move for me. I’ve committed to be here for about 10 years. This first year, I’ll spend more time in DC, but we’d both like to spend more time in Florida. Eventually, I’d like to slow down, teach scuba in Florida and maybe teach some government classes.” When that day comes, she’ll have earned it.
AT THE TOP Dana Brooks Christy, the new president and CEO of The Pet Food Institute
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A New Way To Teach UAM’s math faculty has developed a new way to teach a difficult subject. COLLEGE ALGEBRA is no longer a ticket to frustration and failure.
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COLLEGE ALGEBRA HAS LONG BEEN A STUMBLING block to generations of University of Arkansas at Monticello students. Mention the class to a recent graduate or current student and you’re likely to elicit a look of dread mixed with fear and resignation. The reaction is justified. At UAM, students with an ACT score of 19 or above in mathematics can take College Algebra, which is either required or recommended for a large number of degree paths. Two years ago, Dr. Morris Bramlett, the dean of UAM’s School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, began looking through files of current and former students to compare ACT scores with pass rates in College Algebra. What he found was not encouraging. “For students with a 19 ACT in math, the pass rate in College Algebra was between 22 and 25 percent,” says Bramlett. “Students with a 20 ACT showed a 28 to 30 percent pass rate. By the time we reached ACT scores of 21, the pass rate was getting closer to 40 percent. We went through this for several years and saw the same trend for every fall and spring semester. The success rate was really linear with ACT scores. The lower the ACT, the lower the success. We
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decided to do something about it.” Bramlett and his faculty began searching for solutions that would yield higher pass rates without diminishing the academic rigor of the program. They weren’t going to be able to change the level of preparation for incoming students. “I can probably count the number of certified algebra teachers in our target area on two hands,” says Dr. Carole Martin, associate professor of mathematics. The solution would come through a new and innovative way to teach a difficult course. Bramlett, Dr. Farrokh Abedi, assistant dean for mathematics, and Crystal Halley, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs, attended a mathematics meeting in Russellville presented by the Charles Dana Center of the University of Texas. The program spotlighted a method of teaching called co-remediation, which requires students to take a remedial course while taking a college course in the same subject. The UT program
considered any student with a math ACT below 22 as remedial. Bramlett, with the help of his mathematics faculty, created a pilot course for the 2016 fall semester. The course would be called Special Topics/College Algebra With Review, and instead of meeting Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday, the class would meet for one hour five days a week. “A lot of schools are doing a separate lab with a class like this,” Bramlett says, “but we wanted it to be a five-day-aweek class. With the extra time we could do some different things. We could do remediation as needed, pulling concepts from Intermediate Algebra when we had to. Most importantly, we had the time to vary the pace of the course. If we wanted to go a little slower and have more time for hands-on, individual interaction with our students, we could do that.” The pilot class included a cross-section of students of various ACT scores down to high school students. The results were astounding. Of the 27 students in the initial class, 89 percent passed, more than 40 percent higher than previous pass rates. “There were a lot of variables,” says Martin, who taught the pilot class. “We had some
(8+x) 2 =49 really good students that semester, but even those who might have struggled, seeing them every day was an advantage. The fact that they see their professor every day makes them really comfortable with asking questions. They’re not intimidated.” UAM offered a second class for the 2017 spring semester and 80 percent passed with a C or better. Bramlett sent the paperwork for the class through the university’s Curriculum and Standards Committee to make it a regular part of the math and science course offerings. Both C&S and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education approved the course. ADHE recognizes Special Topics/College Algebra With Review as the equivalent of College Algebra. Last fall the class was limited to students with math ACT scores of 19-22. The results were not as spectacular as the pilot class but the 69.2 percent pass rate was still much higher than years past. According to Martin, the students buy in once they get used to the schedule. “The
first day they roll their eyes at the prospect of having to look at the same professor five days a week, especially at 8 o’clock in the morning,” she says.“But almost every one of my student evaluations said they were glad they had to come every day. That was the difference.” It’s a common theme among students who have taken or are taking the course. “I had a student come to me who had gone through traditional College Algebra and not done well,” says Bramlett. “The next time he took the Special Topics course and told me two things were different. One, the pace was relaxed and he didn’t feel like the teacher was in a hurry to get everything covered. And two, because he had homework every day, he couldn’t put it off. He had to do math every day.” A similar class in Survey of Math incorporating the same changes as College Algebra With Review was offered last fall. The course, which is half remedial and half college course, can enroll students with math ACT scores as low as 16. “Other schools are offering classes like
FINDING A NEW WAY Dr. Carole Martin teaches College Algebra With Review, a new way to teach a difficult subject. The class is yielding dramatic improvement in pass rates. “The fact that they see their professor every day makes them really comfortable with asking questions.”
this but they don’t have a professor in class five days a week,” Bramlett explains. “They teach traditional classes three days a week and might offer two labs with a graduate assistant. We think our way is better.” Chancellor Karla Hughes, who approved the concept as well as the enhanced pay for faculty teaching additional hours, calls Special Topics/College Algebra With Review “the kind of forward-thinking idea that will greatly benefit our students. Finding alternative and innovative ways to teach difficult subjects while still maintaining the academic integrity of our course offerings are essential as we strive to improve our retention and graduation rates.” Summer 2018
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UNDER CONS
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A PAIR OF MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE nearing completion that will dramatically change the campus for visitors approaching from the main entrance on U.S. 425. A new University Police Building located across University Drive from Weevil Pond adjacent to the Fine Arts Building was almost complete as UAM Magazine went to press. The new one-story facility contains approximately 3,000 square feet of interior space. A public lobby will also serve as an information center for visitors to campus,
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providing a convenient location to pick up campus maps and other literature. However, the primary function of the building will be to house UAM’s University Police Department. Spaces for the University Police include a dispatch and communications room, an officers’ room, a work room for locks, security cameras and access control equipment, an interview
room, an office for the chief, an office for the lieutenant, secure storage for evidence, general storage and a training room. The dispatch and communications room in this facility is hardened as a storm shelter because this facility will serve as the command center in the event there is ever severe weather damage on campus. The building is also powered by an emergency generator to assure that communications equipment remains functional in the event of a power outage. “This facility is a tremendous upgrade from our current station and is an attrac-
STRUCTION tive and functional addition to the campus,” said University Police Chief John Kidwell. Also nearing completion is the Student Success Center, located between the Administration Building and Wells Hall. Scheduled for completion before the start of the 2018 fall semester, the Center will bring together programs that directly impact student success, including admissions and enrollment services, orientation, retention, academic advising, career counseling and testing, tutoring and developmental education. The two-story structure contains
35,300 square feet of interior space with an additional 1,900 square feet of exterior space for entrances, an outdoor dining area for a Chick-fil-A restaurant to be located on the building’s first floor, and a second patio seating area on the west side of the building overlooking the center of campus. “I am so excited to see these new facilities nearing completion,” said UAM Chancellor Karla Hughes.“The University Police Station has been needed for some time and the Student Success Center represents the cornerstone of our mission to ensure the success of our students.”
ALMOST COMPLETE (Facing Page) University Police Chief John Kidwell (center) with his staff in front of the University Police Station nearing completion south of Weevil Pond. (Above) The open, tw0story central concourse of the Student Success Center will provide visual orientation between levels and easy access to all areas.
Summer 2018
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SPORTS | N E WS
A Championship Season! John Harvey’s ‘wallbangers’ smash 75 home runs en route to the 2018 Great American Conference baseball title.
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TO THE WINNER GO THE SPOILS. The UAM baseball team won its first Great American Conference regular season championship April 27 with a 3-2 win over old rival Southern Arkansas and two days later completed the regular season with a 30-17 record, 23-10 in the GAC. The championship was the Boll Weevils’ first regular season title after capturing the last two GAC postseason tournaments and with the title came a slew of individual awards. Eight players were named to the first, second or honorable mention All-GAC teams while the architect of the UAM baseball program, John Harvey, was named the 2018 GAC Coach of the Year. Third baseman Jordan Johnson of Beaumont, Tex., was named the GAC Freshman of the Year.
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First team All-GAC selections were second baseman Andres Rios of San Diego, Calif., first baseman Sean Wagner of Peoria, Ariz., and centerfielder Brian Ray of Crossett. Rios batted .348 with eight home runs and 51 RBI while scoring 50 runs. Wagner led the GAC with 70 base hits, finished second in the league in RBI (60) and third in home runs (11) while batting a team-best .357. Ray, who was also named to the All-GAC Defensive Team, led the conference with 48 walks, scored 52 runs, belted 10 home runs and had the league’s second best on-base percentage at .471. As a team, the Boll Weevils set a school record with 75 home runs. Second team All-GAC selections were shortstop Garrett Dodd of McKinney,
Tex., and catcher Brady Weiss of Chandler, Ariz., who were also both named to the All-GAC Defensive Team. Dodd led the GAC with 56 runs scored, finished third in doubles with 17, had 35 RBI and eight home runs while batting .333. Weiss was second in the GAC in runs scored with 55 and home runs with 12, drove in 47 runs, drew 34 talks and had a fielding percentage of .993. Designated hitter Dylan Borman of Camrose, Alberta, Canada, pitcher Dawson Moser of DeWitt and Johnson earned honorable mention honors. Borman hit .317 with eight home runs and 43 RBI. Moser had a team-high seven saves, second most in the GAC, and established a new school career saves record.
SPORTS | N E WS
Worth The Journey Frida Rydberg traveled nearly 5,000 miles for the chance to play golf year-round. The trip has paid big dividends with four straight selections to the All-Great American Conference team.
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Rydberg qualified 5th for the NCAA Central Region Tournament in St. Charles, Missouri.
IT’S 4,863 MILES FROM JARFALLA, SWEDEN to Monticello, Arkansas, give or take a mile or two, but that didn’t keep Frida Rydberg from making the journey four years ago. Ryberg grew up in a suburb of the Swedish capital of Stockholm within a half-day’s drive of at least a dozen golf courses. But Sweden’s short summers and long, cold winters left her looking for someplace to play college golf year round. Fast forward four years and Rydberg has just completed her senior golf season at the University of Arkansas at Monticello by earning All-Great American Conference recognition for the fourth straight year. Rydberg was the anchor of the UAM women’s golf team in 2017-18 with seven top 12 finishes. At the GAC Fall Preview Tournament in Oklahoma City, she shot 77-77-154 to finish second. Rydberg shot 77-74-151 to lead her team to a second-place finish at the National Guard Invitational in Jackson, Tenn. As UAM Magazine went to press, Rydberg was playing in the NCAA Central Region Tournament in St. Charles, Mo., after qualifying fifth in the event. She also excelled in the classroom, earning the Crafton Tull Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award from the GAC.
Jalen Tolliver Signs Priority Free Agent Pact With Arizona Cardinals Jalen Tolliver, UAM’s record-setting wide receiver, has signed a priority free agent contract with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. In addition, defensive back Jeremy Jackson has signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. “I’m incredibly proud of both Jalen and Jeremy,” said UAM head football coach Hud Jackson. “They’ve both worked extremely hard to get the the next level in the sport they love.” Tolliver holds nearly every pass receiving record in school history, including receiving yards and touchdowns. The Rayville, Louisiana native was named to multiple All-America teams and was All-South Region and the Great American Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Tolliver led the nation (Division II) in receiving touchdowns with 16 and had 67 receptions for 1,109 yards in 2017. Tolliver led the GAC in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Jeremy Jackson moved from running back to cornerback and excelled, earning All-America, All-South Region and All-GAC honors. A native of Hahnville, Louisiana, Jackson made 40 tackles, broke up 18 passes and had a pair of interceptions.
Summer 2018
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TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS | N E WS
New Programs Increase Opportunities
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Majors in Manufacturing Technology, Heavy Equipment Safety and Maintenance, Automotive Diagnostics and Timber Equipment Safety Answer Employers Needs
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Board of Trustees recently approved four new academic programs for UAM’s Colleges of Technology in Crossett and McGehee. The Crossett campus will begin offering a program in advanced manufacturing technology, which will include an associate of applied science degree in advanced manufacturing technology, technical certificates in industrial production technology and advanced manufacturing technology, and a certificate of proficiency in manufacturing principles. The board also approved three programs for the McGehee campus that will award certificates of proficiency in heavy equipment safety and basic maintenance, automotive diagnostics, and timber equipment safety and operations. The programs were added following discussions by administrators at the Crossett and McGehee campuses with business and industry leaders. “Each of these programs identifies and addresses a specific need in the job market,” said Linda Rushing, vice chancellor of the Crossett campus.“This was a team effort by business, industry, our campus advisory committee and our faculty to provide training to fill employment needs and increase opportunities for our students.” The certificate of proficiency in manufacturing principles will serve the needs and goals of entry-level works to begin manufacturing jobs with a basic
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ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
New academic programs mean more opportunities for students in UAM’s Colleges of Technology.
foundational knowledge of safety, plant processes, quality management and advanced industrial mathematics. The technical certificate in industrial production technology will provide basic skills for individuals hired for beginner level jobs in industrial production. The second technical certificate, in advanced manufacturing technology, will include all the technical courses required for advanced manufacturing technology. The associate of applied science degree will encompass all of the technical courses as well as general studies courses required for an associate degree. The course requirements in advanced manufacturing technology reflect suggestions from business and industry leaders for students with strong mathematical and computer skills. “ The feedback we received from business and industry was that although actual tech-
nical skills required in the manufacturing industry are of greatest importance, we were also told that critical employability skills are vital,” said Rushing. “Students must complete an employability skills and ethics course to prepare them for the expectations of employers.” The three certificate of proficiency programs approved for the McGehee campus will also address the needs of area employers while providing marketable skills for students enrolled in the programs. Each of the three programs may be completed in one semester for individuals looking for quick entry into the workforce. The program in timber equipment and safety requires a total of 11 credit hours, the program in heavy equipment safety and basic maintenance 14 hours and the program in automotive diagnostics 16 hours.
TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS | N E WS
MCGEHEE NURSING GRADUATES ACHIEVE PERFECT PASS RATE ON NCLEX-PN
All eight members of the 2017 practical nursing class at the UAM College of Technology-McGehee have taken and passed the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN). Students achieving the 100 percent pass rate and their faculty are (from left, seated) Esthetani Cendejas of Eudora, Lezza Goudy of Monticello, Sydney Johnson of Monticello, Avery Rial of McGehee, (standing, from left) Paige Irons of Dumas, Instructor Kim Ray, Iresha Wells of Monticello, Nursing Director Peggie Orrell, Laura Gillum of Lake Village, Instructor Nikki Fitzgerald, and Patria Thompkins of Dumas.
GONE FISHING Trey Rainwater of Bastrop, La., and Hunter Fluitt of Sterlington, La., students at the UAM College of Technology-Crossett, recently combined for a 10th place finish at the first Yeti-FLW College Fishing Tournament held at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Lufkin, Tex. Both Rainwater and Fluitt are second-year students in UAM-CTC’s electromechanical and instrumentation program. Their top 10 finish qualifies Rainwater and Fluitt for the 2018 National FLW Final Tournament.
HIGH SCHOOL WELDERS Students from Crossett and Hamburg High Schools recently received core curriculum certification by the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) after completing a series of welding classes at the UAM College
of Technology-Crossett. Students completing the program received concurrent high school and college credit. NCCER certification means the students will be placed on a national registry used by employers to verify training of individuals applying for employment with their companies. “The American Welding Society did a study that showed the average age of welders today is 58,” said Donnie Dubose, a welding instructor at UAM COT-Crossett. “Job availability in welding is at an all-time high. There is an employment need of over 300,000 welders with no end in sight.” According to Dubose, NCCER offers certification at multiple levels. Students must complete core skills before they are issued an NCCER card and certificate. Additional levels of certification may also be earned. “NCCER
certification may also give students a higher entrance level wage,” Dubose explained. “Many companies are using NCCER as their training program and certifying in advance will give these students an advantage.”
REALITY FAIR Teaching students how to budget, save and build or rebuild their credit was the subject of a Reality Fair sponsored by the Career Pathways Initiative of the UAM College of TechnologyMcGehee and hosted recently by the Arkansas Superior Federal Credit Union. Cortez Smith, Career Pathways director, called the event “great for students to gain the knowledge and skills needed to build their credit. Many students are unaware of how to budget for their future once they complete their education.” Summer 2018
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FOUNDATION | N E WS
Four Scholarship Funds Reach Endowed Status
Mainline Health Scholarship Mainline Health Systems, Inc., presents its first $1,000 endowed scholarship to a talented double major from Monticello.
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Abbigail Goodding of Monticello, a junior biology and biochemistry double major at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Mainline Health Systems, Inc. The recipient of the Mainline Health Systems, Inc. Endowed Scholarship must be a resident of Lincoln, Drew, Bradley, Ashley, Chicot or Desha counties, a junior or senior in good academic standing majoring in a pre-professional medical field, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. The scholarship will be awarded each fall and spring semester. “Thanks to Mainline Health’s continuing generosity, talented and deserving students like Abbigail Goodding will have the opportunity to complete their higher education while having some of the finan-
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cial burden relieved,” said Dr. John Davis, director of university relations. “Endowed scholarships like this one are special because they create scholarships in perpetuity for future generations of students. Abbigail is a wonderful first-time recipient of the Mainline Health Scholarship, the first of many who will benefit from Mainline Health’s endowment. Pictured from left are Keith Williams, vice chairman of the Mainline Health Systems board of directors, Byron Montgomery, APRN and assistant clinical director, Cassi Bazar, executive assistant, Brittany Sears, marketing manager, Abbigail Goodding, Tafta McCain, chief financial officer, Ron Miller, chairman of the board, Allan Nichols, chief executive officer, and Amanda Gilbert, grants management director.
Four endowments created within the UAM Foundation Fund have reached endowed status and will begin generating scholarships to deserving students. Endowed status is achieved when a fund reaches a balance of at least $15,000. “We are grateful for the generosity of those who created and contributed to these endowment funds,” said Dr. John Davis, director of university relations. “Endowments create a lasting legacy, not only for those honored, but in the individuals who benefit from the scholarships they generate.” Charles Fred Dearman, Sr. Athletic Scholarship – established by Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Dearman, Jr. This endowment is to be presented to a football student-athlete. Charles F. Dearman, Sr. was a UAM football player, an All- American and a member of both the UAM and Arkansas Sports Halls of Fame. Jo Hutchinson Jackson and Charles E. Jackson, Sr. Endowed Scholarship - established by their children, Deborah Jackson, Jimmie Jo Jackson Leech, Dr. Charles E. Jackson, Jr. and Lucy Jackson Cyphers. The endowment is for a junior or senior in the School of Education. Louine Selman Leech and Robert W. Leech Scholarship - established by their children Robert W. Leech, Jr., Mary Leech Johnson and David Selman Leech. This scholarship will be presented annually to a music major. Mrs. Louine Leech was the 2016 Continuing the Connection award recipient. At 101, she is one of UAM’s oldest living alumna. Steven Charles Moss Scholarship for Mathematics – established by Dr. Steven C. Moss. The endowed fund is for a student in the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. Dr. Moss has established six other endowments for UAM students. To give to the UAM Foundation Fund, contact the Office of University Relations at (870) 460-1028.
Save The Date UAM will celebrate Parent-Family Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 22. If you have a child attending UAM, make plans to join us for this special day!
ALUMNI | N E WS
ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA / PHI LAMBDA CHI REUNION Alumni of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and Phi Lambda Chi fraternity held a reunion in May at the Monticello Country Club. Alpha Sigs returning to Monticello included (below, from left) Phyllis Cox, Susie Green, Rebecca Kirkland Whitehead, Kim Veazey, Mary Ellen Givens, Lynn Langston Turner, Ann Mosley Neely, Pam Haley, Marian Frizzell West, Carol Selig Thompson and Judy Tyson Sessions. Phi Lambs . . . you know who you are!
Homecoming ‘18 Set For October 20 UAM’s 2018 Homecoming Celebration has been scheduled for the week of October 20. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us. For next year’s football schedule, see below. Aug. 30 @ SW Oklahoma
6:00
Sept. 8 NW OKLAHOMA
6:00
Sept. 15 @ East Central OK
6:00
Sept. 22 SE OKLAHOMA
1:00
(Parent-Family Day) Sept. 29 HARDING
1:00
Oct.
6:00
6 @ Arkansas Tech
Oct. 13 @ Southern Nazarene
1:00
Oct. 20 OKLAHOMA BAPTIST
3:00
(Homecoming) Oct. 27 OUACHITA BAPTIST
1:00
Nov. 3 @ Henderson State
2:00
Nov. 10 SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
1:00
(Battle of the Timberlands)
Summer 2018
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ALUMNI | N E WS
Friends We’ll Miss Joseph T. Bullock (BS ’64) of Melbourne, Fla., March 4 Glen R. Bashaw of Monticello, April 11 Walter S. Chapman of Monticello, April 24 Calvin E. Frye (BS ’75) of Wilmar, April 16 Zeb V. Freeman, Jr, of Fort Worth, Tex., January 8 Sharon K. Morgan (BSE ’70) of Glenda (Star City), February 12 Dennis R. White of Star City, March 3 John E. Brewster of Rison, February 15 James T. Edds, Sr, of Pensacola, Fla., October 2017 Cornelia C. Wright of Louisville, Ky., March 18 Owen D. Stanford of Selma, March 4 Ronald P. Magness of Mount Ida, March 30 Charles A. Culpepper (BS ’63) of Jefferson County, January 13 Helen J. Doolin of Pine Bluff, April 18 Juanita F. Dye (BSE ’67) of Monticello, April 13 Edna L. Ballard (BS ’87) of Dermott, January 20 Linda B. Johnson of Monticello, January 12
BSU/BCM Reunion August 11 The Baptist College Ministry (BCM), former the Baptist Student Union, will host a reunion for former members at the UAM BCM on August 11. Anyone interested in attending should contact Williams David Brooks (UAM ‘83) at pkmbrooks@gmail.com or (870) 718-6587.
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Examining The Effects Of War Jason Higgins’ Work at UMass Garners Prestigious Honor
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JASON HIGGINS (BA ’13) has been awarded the Simon and Sateng Ermonian Graduate Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Higgins is a Ph.D. student studying the social history of modern war and specializing in the American war in Vietnam. Higgins has conducted over 60 oral histories with veterans through the UMass Oral History Lab. Higgins holds a bachelor of arts degree in history and English from UAM and a master of arts in English from Oklahoma State. His Ph.D. dissertation research addresses the problems of postwar readjustment of Vietnam War veterans and investigates the extent to which institutional
racism and trauma disrupted the reintegration experiences of African-American veterans and contributed to the rise of incarcerated veterans. In 2014, Higgins worked with the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program and interviewed over 30 military veterans, mostly from the war in Vietnam. Those interviews are part of the “Spotlighting Oklahoma” oral history project. In August 2014, Higgins interviewed Melvin Morris, an African-American Vietnam veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama after being passed over for the award during the way due to discriminatory practices in the military. Higgins has a forthcoming article in War, Literature, and the Arts entitled “Through Star-Spangled Eyes: Lew Pullers Fortunate Son and the Problem of Resolution,” which examines trauma narratives and veteran suicide. The Ermonian Graduate Award is a scholarship given for outstanding work as a graduate teaching assistant based on academic performance, excellence in coursework and examinations and having made good progress toward completion of the degree.
“Dean” Kirchman Was Loved By Generations of A&M/UAM Students UAM lost an old friend recently with the passing of Dr. Robert Kirchman on February 11 in Russellville. Known as “Dean” Kirchman to several generations of Arkansas A&M/UAM students, he joined the A&M faculty in 1961 in the Department of Education. He later served as Academic Dean, Registrar and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and was one of the faculty members who played a key role in moving Arkansas A&M College into the University of Arkansas System. Dr. Kirchman was born May 6, 1926 in Fort Smith and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war he earned his undergraduate degree from Hendrix College and his graduate degree from the University of Missouri. He was the band director in Harrison before coming to Monticello.
Dean Kirchman helped Arkansas A&M transition to the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
ALUMNI | N E WS
One Of A Kind The late Dr. Betty Matthews was a positive influence on generations of UAM students
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DR. BETTY MATTHEWS WAS A COLLEAGUE, SCHOLAR, confidant, and most importantly, a friend to generations of UAM students, faculty and staff. Dr. Matthews passed away February 26 in Fayetteville. Born November 5, 1937, Dr. Matthews held baccalaureate degrees in both English and history from what was then Arkansas A&M College and earned master’s and doctorate degrees from UA-Fayetteville. She began her career in education teaching high school English at Pine Bluff High School before joining the Arkansas A&M faculty in 1967 as a professor of English. She would go on to serve the university for nearly a half century. A huge fan of the Boll Weevils and Cotton Blossoms, Dr. Matthews served as faculty athletics representative and compliance officer for the UAM Athletic Department. She established the Dr. Betty A. Matthews Women’s Athletic Scholarship/Endowment to provide female athletes much needed additional financial assistance. As a student at Arkansas A&M, she was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and a charter member the Chi Omega chapter of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society. She was active in Alpha Chi Honor Society and was chosen as the organization’s first “Teacher of The Year.” Through the years, Dr. Matthews “adopted” various students,
faculty and staff and honored them by purchasing bricks in their name for Weevil Walk. “I was one of her adopted kids,” said Jim Brewer, director of media services. “I always looked forward to our conversations. In her pronounced delta drawl, she could cut to the heart of the matter on any subject. You might not always agree with her, but you always knew where she stood. And you could never have a more fiercely loyal friend. She was one of those unique characters you meet in life that you never forget and we’re all better for knowing her.”
Dan Hornaday . . . Leaving A Remarkable Legacy Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness impact the lives of others in ways we never consider. For the late Dan Hornaday, it started with a phone call. Mr. Hornaday and his late wife, Charlotte, had little contact with their alma mater before being asked to give an endowed scholarship to the UAM Foundation Fund. They presented the scholarship, then promptly forgot about it until the phone rang in their suburban Houston home on New Year’s Day, 1992. On the line was a woman who identified herself as the mother of a UAM student. Her son had received a scholarship from the endowment created by the Hornadays. “She thanked us for the financial help we had provided,” Mr. Hornaday told a visitor. “She told us she was a single parent and that her son could not have gone to UAM without our help. That’s when it dawned on us that we could make a difference in the lives of a lot of kids at UAM.” The Hornadays, who had retired after successful careers as executives with Exxon Corporation, had used Exxon’s three-for-one matching gift program to create their first endowment. Now, they would use it to finance a new scholarship each year. “That lady’s call really made an impression on us,” recalled Mr. Hornaday. “Charlotte and I decided, that with our company’s matching funds, it would be a sin if we didn’t do it.” The UAM Foundation Fund lists 10 separate endowments created by the Hornadays, a lasting tribute to a couple who loved UAM. Mr. Hornaday died March 25. His wife, Charlotte, had preceded him in death on July 20, 2016. UAM’s 44th and 45th distinguished Alumni have left a legacy of opportunity for future generations of UAM students.
Dan Hornaday
Summer 2018
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UAM SP O RTS ASSO CIATIO N M EM B ERS
SPORTS ASSOCIATION Legacy Club ($2,500 +) Ms. Kelly Burdeau Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing Mr. and Mrs. Alvy Early Mr. and Mrs. Rick Futrell Mr. Nat Grubbs Dr. Julia Nicholson Mr. Rich Robertson
Varsity Club ($1,000 - $2,499) Mr. and Mrs. Brad Guthrie Mr. and Mrs. Ron Jennings Ms. Patricia Nicholson Mr. Houston Reeme Risher Fitness Management – Randy Risher Mr. and Mrs. Joe Don Samples
Coaches Club ($750 - $999) Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Owen, Jr. UAM Baptist Collegiate Ministry
Green and White Club ($500 - $749) 4S Industries, LLC Ms. Stefanie Barber Dr. and Mrs. Seth Barnes Dr. and Mrs. Barrett Brown Clearwater Paper Clendenin’s Service Center Mr. Gregory A. Cooper Mr. and Mrs. Dave Dickson Mr. and Mrs. John Free Mr. and Mrs. Logan Hancock Mr. and Mrs. George Harris Col. L. R. and Dr. Karla Hughes Mr. and Mrs. Jay Johnston Mr. Stephen Jones
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UAM Magazine
Kat’s Electric Co. Mr. Jim Keily Mark Kennedy Plumbing Mr. Reggie Lytch Mr. Ronald McFarland Ms. Debbie McKnight Mr. and Mrs. James Philley Mr. Timothy Pruitt John Ratliff Construction Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Ryburn, III Mr. and Mrs. Trent Scogin Servpro of Delta Lands – Gary Rigby Mr. George Shepherd Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Shipp Mr. Jerry Smith Mr. and Mrs. Tim Smith Dr. Max Terrell Mr. and Mrs. Mark Tiner Mr. Mark Turpin Vehicle Title Service Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Walsh Mr. Earl Younger
Ring of Champions ($300 - $499) Mr. and Mrs. Donald Bent, Sr. Dr. Russell Bulloch Mr. and Mrs. Donald Chain Ms. Paige Chase Mr. Ray Clary, Jr. Maj. and Mrs. Eric Grider Mr. and Mrs. Don Hartley Mr. Larry Hopper Mr. and Mrs. Mark Karnes Dr. and Mrs. Jack Lassiter Mr. and Mrs. Chris Loyd Mr. Dennis Marini Mr. J. David McPherson Mr. Adam Patrick, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Keith Phillips Mr. and Mrs. William Pigott
Ms. Karen Rich S & A Partnership – Mr. Sam Whitaker Southern Ag Resources Kenny Spence Insurance Agency Ms. Tonya Threet
Weevil-Blossom Club ($50 – 299) Above All Else Services Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Adamez Mr. Ben Aldridge Mr. and Mrs. Clue Anderson Arkansas Appraisal Consultants, LLC Arkansas Pulpwood Ms. Virginia Arnold Mr. Marcus Arrington Mr. Michael Arrington Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Asbell Ms. Shirley Ashford B & D McTigrit Farms Bail Bond Financing Mr. and Mrs. Mike Bailey Mrs. Irma Bain Baker’s Pharmacy Mr. and Mrs. David Baker Ms. Willie Mae Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Whit Barton Mr. and Mrs. Michael Beaird Dr. and Mrs. Willis T. Beene Mr. and Mrs. Roeland Bell Mr. and Mrs. Donald Bent Ms. Cynthia Betters Mr. and Mrs. Alan Bolick Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Bolin Ms. Jean Borman Mr. Doyle Brakebill Mr. Mark Brakebill Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Brakebill Ms. Cheri Brown Mr. and Mrs. David Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Brown Mr. and Mrs. Larry Brown Ms. Ruby Brown Ms. Belinda Cain Mr. and Mrs. David Cain Ms. Judy Carol Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cates Mrs. Marilyn Chambers Mr. and Mrs. Chris Chapman Mrs. Janice Chapman Ms. Dana Chavis Mr. Brian Clark Ms. Leigh Ann Cockrum Commercial Bank & Trust Ms. Jan Cooper Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Cox Ms. Nita Jo Cross Mr. and Mrs. John Cundieff Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Curtis Ms. Allie Jean Davis Mr. and Mrs. Archie Dodd Ms. Donna Drake Dr. and Mrs. Richard Dunn Mr. and Mrs. Brian Early Mr. and Mrs. Kent Early Mr. and Mrs. Preston Early Mr. Taylor Edwards Ms. Betty Eubanks Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fakouri Ms. Rhonda Fillmore Mr. Steve Fleming Mr. and Mrs. Charles Frazier Mr. and Mrs. David Freeman Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fuller Mr. and Mrs. Larry Garner Drs. Glen and Mary Jane Gilbert Giovanni’s Fish Market Mr. and Mrs. Rusty Goss Mr. and Mrs. Larry Graham Mark Gray Insurance Mr. and Mrs. John Green Mr. Jimmie Griffea
UAM SP O RTS ASSO CIATIO N M EM B ERS Mr. and Mrs. Paul Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Charles Griffith Mr. and Mrs. Michel Gutman H & H Farms LLC Mr. and Mrs. Mark Haggard Mr. and Mrs. Truman Hamilton Mark Hardin Ministries Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Harkey Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Harrod Mr. Roland D. Hester Mr. Joey Hartley Mr. Mike Hartley Hattiesburg Hydraulics Inc. Ms. Heather Healy Mr. Jay Hefner Ms. Kimberly Hendricks Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hendrixson Ms. Pamela Hendrixson Ms. Shannon Herman Ms. Heather Hohertz Mr. Dan Hornaday (deceased) Mr. and Mrs. Steve Horton Mr. and Mrs. Eric Howard Mr. Edward Hudnall Mr. and Mrs. Marty Irwin Ms. Jennifer Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Janes Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jones Mrs. Emily Jung Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kauffman Mr. George Kephart Ms. Sandra Key KoKo Farms – Brad Koen Mr. and Mrs. Don Koen Mr. Michael Kollman Mr. Kevin Kvame Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Laden J. Lauhon Logging, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Leonards Mr. Lloyd Leonard Ms. Jane Lucky Ms. Pamela Malone Lt. Col. William and Cheryl Marshall Mr. and Mrs. Larry McClendon Mr. Koy J. McFarland
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan McGhee Ms. Mildred McGinnis Ms. Kathleen McGraw Ms. Patricia McGraw Mr. Dale McKiever Mr. Donald McKiever Mark McNabb Farms Ms. Mary Ann McPherson Ms. Melissa McPherson Sammy Mullis Insurance Agency ND Distributing, LLC Mr. Lamar Nolen Mrs. Peggie Orrell Ms. Patricia Owens Mr. and Mrs. Mark Page Mr. and Mrs. James Parker Mr. Ralph Parker Ms. Katherine Patenaude Ms. Andrea Pennington Mr. and Mrs. Greg Perry Mr. and Mrs. Jody Philley Ret. Maj. USAF Charles and Sue Pillow
Mr. and Mrs. John Pratt Mr. and Mrs. James Prince Professional Athletics Cheer & Tumbling Mr. and Mrs. David Pulk R & F Flooring, LLP Mr. Jack Rehm Mr. and Mrs. Heath Relyea Ms. Rita Richard Ms. Sandra Rios Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Roach Mr. Wayne Roberts Ms. Julie Robinson Ms. Lori Rodgers Mr. and Mrs. Paul Russell Mr. and Mrs. Scott Saffold Mr. and Mrs. Michael Seymour Mr. Dick Shepherd Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Shipp Mr. Jerry E. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Rusty Smith Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sparks Ms. Stacey Stanberry
Mr. and Mrs. Clint Stanley Star City Insurance Agency Mr. Thomas Stephens Mr. and Mrs. Mark Stevens Mr. Ronnie Strain Mr. and Mrs. David Streeter Mr. and Mrs. John Summers Mr. Ronald Toon Mr. and Mrs. Frank Treadaway Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Tyler Union Bank & Trust Co. Mr. Carl Upton, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Ward Ms. Jana Ward Ms. Alisa Ware Mr. Charlie Ware Mr. Richard Weiss Mr. and Mrs. Marty Wilkerson Mr. and Mrs. Paul Windisch Mr. and Mrs. Bill Word Ms. Kristie Wright
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University of Arkansas at Monticello Alumni Association P.O. Box 3520 Monticello, AR 71656
HONORING A GREAT ARKANSAN (From left) Trustees Steve Cox, Cliff Gibson and Kelly Eichler pay tribute to David Pryor for his service to the UA System Board of Trustees during the Board’s meeting at UAM in March.