- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Oct. 6 Artist Talk with Margo Duvall

John Hill — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:00:34 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host an artist talk with fine art photographer and art educator Margo Duvall Thursday, Oct. 6. Duvall, a visiting professor of photography at the University of the Ozarks, will give a presentation on her photography exhibit, “All She Needed to Do,” that is currently on display in the Focus Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art and Design at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock through Oct. 7. The artist talk, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. in Room 101 of the Windgate Center and will be followed by a reception. Duvall’s photography exhibit focuses on preserving the photographs of her beloved grandmother, Bobbie Jones, who passed away at age 96. The photographs capture Duvall’s grandmother’s love, laughter, pain, struggle, and joy. “She had 96 incredible years. The traces of these 96 years are there in her photographs. And now we are left to sift through what remains,” Duvall said. “The moments captured… the special occasions, the mundane, the beauty of youth, the good ole days… are all frozen in time and held still in the emulsion. This work attempts to hold those traces close, to give them space and another life. Some images attempt to recreate her moments through a modern lens. Some images just treasure the stillness that is… what remains.” An artist and educator from Little Rock, Duvall’s work investigates photography’s role in the development of memory and identity through traditional photography methods as well as installation-based pieces. She earned her bachelor’s degree in studio art from Humboldt State University in 2005 and her Master of Fine Arts in Photography from San Jose State University in 2009. She has taught at numerous colleges and universities including Henderson State University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Nevada, Reno, San Jose State University. The exhibit is on display from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Focus Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art and Design on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. For more information, contact Focus Gallery Director Joli Livaudais at jklivaudais@ualr.edu.

Disc Golf Makes its Debut on ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Campus

John Hill — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 12:55:43 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has added a disc golf course in the center of campus to provide a new recreational experience for the university community and members of the public. The 1,880-foot par-3 course features nine holes over an expanse of grass, trees, and water features and is located between the Fine Arts Building and the Student Services Center on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. Students and employees participating in the sport can bring their own equipment or check it out with their campus identification card at the Donaghey Student Center Fitness Center. The course is open to the public and free to use except during special events. People from all over the university have come together to enjoy the course. Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, has already tried out the course with several colleagues and has only good things to say. “It is great when people from different parts of the university come together to add value to our campus,” Whitman said. “The quick design and implementation of the course demonstrates the good things we can do as we work together. When I play the course with my colleagues, it is a fun, team-building activity that builds community. Many times when I am playing, I see others playing from outside the campus community who are not familiar with campus. Disc golf gets people on our campus to see its beauty and the friendliness of the faculty and staff. It is a great community relations tool.” For those unfamiliar with the game, disc golf is similar to golf, except a flying disc is used instead of a golf ball. One stroke is counted each time the disc is thrown. The goal is to acquire the lowest score at the end of the game. “Disc golf is one of the fastest-growing sports,” said Tom Coffin, a visualization and operations manager at the Emerging Analytics Center who designed the campus’ disc golf course. “There are many disc golf courses in the Little Rock area that bring joy to the community and now ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is home to a great course as well.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students enjoy a game of disc golf on the university’s new course. Photos by Ben Krain.

When outdoor recreation boomed during the pandemic, an opportunity presented itself for a new disc golf course to be designed on campus that provided leisurely play for students, faculty, staff, and members of the public. “A group was formed to discuss areas and designs on how an on-campus course could be utilized and could be installed anywhere by using the surrounding natural resources,” said Grant Watts, coordinator of intramural sports. “We wanted an area that was centrally located, wouldn’t disrupt high traffic areas, and blended in with the campus scenery.” The design concept that was the best fit for the area called for a minimum of three baskets and nine tee pads to make a nine-hole course. There is hope that the course will help jumpstart the process of making disc golf a competitive sport on campus, which would be, among other things, a great way for students to get more involved. “I hope that this course will represent Phase 1 of the multi-part project,” said Jennifer Haygood, administrative analyst for facilities management. “Until the idea was mentioned by Provost Ann Bain, I don’t think any of us realized just how many disc golfers work or attend classes here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and I hope the course will help build interdepartmental and interpersonal relationships through which we might discover more ways to creatively serve our shared community. At the end of the day, disc golf just makes sense for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. It’s kismet.”

Mitchell’s “Monumental” Honored as Louisiana’s Choice for Library of Congress National Book Festival

John Hill — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:57:33 +0000

A ��Vlog��ý Little Rock history professor’s graphic history novel has been honored as Louisiana’s choice for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival. Dr. Brian Mitchell’s novel, “Monumental: Oscar Dunn and His Radical Fight in Reconstruction Louisiana,” was selected as Louisiana’s choice by the Louisiana Center for the Book for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival’s Great Reads from Great Places. “I was elated when I received the news that ‘Monumental’ had been selected for the honor,” Mitchell said. “I was initially overjoyed that the state of my nativity, my home, had selected me for that distinction. It means a lot to me to have the support and love of my family, friends, and former teachers and professors.” Mitchell was also highlighted in a edition panel that featured authors of history books selected for the festival. The Library of Congress Center for the Book state affiliates help promote books, reading, libraries, and literacy programs. “The panel was comprised of authors of selected books that dealt primarily with historic events as the central topic of their books,” Mitchell said. “The authors were fantastic and several were well-known children’s authors. All in all, it was a wonderful experience.” After the success of “Monumental,” Mitchell said he is hoping to write a series of graphic novels dedicated to uncovering tough topics in history. “I began research on the next graphic history over a year ago,” Mitchell said. “I am hoping to secure a contract to do a series of histories that cover issues such as the Elaine Massacre, slum clearance/redlining, forced migrations, and other little known and difficult histories in hopes that they can help students better understand their neighbors, the communities we live in, and critical problems and issues that we are dealing with today in our nation.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Cybersecurity Panel Discussion Oct. 21

John Hill — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:17:46 +0000

In celebration of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold a panel discussion with the top cybersecurity experts at the university. The panel will be held from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, in Dickinson Hall Auditorium. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security and National Cyber Security Alliance. It was created to ensure individuals stay safe and secure online. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s cybersecurity panel will focus on the 2021 theme, “Do Your Part #BeCyberSmart.” The panelists will give a timely and informative discussion on how people can improve online security and share recent cybersecurity events that have occurred at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The panelists include Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of computer science, Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and distinguished professor of information science and director of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), Dr. Thomas Bunton, chief information officer at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and Dr. Veysel Erdag, chief information security office at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, will serve as moderate.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Math Professor Selected as Inaugural Recipient of Top Hat Black Educator Grant

John Hill — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 14:19:34 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock math educator has been selected as one of the inaugural recipients of Top Hat’s Black Educator Grant.�� Dr. , an associate professor of mathematics and statistics, will receive a $10,000 grant, as well as free access to Top Hat’s active learning courseware platform for her students. Top Hat launched its inaugural Black Education Grant Program in December 2020 to examine the platform’s impact on teaching and learning and to support the Black academic community, which has historically faced unequal access to funding. “Receiving this grant was a total shock and surprise to me,” Jones said. “I was honored and humbled to be one of the two first recipients. My husband brought the grant to my attention and suggested that I apply since I already make these efforts in my classes. I hope that the work of my students and I this semester will be effective, and that I will get some useful feedback to improve not only their learning experience, but my future courses as well. This information will also be helpful to other educators and Top Hat designers.” Jones’ study will focus on leveraging Top Hat’s platform to level the playing field and create opportunities for students from all backgrounds to participate and succeed in her class. This includes improving accessibility for students by streamlining the course delivery experience. Instead of relying on several different teaching tools that aren’t designed to work together, Jones will consolidate all of her course materials on Top Hat’s platform to make it easy for students to access everything they need in one place. “I’ll be using Top Hat with my STAT 2350 course, which is an introduction to statistical methods,” Jones said. “I hope that the experience with Top Hat will make the class more manageable for students and provide the flexibility they need to complete their assignments, while increasing student engagement. I’m very excited for the fall semester and truly aiming for 100 percent success!” According to research conducted by Top Hat, students believe that community and connection with their peers is critical to realizing the value of their learning experience. When students feel like they belong in the classroom, they are significantly more motivated and engaged with their learning. When a sense of belonging is created within learning environments that encourage students to be active participants in their education, students are more likely to feel supported to succeed. To create a sense of community, Jones will make belonging a critical component of her course design. “I want my students to understand that they belong, they have a place here, and they can be successful,” she said. “But sometimes, that’s the biggest hurdle. If students feel like they don’t belong, they are less confident and many times, less willing to try.” In her class, Jones will actively prioritize getting to know her students and engaging them in hands-on activities designed to facilitate faculty-student and peer-to-peer connections. She will create opportunities for students to learn from each other and ensure students can provide her with feedback so that she will have a pulse on how they’re feeling and how she can improve the course experience to better support them. Jones will conduct regular attitude surveys to gather feedback from students on what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change right away. By leveraging actionable insights on how her class is doing and how individual students are performing, she can make just-in-time accommodations that will allow her to support individual student success at scale. In March 2022, Top Hat will spotlight Jones and Donna Smith of Sierra College, the second inaugural grant recipient. Top Hat will discuss details of the learning environments the grant recipients created to build confidence, forge community, and support student success.

ASBTDC Introduces Online Training to Keep Small Businesses Cyber Safe

John Hill — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 14:08:49 +0000

New “Cyber Safe” training from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center equips businesses to recognize and thwart cyber threats. ASBTDC collaborated with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Cyber Arena to create the Cyber Safe: Cybersecurity for Small Business online training course. The free, on-demand course is broken into short modules covering cybersecurity basics, such as access control, passwords, physical security, and network protection. The six modules are eight to 25 minutes in length and can be completed in any order. As part of the training, businesses have access to “Security Challenges,” hands-on workouts with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Arena. The interactive challenges allow small business owners and employees to practice their cyber hygiene skills, such as protecting confidential files. The training complies with the federal government’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) cyber standards, helping small businesses compete for federal contracts requiring cyber certification. Malware, viruses, ransomware, and phishing are the on small businesses, according to the Small Business Administration. The surge in online activity, e-commerce, and remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic began puts more small companies at risk. “Our goal is to help small businesses protect themselves and their customers,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “Cyber crimes are costly, and businesses need to have cybersecurity safeguards in place just like they have locks on their doors and other physical security measures. In fact, the Cyber Safe training shows that door locks are one element of cybersecurity.” Go to to launch the Cyber Safe training.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Remembers Allan Ward

John Hill — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 13:57:30 +0000

Dr. Allan Ward, a professor emeritus of speech communication at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, recently passed away in Woodland, California.�� Ward worked at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock from 1973 until his retirement in 2000, and he was known to continuously visit campus to check in on friends, colleagues, and students. “What a remarkable human being Allan Ward was – a gentle, intelligent, giant of a man,” said Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, chair of the Department of Applied Communication. “He was one of the first people I met when I started in my current position in July 2015, and would stop by my office on a weekly basis to bring me ideas of what to do around Little Rock. Sometimes he would take me for a walk to places on campus that were meaningful to him, such as the University District office and the Sequoyah Research Center. He introduced me to folks I might never had known had he not introduced us.” An author of several books, Dr. Ward’s popular press book, entitled “Civil Rights Brothers: The Journey of Albert Porter and Allan Ward,” recounts his experiences working across racial lines with his friend and colleague, Albert Porter.�� After becoming colleagues while teaching at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, Ward and Porter traveled to states like Mississippi and Arkansas to challenge race relations and find cooperation in the divided South.

Cover of “Civil Rights Brothers: The Journey of Albert Porter and Allan Ward”

“As we continued getting to know each other, I began to hear more of his story, and marveled that we had such a man in our midst, who with great humility had created a social movement in higher education in the South, along with his friend and colleague Albert Porter,” Chatham-Carpenter said. “The stories of his courage and ethics continue to inspire me, as they have so many others. His legacy will certainly live on in all our hearts and lives.” For more than 50 years, Ward and Porter worked together, fighting for racial equality and traveling all over the world. Both Porter and Ward continued to help the community in Little Rock, working with foster children, the homeless, and volunteering for public schools. “Dr. Ward was a community giant, great educator, and overall sweet spirit. I met Dr. Ward when I worked at the Institute on Race and Ethnicity,” said Donna Shelton, academic editor and web manager for the Office of the Provost. “He was always so welcoming and warm. Later I found out about the tremendous work he did in civil rights across the South for more than 50 years. He shared stories with me and our students about how he immersed himself in the struggle for a more equitable society. Dr. Ward was a humanitarian who worked to make the lives of others better; people he saw as family.” Ward was also a frequent guest speaker at classes, and his word left an impact on students.�� “Dr. Ward was a wonderful colleague and an inspiration,” said Dr. Julien Mirivel, professor of applied communication. “He came to the department frequently and we loved seeing him and connecting with him. One of my favorite moments took place when he joined a graduate course I was teaching during the weekend. He came to join us on a Sunday morning and shared with students such powerful stories (especially from his book Civil Rights Brothers). I ended class at noon so students and I could take lunch. I saw several students staying behind to ask questions, so I thanked him for his time and left to grab a quick lunch. When I returned an hour later, I found that most of the class was still there.” Ward served on various boards and commissions, including Treatment Homes, Inc., Volunteers in Public Schools, Friends of the Arts, The Weekend Theater, the Arkansas Supportive Housing Network, the Oasis Renewal Center, the Friends of the Zoo, Community Concerts, Agency on Aging, the Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, Pulaski County Historical Society, the Japan-American Society, and the Arkansas Council of International Visitors, among others. He taught adult education courses at LifeQuest of Arkansas and the Shepherd’s Center of North Little Rock.�� “He was my teacher for many classes, a colleague, and more important a friend,” said Cheryl Johnston, an instructor in the Department of Applied Communication. “It was always such a joy to see him out at many community events. I have never met another person with a servant’s heart as big as his. He touched more lives than he ever knew.” He also served on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Sequoyah National Research Center, a fundraising organization that was disbanded in 2014.

Dr. Allan Ward talks with members of the audience following a discussion of his book.

“He took his position seriously in that he was our most passionate and supportive ‘Friend.’ Many times, he would give a one-year membership to the Friends group to someone that happened to sit beside him at a symphony performance or his neighbor,” said Erin Fehr, an archivist with Sequoyah National Research Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “When they received their first Friends Update, we would get a call asking us why they received it. Most of the time, they appreciated it and would attend one of our events. He was one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met and truly one of Sequoyah’s dearest friends.” Ward also served as dean of instruction at Philander Smith College, director of research and staff development at World Services for the Blind, and taught communication courses at the Arkansas Police Academy and in the prisons. As a consultant, he provided lectures, workshops, and seminars for institutions in the commercial, governmental, educational, health-care, non-profit, and religious sectors. Internationally, he spoke to groups in various countries, such as Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.�� Ward will be buried at Pinecrest Cemetery in Bryant. No funeral service is planned. The Department of Applied Communication created an endowed scholarship fund in his honor. The supports student participation in high-impact initiatives that include student research, study abroad programs, and internships.

��Vlog��ý System Awarded $900,000 Workforce Training Grant

John Hill — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:23:56 +0000

The University of Arkansas System was awarded a three-year $900,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to boost the state’s workforce recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19. Nine ��Vlog��ý System institutions will collaborate on the project, led by the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to collect and analyze statewide workforce data and use outcomes to provide existing and bolstered education and training efforts through all seven of the ��Vlog��ý System’s two-year colleges, along with two colleges of technology at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (��Vlog��ýM). “This project is groundbreaking on many levels, especially in the showcase of power that’s possible by the ��Vlog��ý System harnessing resources in a collaborative and innovative fashion for the greater good,” said Chris Thomason, vice president for planning and development for the ��Vlog��ý System. “But most important is the positive impact this project will have on those adversely affected by the unprecedented disruption of the economy and the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying the specific needs of Arkansas communities and matching those with workforce training being offered by the ��Vlog��ý System’s seven two-year colleges and colleges of technology, we are truly promoting the ��Vlog��ý System’s mission of serving and providing educational and professional opportunities for all Arkansans.” The $900,000 EDA grant, which will be matched with $225,000 of local investment, will fund the development of a workforce training strategy with a special emphasis on technological skills that boosts community recovery efforts in Pulaski County and eventually across the state. It also enables the creation of the ��Vlog��ý System Workforce Response and Training Center (��Vlog��ý-WRTC), which will consist of a consortium of ��Vlog��ý System entities aligned to maximize existing training efforts that will be deployed in a data-driven, collaborative format. The project’s goal is to focus on identifying workforce populations most impacted by the pandemic through data, and then aligning skills training opportunities for retraining and reemployment to support community pandemic recovery. “Providing the tools and resources that communities need to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19 is a top priority for EDA,” said Dennis Alvord, acting assistant secretary of commerce for economic development. “By working through the University of Arkansas System and its array of diverse colleges and universities across the state, this project checks all of the boxes on our goals to begin moving the country out of this pandemic and into recovery.” AEDI will operate as the lead data gathering and analyst hub, and ��Vlog��ý-WRTC will utilize the comprehensive, historical documentation of the impact of COVID-19 on the state. With the initial focus being Pulaski County, the effort will then spread statewide to develop workforce training strategies that promote expedited economic recovery and sustained growth. Once AEDI identifies the high-demand employer workforce needs, the full portfolio of existing training and credential programs across the entire ��Vlog��ý System two-year institutions and at ��Vlog��ýM’s colleges of technology will be matched to best meet the workforce training need. “AEDI will foster the development of an industry training alliance comprised of regional employers and ��Vlog��ý-WRTC institutions to identify critical economic infrastructure needs to sustain and grow workforce training programs for the region,” said Jim Youngquist, executive director of AEDI at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Special emphasis will be placed on technology and training simulators that will support the success of the centralized training model while ensuring that delivery of training will not be disrupted by future pandemic events.” Youngquist said as the home of the Arkansas State Data Center, AEDI and its existing emphasis on supporting economic research data analysis positions his agency perfectly to lead the collaborative ��Vlog��ý System effort. “We will be developing a database that will track all aspects of identifying skill sets and jobs available for the underemployed, unemployed and hard-to-employ, all within the corridors of Little Rock where lower per-capita income and unemployment exists,” he said. “Once the model is designed, implemented and successful, we will use AEDI’s statewide data to replicate regional training models across Arkansas to have the same impact. This will allow for a network of regional centers of excellence that will be easily accessible by all Arkansans.” The collaboration includes: ��Vlog��ý System Two-Year Institutions

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College

Other ��Vlog��ý System Entities

University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Arkansas Economic Development Institute

“Workforce development plays a critical role in helping citizens develop necessary skills to secure well-paying jobs and ensuring our state continues to attract and retain employers,” said U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. “This funding will bolster our economic recovery and put hardworking Arkansans in a good position to provide for their families.” The collaborative project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided the EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to honor staff members during Staff Celebration Week

John Hill — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 21:10:36 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock will honor the hard work and achievements of its staff members during Staff Celebration Week April 5-9. Staff Senate will announce the winners of the Staff Achievement Awards. A $3,000 award will be given to the top staff member in each of three categories: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, community service, and personal growth. “The staff members are a vital part of the success of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Staff Senate President-elect Jenn McDannold. “The Staff Achievement Awards highlight our staff members’ incredible commitment to the university and community through hard work, service, and dedication.” Staff Senate will also announce the winners of the Staff Senate Scholarship and Jerry Crittenden Employee Book Scholarship. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community is encouraged to join the celebration of staff members by highlighting offices that have gone above and beyond in the past year by filling out a, join the conversation on the, and share your staff stories on social media using #WeHeartOurStaff. You can also visit a Sodexo eatery on campus, write a message for staff members, and then place it on the Trojan logo cutouts at Starbucks, Wow Café, and more. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Staff Senate will host a Staff Awards Celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, April 30, in the Donaghey Student Center, where award winners and staff members celebrating work anniversaries, retirement, and educational achievements can drop by to pick up their awards and certificates and have their picture taken. The members of the Staff Awards Committee behind the celebrations include Cadence Baise, Jordan Breckenridge, Serifatu Buford, Shannon Gwinn, Cody Henslee, Jenn McDannold, Anissa Sonia-Williams, and Samantha Wiley.��

Crisp uses Mindful Self-Compassion to help people de-stress during the pandemic

John Hill — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 20:44:05 +0000

Dr. Catherine Crisp, an associate professor of social work at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, is using her training in mindful self-compassion to help fellow educators reduce the stress in their lives brought on by a global pandemic.�� Crisp, who happens to be the only mindful self-compassion trained teacher in Arkansas, has been leading a weekly meditation group for her co-workers at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during the 2020-21 school year. Dr. Peggy Scranton, a professor of political science who is a mindfulness-based stress reduction teacher, and Dr. Dent Gitchel Jr., an associate professor of rehabilitation counseling who is a compassion cultivation training teacher, facilitate the group that meets for 30 minutes at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and usually attracts 5-10 people. “What’s been so remarkable about teaching with them is that we are each trained in a different form of meditation,” Crisp said. “We spend the first five minutes inviting people to get settled in, which for me means getting the fidgetiness out of my body and finding a place of stillness. We gently lead people into the practice of meditation. I think of it as being a slow walk toward the beach. After five minutes, we do a more formal practice that lasts about 20-25 minutes. When the meditation is over, we invite people to check in or ask how the experience was for them.” For those who aren’t familiar with the meditative style of mindful self-compassion, it’s a question that Crisp gets asked often enough. “Mindful self-compassion consists of treating yourself like a cherished friend, and there are three components,” Crisp said. “The first is mindfulness which is paying attention to the present moment without attempting to change it. The second is common humanity which is a sense of connection to other people. And the third is self-kindness, which is being kind to ourselves.” Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, invited Crisp to start the group as a way to improve employee wellness. “People who work in higher education are feeling a lot of pressure to both be there for their students and be there for their families,” Crisp said. “We are having a similar experience as our students. We can’t get out in the community. A lot of relationships with family and friends have been suspended. We are also trying to be there to support our students and being asked to innovate in our classes.” As a college professor, Crisp has found that practicing mindful self-compassion has made her a better teacher who can relate more with her students. “It starts with being compassionate to myself and sending that energy out into the world,” Crisp said. “When I am kinder to myself, I am kinder to those around me. For the first time this semester, I tried something that I called ‘the seven days of grace’ for my students. Some people need a hard deadline, and some people need a soft deadline. The late penalties for my students don’t’ start until the seven days of grace have finished which is seven days after the due date.” Crisp began meditating about 12 years ago and practicing mindful self-compassion about five years ago after unexpectedly experiencing a significant hearing loss in her right ear. “Five months after my diagnosis, I went to the first workshop I’ve ever attended on mindful self-compassion, and I was led to some exercises that immediately softened my response to my hearing loss and gave me permission to grieve,” she said. Crisp said that practicing mindful self-compassion has had a huge impact on her life, leading her to live a happy and healthier life. “Mindful self-compassion had an effect on this life-changing, but not life-threatening, health issue I was experiencing,” Crisp said. “It can be applied to a lot of other things, not just the big stuff but something as simple as getting frustrated at the person in front of me in the grocery store line. I start practicing mindful self-compassion, and my body softens and I relax and suddenly the situation is not as stressful as it was.” After seeing the positive results mindful self-compassion brought to her life, Crisp undertook the training to become a teacher in the technique during a sabbatical in 2018. “This is where I will give extraordinary credit to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock since I applied to do this as my sabbatical,” Crisp said. “I drove to New Mexico to take the class, and I did the teacher training in a Boston suburb in 2018. Then I offered the class for free to a class of 12-14 women, most of whom were employed by MidSouth.” If you’d like to learn more about mindful self-compassion, Crisp is hosting an from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24, via Zoom. The workshop costs $10 for community members, $15 for those earning three hours of continuing education credits, and is free for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock social work and gerontology students. All funds raised will be donated to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Association of Black Social Workers.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Oct. 6 Artist Talk with Margo Duvall

Disc Golf Makes its Debut on ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Campus

Mitchell’s “Monumental” Honored as Louisiana’s Choice for Library of Congress National Book Festival

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Cybersecurity Panel Discussion Oct. 21

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Math Professor Selected as Inaugural Recipient of Top Hat Black Educator Grant