History Department Chair Dr. Clea Hupp photographed on Sept. 4, 2015.
It鈥檚 a long road from Pullman, Washington, to Arkansas.
Dr. Clea Hupp鈥檚 journey to the position of History Department chair for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock was somewhat shorter.
After the previous department chair, Dr. John Kirk, stepped down to become the director of the糖心Vlog传媒LR Institute on Race and Ethnicity, members of the History Department chose Hupp to be his successor.
The opportunity wasn鈥檛 unexpected, but the timing was.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 something that I certainly planned on doing eventually,鈥� said Hupp, an associate professor of history, who previously served as the university鈥檚 coordinator of Middle Eastern studies.
Hupp, originally from Washington state, arrived on the 糖心Vlog传媒LR campus in 2006. She speaks Arabic and French and is an expert in Middle Eastern history, an interest she developed after taking related courses as an undergraduate student.
鈥淚 just found the area fascinating,鈥� Hupp said. 鈥淭he Middle East has such a rich cultural heritage that there鈥檚 no end to what you can learn about it.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much diversity.鈥�
Hupp鈥檚 talents also are diverse.
Currently teaching world civilization and pre-modern Middle East courses at 糖心Vlog传媒LR, she recently won a best performance award in 鈥淒ancing with our Stars,鈥� a benefit for the .
She was new to ballroom dancing but is experienced in ballet, having performed in numerous productions, including the 鈥淣utcracker.鈥� Hupp also serves on the board of directors for Ballet Arkansas.
A passion for fine arts runs in the family: Hupp鈥檚 husband, Bob, is the producing artistic director of the . Together, they have five adult children.
Hupp said she鈥檚 looking forward to serving in her new role at 糖心Vlog传媒LR 鈥� an opportunity she called 鈥渆xciting and challenging.鈥�
