Campus News

Simpson Awarded Julius Hirsch Honorary Prize Kevin Simpson, Ph.D., professor of psychology, was recognized as the 2021 Julius Hirsch Honorary Prize winner by the German Football Association. Simpson, along with Michal Vaněk, Ph.D., were recognized for their 2019 memorial honoring the forced Jewish laborers who built the grandstand currently in use by the Slovak Premier League football club, MŠK Žilina and their exhibition “Football Under the Swastika: The Story of Leopold ‘Jim’ Štàstný,” held at the Museum of Jewish Culture-Slovak National Museum.

Song Wins Ally Award from Black Action Collective Ted Song, chief diversity officer and associate professor of engineering, was selected as a Leading with Excellence Award honoree by the Black Action Collective. Song was recognized as the winner of the Dr. David & Pattie Williams Ally Award, for his work to uplift and build a better future for African American and underserved communities. 06

The Togami Center for Innovation Opens The Soderquist College of Business revealed The Togami Center for Innovation to the public. The center is named for longtime JBU professor Kai Togami and his wife, Wendy Soderquist-Togami, who worked for Soderquist Leadership from 1999-2014. The space features a focus group room and spaces for students to conduct interviews with potential clients. The center, while open to all students, focuses on giving business students an area for entrepreneurship and innovation.

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JBU Construction Management Seniors Place in Competition Competing in the Regional Associated Schools of Construction student competition, senior CM students developed a project proposal and presented it to judges in Dallas, Texas. JBU placed second in the heavy civil and design build divisions and third in the commercial division. Senior Malachi Smith won third place for best presenter in the heavy civil division. JBU Freshman Wins Sigma Lens Corporation Contest Freshman photography major Shelby Brewer was one of four winners in the photography section of a national scholarship competition sponsored by Sigma Lens Corporation. Brewer’s photo, titled “In the Midst,” placed first in the Authenticity category of the competition. 07

JBU Business Students Place First in Arkansas Governor’s Cup The competition featured 31 teams from 10 different universities across the state. JBU’s Team Ascend finished in first place in the Small Business division, won Best Elevator Pitch and was awarded a total of $17,000 in prize money. Team Veza placed in the top six of the High Growth and Technology division. 01

Voice Students Excel at Arkansas NATS Competition Ten JBU students participated in the Arkansas Chapter National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. Eight students were finalists in their divisions, and three finished first in their respective divisions — Jordan Kendrick, Oscar Lopez and Connor Klaassen. Cody Hallmark and Rachel Ball won second, and

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Grace Hutchins, Noan Colby and Myah Collard placed third. 04

Esports Club Opens New On-Campus Space The JBU esports club opened their new on-campus space, The Shop, with a Super Smash Brothers tournament. The Shop is located in the basement of Windgate Visual Arts East and will be used by the club for practices, official club matches and tournaments. 05

Aida Ramos Named New Dean JBU hired Aida Ramos, Ph.D., as the new Dean of the College of Education and Social & Behavioral Sciences, effective July 1. Ramos has served as department chair and in all-campus administrative roles related to student success and diversity at George Fox University and at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor where she currently serves as an associate professor in the social work, sociology and criminal justice department.

Kim Hadley Promoted to Chief Operations Officer Kim Hadley, D.B.A., has been named chief operating officer of JBU, effective June 1. Hadley joined JBU in 1996 and served as a faculty member and academic administrator until 2009 when she was named vice president for finance and administration as well as chief financial officer. In her new role, Hadley will add responsibilities for university marketing and communications as well as admissions for the online undergraduate and graduate programs. She also oversees investments, accounting, human resources, administrative services, auxiliary operations, information technology services and the universityowned radio station, KLRC.

Faculty, Staff Honored with Awards The 2022 Faculty Excellence Award was given to Curtis Cunningham, Ph.D., and Melissa Hall, Ph.D., following a nomination process by students and faculty. Cunningham, department chair of teacher education, was instrumental in JBU receiving almost $3 million in grant money to operate academies for K-12 teachers in special education, online teaching, and teaching English to students of other languages. Hall, associate professor of family and human services, receives consistently high student evaluations and accolades for her ability to integrate varying viewpoints and her awareness of how difficult classroom topics affect individuals. Rhonda Hostler, director of health services, was given the Faculty Appreciation Award based on nominations by faculty. As the university nurse, Hostler has had the added difficulty of managing student health amid a pandemic and keeping faculty apprised of student statuses. Marena Harmon received the Golden Eagle Excellence in Service Award created to recognize a staff member who sets a worthy personal example, gives extra effort and gives other staff and/ or students special encouragement. Harmon, who joined JBU in 2007, is the field placement/enrollment coordinator for counselor education. 02

JBU Hosts First Track Meet at Glenn W. Black Stadium JBU’s track and field program hosted the Sooner Athletic Conference Invitational the weekend of April 23 at Glenn W. Black Stadium in Siloam Springs. It was the first JBU-hosted track meet since the mid-1970s.