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

Bowen School of Law announces new Veterans Legal Services Clinic

Janea Snyder — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 16:10:51 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law is creating a Veterans Legal Services Clinic that will assist Arkansas veterans in need of legal services. Plans for the new clinic were announced Aug. 20 at a news conference attended by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who each funded half of the $1.5 million project. The tentative opening date for the Veterans Legal Services Clinic is fall 2020. “Providing legal aid through the Veterans Legal Services Clinic is another way to show our appreciation to veterans for what often is a life-altering sacrifice,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “I commend the Bowen School of Law for launching this project, and I am honored to be able to help fund the clinic on behalf of all Arkansans.” Law students will work in this clinic under the supervision of a Bowen faculty member who will represent Arkansas veterans in both the Veterans Affairs disability appeal process as well as in the process for reconsideration of discharge status. “Arkansas is home to over 250,000 veterans who have honorably served our country to protect our freedoms,” Rutledge said. “Sadly, too many veterans do not have the financial means to address service-related legal issues. The funds allocated to the Veterans Legal Services Clinic will not only provide legal assistance to our nation’s heroes, but it will give future attorneys the education, opportunity and desire to serve those who have served us.” This legal clinic will also serve as a Veterans Pro Bono Services Center for the state of Arkansas. It will coordinate and provide practicing attorneys free continuing legal education on veterans’ legal issues and then seek to match participating attorneys with Arkansas veterans in need of legal assistance. “These two endeavors further Bowen’s commitment to our core values of access to justice, public service, and professionalism,” said Theresa Beiner, dean of the law school. “The legal clinic’s goal is to spark in our students a lifelong dedication to serving this very worthy group. The services center will continue that mission by providing attorneys with training opportunities and helping them connect with veterans in need of legal services.” Of Bowen’s 452 current students, approximately 29 are veterans or active military. More than 30 Bowen graduates are veterans or active military members across all services. Recent Bowen graduate N. Simon Kelly has been one of the driving forces behind this effort. Kelly, a U.S. Army veteran, has served as president of Bowen’s Student Veterans Organization for the past three years. He has also spent many hours volunteering at veterans’ legal clinics and the Veteran Legal Assistance Program at the Veterans Day Treatment Center in Little Rock. “When we went to war, it was with our brothers and sisters. Leaving the military can feel like leaving your family behind,” Kelly said. “Further, the benefits process can be daunting and complicated. This clinic will work to alleviate some of those challenges. It will also create a deeper veteran community in Little Rock and show our veterans that they are not alone.” The Veterans Legal Services Clinic will be the seventh legal clinic at Bowen providing opportunities for law students to represent clients while still in law school. Other clinics include Business Innovations, Consumer Protection, Delta, Litigation, Mediation, and Tax. In the photo above, Theresa Beiner, dean of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, announces a new Veterans Legal Services Clinic on Aug. 20 at the law school. She was joined by Nate Todd, director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The governor’s office and the attorney general’s office contributed a combined $1.5 million to fund the clinic to assist veterans. Photo by Benjamin Krain

Computer Science Education experts visit Emerging Analytics Center

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 13:10:48 +0000

Attendees of the first-ever in Arkansas toured the Emerging Analytics Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on June 10 to learn about the latest innovations in virtual reality and computer science. The summit included representatives from 26 states, including national and international leaders in the field of computer science education, who met to discuss issues such as academic standards, teacher training, budgets, and development of computer science education policy. “This group consists of leaders of computer science education from across the nation,” said Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, director of the Emerging Analytics Center. “A lot of the work we do here is a good example of how to get students motivated to learn about computer science and see what they can create. The Emerging Analytics Center is a very high-end place in Little Rock where we are leading the development of these technologies.” From his first months in office, Gov. Asa Hutchinson has promoted the expansion of computer science education in Arkansas, starting with his signature on Arkansas Act 187, which required all the state’s public and charter high schools to offer a course in computer coding. As these students complete high school, state officials are at a juncture where a clear pathway is needed for these students to transition from high school to college and the workforce. “There are very few jobs today that don’t require advanced computer prowess. As we look at jobs that children will have in 10, 20, and 30 years in the future, you have to think about how these jobs will look in the future,” said Anthony Owen, state director of computer science and chief state STEM officer. “We are leading the nation in K-12 education in computer science. We want educators who are ready to teach these students. We want to create a seamless transition from K-12 education to higher education to the workforce to meet industry needs.” Researchers at the Emerging Analytics Center demonstrated multiple projects created with industry partners, representing how the computer science skills students are learning in the classroom can be used as a future career. One of the apps demonstrated is a virtual visit to Hytrol, an Arkansas-based company, where visitors can see working virtual models of the company’s latest products and appreciate Hytrol’s innovative technology for conveyor systems. “The real workforce at the Emerging Analytics Center is the students. Everything you see here is created by the students,” Cruz-Neira said. Emerging Analytics Center researchers also created an educational augmented reality application targeted to art museums. The app allows users to interact with the art work through their cell phones to learn more about the piece and the artist. Heather Lageman, a summit participant and executive director of leadership development at Baltimore County Public Schools, said she has read about this type of technology in the news and can see how beneficial it would be for students. “I love this app,” Lageman said. “It’s a game changer for students who might not have the opportunity to visit many museums. It allows students to interact with the art in a very personal way.” In the upper right photo, Heather Lageman, a summit participant and executive director of leadership development at Baltimore County Public Schools, uses an educational augmented reality application targeted to art museums.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock, UCA announce Governor’s I-40 Showdown

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 13:45:50 +0000

The athletic departments from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Central Arkansas announced the formation of the Governor’s I-40 Showdown, a rivalry series established to promote the spirit of in-state competition between the Little Rock Trojans and the Central Arkansas Bears while celebrating the athletic programs of both schools. “The Governor’s I-40 Showdown will produce a good-natured rivalry with well-earned bragging rights when the triumphant school brings home the trophy,” said Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “The Showdown no doubt will boost interest in all 11 sports designated for the competition and will encourage the athletes by showing their fans are behind them. And this rivalry will give the universities another platform to promote their academic programs to recruit new students.” While these two Division I institutions, separated by just 30 miles, have competed against each other for decades, the newly-formalized rivalry will ensure the Bears and Trojans continue their rivalry in all sports that are mutually sponsored by both institutions. “This really promotes the spirit of in-state competition,” said Little Rock Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque. “It really promotes these two fine institutions and our athletic programs, but really our student-athletes. We promote the entire student-athlete and this gives us another avenue to showcase their successes.” “There are other Division programs in other states that do something similar, and we think it just makes sense,” said Central Arkansas Director of Athletics Brad Teague. “In-state competition just makes sense, and why wouldn’t we want to do this? It’s a big time announcement, and we’re proud of it.” As part of the Governor’s I-40 Showdown, Little Rock and Central Arkansas will compete on the fields of play each year across 11 sports. The Bears and Trojans will meet annually in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s golf. Each head-to-head competition will have a pre-determined point value for the winning team. The university that accumulates the most points during the athletic season will have its name permanently engraved on the Governor’s Trophy – a traveling trophy that will reside on the reigning champion’s campus the following year. The Governor’s Trophy will be presented at the final competition between the two schools, which is the annual baseball game played at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. The first head-to-head meeting between the two schools as part of the Governor’s I-40 Showdown will take place Friday, August 17, when UCA and Little Rock meet in women’s soccer at the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex in Conway. The two schools will go head-to-head in 10 different sports in 2018-19 with women’s basketball added to the rivalry in 2019-20.

Rhode receives Distinguished Alumni Award from School of Mass Communication

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 16:50:50 +0000

Patrick Rhode, U.S. vice president of corporate affairs for the global infrastructure firm, Cintra, returned to his alma mater with the idea of sharing lessons learned from his career, which spans the White House and high profile senior executive roles in government and private industry. He returned home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on April 12 to serve as the keynote speaker of the School of Mass Communication Awards Ceremony, but was surprised with the Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Mass Communication. Arkansas state officials also recognized Rhode with a Certificate of Recognition from Gov. Asa Hutchinson and a Capitol Citation from Secretary of State Mark Martin. His notable career has included positions as special assistant to President George W. Bush, chief of staff for two FEMA administrations within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, associate administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and senior advisor to NASA. During his visit to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, members of Dr. Iveta Imre’s Multimedia Reporting Class Nick Popowitch and Kamroon Woods interviewed Rhode for a feature that will appear on LR Angle. Rhode also spoke with students in Dr. Sonny Rhodes’ Careers in Mass Media class and did an interview with K��Vlog��ýR. Rhode credits ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as the place where he learned to take chances that led to unexpected opportunities. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is very special to me, because it is the place I really learned to get out of my comfort zone,” he said. “My story is not a very conventional one. I did not have it all figured out, far from it. I think it is okay not to know exactly what you want to do.” Early in his career, Rhode moved to Austin, Texas, to be with his fiancé. Since he was unable to immediately find a position in broadcast journalism, he became a spokesman for a state agency and soon met someone who would be instrumental in his career. “Within weeks of my new job, public confidence in that agency would be tested,” he said. “I would be introduced to members of the staff of a young Governor Bush. This is the time where I met people that I never expected to meet. This taught me to do the best in any situation that comes before you because you never know who may be there and who may be helpful to you in the future.” Despite initial personal thoughts that he was too young and inexperienced to take the job, Rhode served as deputy director of National Advance Operations for Bush’s successful presidential campaign in 2000, which led to several high-profile government positions. “Don’t limit yourself by how you see your capabilities, because there are people around you who may see more for you than you see for yourself,” he said. “That’s the lesson I learned when I was asked to help run operations for President Bush’s campaign.” On Sept. 11, 2001, Rhode’s life took on another drastic change. When the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, Rhode was named chief of staff for two FEMA administrations within the department responsible for more than 100 Presidential Disaster and Emergency Declarations over his years. The department assisted more than 1 million Americans during his tenure. “We looked out the window and saw smoke coming from the direction of the Pentagon,” Rhode said. “There is no question that moment changed my life. The country was forever changed that day. The lesson for me is that planning is important, but life doesn’t care about our perfect plans. Life will change in ways we have never expected.” When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Rhode learned that, sometimes, doing your job is all you can do in an impossible situation. “The early pictures of disaster victims in New Orleans seemingly forgotten by their country were all around. As chief of staff, part of my role is to encourage everyone to do their jobs and not let the outside pressure get to us. The criticism and struggle made much of the early headlines, but that was not the whole story,” he said. “The often untold story is what happened next when the country came together, resulting in the emergency evacuation of tens of thousands of people to safety in several states, something the likes of which had not been attempted much less accomplished at that time in the modern history of the country.” Throughout Rhode’s career, completing his bachelor’s degree in mass communication from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a goal he never forgot. He left ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1993, just three credit hours short of graduation, to pursue a career as a television reporter for the CBS affiliate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. With the help of mass communication faculty, Rhode proudly completed his degree in 2016. “I realized that so many of my stories were about ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” he said. “When she asked about my education, I had to explain to my daughter that I left college three credit hours short of a college degree. I was inspired to come back, and the university welcomed me back with open arms. The lesson I learned is to remember what is important and that you are never too old to come back.”

Health Care and the Law symposium will discuss cost of health care in Arkansas

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 20:22:29 +0000

The second symposium of a three-year series on health care policy and law in Arkansas will be held at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law Friday, Oct. 20. This year’s Health Care Policy and the Law Symposium will focus on the cost of health care in Arkansas. Speakers will include local and national health care professionals and policy makers who will discuss factors that drive the cost of health care in the state. These topics include health care payment reform and how socioeconomic factors like income and county of residence affect a person’s health care and health behaviors. The symposium will also cover the, where health care and legal professionals work together to promote a healthy population. “Bowen is excited to host this second symposium focusing on addressing Arkansas’ significant health care challenges, many of which do not lend themselves to easy answers,” said John DiPippa, dean of Bowen School of Law. “We believe that our second topic, the cost of health care in Arkansas, will demonstrate the opportunities possible when we collaboratively look for solutions.” The keynote speaker is Michael Chernew, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Professor of Health Care Policy and the director of the Healthcare Markets and Regulation Lab in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. His speech is entitled, “Payment Reform: Evidence and Future Directions.” Featured speakers include Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Vic Snyder, former Arkansas state senator and U.S. congressman. “By bringing together some of the most sophisticated health care and legal thinkers in the state as well as experts from elsewhere in the country, we hope to promote an informed discussion and to serve as a source of information and ideas for Arkansas’ policymakers,” DiPippa said. Additional speakers include:

��Joseph Bates, senior public health advisor for the Arkansas Department of Health
��Lori Chumbler, senior associate counsel for Walmart on the employment legal team
��Marcy Doderer, president and chief executive officer of Arkansas Children’s Hospital
��Mary Claire Hyatt, staff attorney with Legal Aid of Arkansas working with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Medical-Legal Partnership
��Judge Mary Spencer McGowan
��Josh Rosenthal, co-founder and chief scientific officer of RowdMap, Inc.
��Anna Strong, executive director of child advocacy and public health at Arkansas Children’s Hospital
��John Tilford, professor and chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

The symposium series, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield, is designed to foster thoughtful, intellectual debate about health care issues in Arkansas. The goal is to promote informed policy making and to establish a platform for generating research projects. The event is also sponsored by University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Clinton School of Public Service. Attorneys, physicians, pharmacists, and nurses have the opportunity to earn professional development credits through the conference. Registration is $20 . Students may attend the event for free. Lunch and snacks will be provided. For more information, call 501.324.9973 or email tmmedlock@ualr.edu.

Facebook launches campaign at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to promote computer science education in Arkansas

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:02:52 +0000

Facebook has inspired the next generation of technology industry leaders in Arkansas with the launch of the “Tech Take Over” campaign at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Nearly 200 high school students from central Arkansas attended an exciting display of virtual reality technology from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on Sept. 26. The high school students learned about opportunities in the computer science industry from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and tech industry leaders during the event at the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. “Tech Take Over” is part of the between Facebook and the state of Arkansas, which was announced earlier this year to generate student interest in computer science education and careers. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, , , the , and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock STEM Education Center partnered to bring a technology roadshow to five universities in the state, beginning with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Arkansas is a very forward-thinking state with all the governor is doing to push computer science education,” said Peipei Zhou, director of growth with Facebook’s TechStart program. “We want to help the state with its advancement of computer science, and we want to provide these students with a better future.” Over the next two weeks, Facebook and the Emerging Analytics Center team will bring the “Tech Take Over” event to universities in Jonesboro, Magnolia, Fayetteville, and Pine Bluff. More than 100 high schools from around the state are expected to participate in the events.

Arkansas high school students learn how to use virtual reality apps developed by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Emerging Analytics Center during the Sept. 26 “Tech Take Over” event.

“One of the most exciting areas of computer science is virtual reality,” said Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, director of the Emerging Analytics Center, who delivered a speech on developing virtual reality applications during the event. “Everything the students are experiencing here will go on the road to locations all across the state. We will reach over 1,000 ninth-through-12th graders around the state to get them interested in virtual reality and computer science.” Facebook’s education initiative helps high school students explore computer science through modern technology. In spring 2017, Facebook donated 400 virtual reality classroom kits to 265 high schools in Arkansas. The kits included computers, cameras, and Oculus Rift equipment. In August, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced that Facebook expanded the donation and will provide virtual reality kits to all of the more than 360 public high schools. Each school will receive an Oculus Rift touch controller and 30 virtual reality viewers. Expanding computer science education was a core campaign promise for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who believes producing a tech-savvy workforce will be a boon to the state’s economy and help secure future jobs in the technology industry. In 2015, Hutchinson requiring public high schools to offer classes in computer sciences. “This is part of Gov. Hutchinson’s campaign promise to bring computer science education to every student in Arkansas,” said Anthony Owen, director of computer science education with the Arkansas Department of Education. “This is also an aspect of his job creation promise and commitment to Arkansas. Computer science is one of the fastest growing industries. We’ve already been able to expand and attract computer and technology industry companies based on our expansion of K-16 computer science education in the state.”

Arkansas Public Administration Consortium awards 46 graduate certificates

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 27 May 2016 14:10:17 +0000

Governor proclaims Certified Public Manager Recognition Week The Arkansas Public Administration Consortium at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock recently awarded graduate certificates in public and volunteer management to 46 students. A cooperative program of ��Vlog��ýLR, Arkansas State University, and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, APAC has successfully trained and educated managers and leaders from the public and nonprofit sectors since 1984. The graduates were recognized during a May 17 ceremony at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. They had another reason to celebrate as Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a proclamation declaring May 16-20 to be Certified Public Manager Recognition Week in the state of Arkansas. “We are extremely proud of our graduates,” APAC Executive Director Jolie Busby said. “Our mission is to professionalize public management and improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector. APAC is recognized as a premier provider of training and management development.” Busby, CPM Program Manager Anna Swaim, and members of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Managers and the Certified Public Managers Advisory Council represented ��Vlog��ýLR during the proclamation signing. The consortium’s certificate programs include Certified Public Manager, Arkansas Governmental Manager, Certified Volunteer Manager, and Certified Arkansas Planning Official. The ceremony recognized Maj. Robert Parker, assistant chief of the Enforcement Division at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, as the Certified Public Manager Best Project Plan Award winner and Carol Short, who works for the city of Bull Shoals, as the first graduate of the Certified Arkansas Planning Official certificate program. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Chief of Staff and Deputy Director Jeff Crow served as the graduation’s keynote speaker. He praised the graduates for recognizing the value of investing in management training. Applications for the 2016-2017 Certified Public Manager and Certified Volunteer Manager programs are being accepted. For more information, visit the website. In the upper right photo, Gov. Asa Hutchinson signs a proclamation declaring May 16-20 as Certified Public Manager Recognition Week in the state of Arkansas. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are: Don Childers, Barbara Mahoney, Nan Harrell, Rick Ward-Harder, Becky Bryant, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Jolie Busby, Cynthia Nixon, Sharon Hacker, and Gaye Jones-Washington. Pictured in the back row, from left to right, are: Cleta Hardy, Lori Morrison, Chris Colclasure, Rebecca Edwards, Nikki Heck, and Anna Swaim. Contributed photo.

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