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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Briscoe, Agarwal, and MacFarlane as Top Professors of 2021

John Hill — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 16:15:03 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has selected Drs. David Briscoe, Nitin Agarwal, and Bronwyn MacFarlane as the 2021 winners of the Faculty Excellence Awards.�� Briscoe, professor of sociology, has been named the 2021 recipient of the Bailey Teaching Award and will receive a $5,000 award. Briscoe began his teaching career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1992 and has consistently been honored for excellence in teaching and public service over the past three decades. Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Information Science, was named the Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors winner and will receive a $5,000 award. Agarwal is an internationally known researcher who pioneered work in the social computing discipline. He launched the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), which was designated last year as a research center by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. MacFarlane, professor of gifted education, received the Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award and will receive a $5,000 award. She has contributed extensively to public service in the field of gifted education and serves as a nationally elected and recognized leader in the National Association for Gifted Children. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock annually celebrates the achievements of the top professors of the year who are making a difference in the community through their contributions in teaching, research and creative works, and public service. This is the highest honor ��Vlog��ý Little Rock awards its faculty members. “Our faculty excellence winners represent the university’s commitment to superb instruction, outstanding research, and community service,” Provost Ann Bain said. “Each of the winners has made immeasurable contributions to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community and to the lives of their students and colleagues. We thank them for their service.” Created in 1989, the Faculty Excellence Awards has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty for the past 32 years and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle, and the Bailey Foundation. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors selected the university-wide winners from the 12 faculty members who were selected as the top faculty members for the 2020-21 academic year in each of the three categories in their respective colleges and the William H. Bowen School of Law. Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching – Dr. David Briscoe, professor of sociology�� Briscoe has created a legacy of teaching excellence at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that stretches for nearly three decades. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in criminal justice from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a Ph.D. in sociology from Southern Illinois University.

Dr. David Briscoe

He began teaching at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1992 and has been consistently honored for excellence in teaching and public service. Briscoe has been awarded nearly 60 honors; earned professional development certification from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, Oxford Round Table; and was twice named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence. He has received the Graduate and Retention Advocate Award four times and received the Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award in 2020. Briscoe is known as an advocate for students with disabilities and was voted among the Best of the Best Professors three times by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student body. He serves on the National Phi Kappa Phi Awards Committee, the Chancellor’s Race and Ethnicity Advisory Committee, the Centennial Campaign Cabinet, and the Institutional Effectiveness Committee.�� As the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, Briscoe assists with the certification and undergraduate education of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student-athletes, serves on a number of committees at the Sun Belt Conference, and served as a panelist at the 2019 Inaugural Diversity Summit. He is also well-known and admired for his role as a national volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America. As a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Briscoe became the inaugural national chairman of Learning for Life, an academic and character development program serving more than 1.7 million students throughout the United States. He also has the distinction of being the first African American in the state to serve on the Boy Scouts’ national executive board as well as the first African American in the country to be selected as the Alumnus of the Year in 2013, where he was chosen from among 50 million alumni of Boy Scouts. Faculty Excellence Award in Research – Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Distinguished professor of Information Science Agarwal is an internationally distinguished researcher whose pioneering work in the social computing discipline has significantly advanced this fledgling area and helped open many doors for innovation for the scientific community. His primary research interests are in social computing, (deviant) behavior modeling, studying group dynamics, influence, trust, collective action, social-cyber forensics, health informatics, data mining and privacy aims to be at the vanguard of the ever-evolving online behaviors.

Dr. Nitin Agarwal

At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, he created the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), which was designated as a research center by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in 2020.�� “STEM education needs to be research-driven so that we can expose our students to cutting-edge technologies to prepare them as the next generation workforce that is capable of developing innovative solutions to real-world problems,” Agarwal said. “Our students are the lifeblood of research projects at COSMOS. Our mission is to conduct competitive research, transition research from publications to practice, and inspire thought leaders that communicate science to society and contribute to the social good.” COSMOS has produced more than two dozen projects, published 10 books and more than 200 publications, and three important tools: Blogtrackers, YouTubeTracker and Focal Structure Analysis. In the past year, COSMOS has assisted the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office track scams and disinformation related to COVID-19 that led to the development of COVID-19 Misinformation Tracker. “Our research examines some of the very complex and interdisciplinary problems that challenge science and society alike,” Agarwal said. “For a meaningful impact, we partner with educators, researchers, businesses, practitioners, journalists, policymakers, defense and security agencies across our state, nation, and the world.” Since joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2009, Agarwal has brought in more than $10 million in funding for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock from sponsors like the U.S. Army Research Office, U.S. Office of Naval Research, U.S. Air Force Research Lab, U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. National Science Foundation, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Most recently, Agarwal edited a IEEE Internet Computing special issue on cyber social health that highlights developments of social media analytics used to gain a better understanding of online human behavior, as research in social media analytics has seen significant development of new and advanced techniques. and his co-editors, Drs. , , and , introduce a conceptual design that demonstrates modeling at cognitive, neural, and social levels for cumulative measurements in prediction, explainability, and mitigation of misinformation.�� Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service – Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane, professor of gifted education Bronwyn MacFarlane has contributed extensive public service in the field of gifted education. She has served as a nationally elected and recognized leader in the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) in the roles of chair of the STEM Network with more than 1,000 members and chair of the Counseling and Guidance Network, which serves over 700 members.��

Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane

For three years, MacFarlane wrote the popular column “The Curriculum Corner” in NAGC’s national magazine, “Teaching for High Potential.” She also serves as an editorial assistant and guest editor for the academic journal “Roeper Review.”�� MacFarlane has served as chair or a representative on more than 25 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock committees, on over 15 national and state education committees, and has held or continues to hold several state and national leadership positions in gifted education. In Little Rock, MacFarlane is a regular volunteer judge and guest speaker for events like the Central Arkansas Regional Science Fair, Arkansas 4-H, and Girls in STEM Leadership Conference. She provided expert commentary in interviews to the local media for parents to support children’s learning and mental health during the pandemic.�� MacFarlane has received national and international recognition in the field of gifted education. Some of her awards include the Early Leader Award from the National Association for Gifted Children in 2018, the Wedge Distinguished Scholar Award at Western Kentucky University in 2017, and the Challenger Award from the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education Association in 2016 for her cutting edge book “STEM Education for High Ability Learning.”�� She twice received the Faculty Excellence Award for Research, for the College of Education in 2014 and for the College of Education and Health Professions in 2019. She has been named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence, received the New Faculty Teaching Commendation, and twice received the Graduate and Retention Advocate Award.�� “Public service is integrated into my work, and my activities focus on ways to develop talent in different settings,” MacFarlane said. “My service activities at each level, whether local, university, state, national, or international, can be best summarized as contributing my time and expertise to supporting the talent development of others. Whether I am volunteering locally, evaluating federal projects and university programs, or speaking to parents and teachers about education, I am always focused on doing what I can to support someone’s talent development and growth.”

Briscoe, MacFarlane, and Anson receive Faculty Excellence Awards from CHASSE

John Hill — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:41:30 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE) has selected Drs. David Briscoe, Bronwyn MacFarlane, and Ed Anson as its 2021 Faculty Excellence winners. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock annually celebrates the achievements of the top professors of the year who are making a difference in the community through their contributions in teaching, research and creative works, and public service. This is the highest honor ��Vlog��ý Little Rock awards its faculty members. Created in 1989, the Faculty Excellence Awards have provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty for the past 32 years and is made possible through contributions by the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle, the Bailey Foundation, and UMR.�� Briscoe, MacFarlane, and Anson will compete for the university-wide Faculty Excellence Awards, which will be announced April 15. Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching – David Briscoe, professor of sociology in Department of Sociology and Anthropology Briscoe said he learned the value of education early in life when he attended a one-room school in Mars Hill, North Carolina, during the period of racial segregation in the South in the late 1950s. “The school had a legacy because my father and grandfather attended the school when they were students,” Briscoe said. “The school only went to the 6th grade. In many ways, I never thought I would go any further.”

Faculty Excellence nominee David Briscoe. Photo by Ben Krain.

Briscoe would go on to earn undergraduate (‘80) and graduate (85′) degrees from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (’93). He has taught at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for nearly three decades, beginning his career in 1992. During that time, Briscoe has been awarded nearly 60 honors, earned professional development certification from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, Oxford Round Table, and was twice named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence. He has received the Graduate and Retention Advocate Award four times and received the Faculty Excellence in Public Service award for the College of Social Sciences and Communication in 2020. Briscoe is known to enthusiastically advocate for students with disabilities and was voted among the Best of the Best Professors three times by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student body. He serves on the National Phi Kappa Phi Awards Committee, the Chancellor’s Race and Ethnicity Advisory Committee, the Centennial Campaign Cabinet, and the Institutional Effectiveness Committee. As the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, Briscoe assists with the certification and undergraduate education of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student-athletes. He is also well-known and admired in his role as a national volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America. As a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Briscoe became the inaugural national chairman of Learning for Life, an academic and character development program serving more than 1.7 million students throughout the United States. Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service – Bronwyn MacFarlane, professor of gifted education in the School of Education Bronwyn MacFarlane has contributed extensive public service in the field of gifted education. She has served as a nationally elected and recognized leader in the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) in the roles of chair of the STEM Network with more than 1,000 members and chair of the Counseling and Guidance Network, which serves over 700 members.�� For three years, MacFarlane wrote the popular column “The Curriculum Corner” in NAGC’s national magazine, “Teaching for High Potential.” She also serves as an editorial assistant and guest editor for the academic journal “Roeper Review.”

Faculty Excellence nominee Bronwyn MacFarlane. Photo by Ben Krain.

“From classroom and district gifted program responsibilities to nationally elected leadership roles, Dr. MacFarlane has served in many leadership capacities where she gently challenges those around her in developing new ideas, approaches, and products,” said Dr. Debbie Dailey, chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Central Arkansas. “Her valued service leadership contributions support the bridge from scholarship to best teaching practices in local schools and classrooms and beyond to benefit individuals and improve their educational experiences.” MacFarlane has served as chair or a representative on more than 25 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock committees, on over 15 national and state education committees, and has held or continues to hold several state and national leadership positions in gifted education. In Little Rock, MacFarlane is a regular volunteer judge and guest speaker for events like the Central Arkansas Regional Science Fair, Arkansas 4-H, and Girls in STEM Leadership Conference.�� She provided expert commentary in interviews to the local media for parents to support children’s learning and mental health during the pandemic.�� MacFarlane has received national and international recognition in the field of gifted education. Some of her awards include the Early Leader award from the National Association for Gifted Children in 2018, the Wedge Distinguished Scholar award at Western Kentucky University in 2017, and the Challenger Award from the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education Association in 2016 for her cutting edge book “STEM Education for High Ability Learning.”�� A professor for only 13 years, she has been recognized with the Faculty Excellence Awards three times in the past seven years. She twice received the Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Scholarship for the College of Education in 2014 and for the College of Education and Health Professions in 2019. She has been named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence, received the New Faculty Teaching Commendation, and twice received the Graduate and Retention Advocate Award.�� “Public service is integrated into my work, and my activities focus on ways to develop talent in different settings,” MacFarlane said. “My service activities at each level, whether local, university, state, national, or international, can be best summarized as contributing my time and expertise to supporting the talent development of others. Whether I am volunteering locally, evaluating federal projects and university programs, or speaking to parents and teachers about education, I am always focused on doing what I can to support someone’s talent development and growth.”�� Faculty Excellence Award in Research – Edward Anson, professor of history in the Department of History

Faculty Excellence nominee Edward Anson. Photo by Ben Krain.

As a specialist in the Hellenistic Era, Anson has contributed significant research in the field of ancient history during his 45 years as a professor at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He is considered an expert in Alexander the Great studies. His latest books, “The Campaigns of Philip II and Alexander the Great,” and “Ptolemy I, Soter: Themes and Issues” will be published in 2022. His most recent publications include “Philip II, the Father of Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues” in 2020. In the same year, Anson also co-edited “Affective Relations and Personal bonds in Hellenistic Antiquity: A Festschrift Honouring of the Career of Elizabeth D. Carney” with Dr. Monica D’Agostini and Dr. Frances Pownall. “His publications on Macedonia military innovations, defining ethnicity, the chronology of the early Hellenistic period, and the career of the green commander and administrator Eumenes under Alexander and the early successor have transformed modern scholarship on these topics and have become the standard ‘go-to’ references by other scholars,” said Dr. Pownall, professor of classics at the University of Alberta. His overall publication record includes numerous books, more than 50 articles or book chapters, and over 50 encyclopedia entries with peer-reviewed journals and presses. He also serves as associate editor of “Ancient History Bulletin,” an assessor for classics for the Australian Research Council, and a fellow of the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Hellenistic Studies.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock honors Geissler, Ghosh, and Briscoe as top professors of 2020

John Hill — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 13:58:20 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has selected Drs. Gary Geissler, Anindya Ghosh, and David Briscoe as the 2020 winners of the Faculty Excellence Awards.�� Geissler, professor of marketing and advertising, will receive a $10,000 award as the winner of the Bailey Teaching Award. Additionally, Ghosh, professor of chemistry, was named the UMR Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors winner, while Briscoe received the Faculty Excellence in Public Service award. They will both receive $5,000. “For more than three decades, we’ve recognized the hard work of our outstanding faculty members through the Faculty Excellence Awards,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “It signifies the value we place on excellent teaching, research and creative activity, and service to our community. Though this has been a year filled with uncertainty, it helps us all to remember that we can be certain of the unwavering commitment of our faculty who spend every day making a difference in the lives of our students.”�� Created in 1989, the Faculty Excellence Awards has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty for the past 31 years and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle, Bailey Foundation, and UMR. The winners are selected by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors. “Our faculty excellence winners represent the university’s commitment to superb instruction, outstanding research, and community service,” Provost Ann Bain said. “Each of the winners has made immeasurable contributions to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community and to the lives of their students and colleagues. We thank them for their service.” In addition to the Faculty Excellence Awards, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has selected the Department of Management in the College of Business as the first university-wide winner of the new Department Student Success and Retention Awards. This award recognizes exceptional activities that involve broad, collaborative participation within academic departments or schools to support student success and improve retention at the undergraduate level. The awards are funded by gifts from Bain and Dr. Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.�� An announcement of the winners can be found at the Faculty Excellence Awards website.

Bailey Teaching Award

Dr. Gary Geissler, professor of marketing and advertising, has been selected as the 2020 Faculty Excellence in Teaching award winner for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “There are many outstanding professors and great colleagues throughout the university. To be singled out for the university teaching award is a tremendous honor that I will always treasure,” Geissler said. “I am very appreciative of the university and the award sponsors, judges, and organizers. It has been a privilege to teach and mentor so many excellent students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for the past 18 years. The diversity of our students and their unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are real strengths. I attribute any personal success to my students’ successes.” A key teaching method that Geissler has used extensively throughout his career is the client-based class project. He has directed around 200 of these semester-long projects, greatly benefiting many students and well over 170 businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. “Dr. Geissler’s teaching is innovative and emphasizes experiential learning,” said Roger Dorsey, associate professor of accounting. “In particular, his use of class projects involving real-world businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies has been enormously beneficial to students. Dr. Geissler exemplifies the sort of teaching that prepares students for life and career success.” In recent years, Geissler has demonstrated his high-quality, high-involvement teaching approach by sponsoring, mentoring, and leading teams of students who won two different National Marketing Championships and finished as the top American team in a major, international competition. In the past, he led a team of students who won Taziki’s National Marketing Challenge competition. Additionally, Geissler led a team to win AT&T’s Campus Brand Challenge. The team developed and implemented an integrated marketing communications plan for AT&T. “Dr. Geissler is the most active and involved professor that I have ever had the privilege of being mentored and taught by,” said Brandi Glover, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate and former student of Geissler’s who was a member of the AT&T Campus Brand Challenge National Champion Team. “There is no length that he would not go within his power in order to help a student achieve their goals and aspirations.” Most recently, a team of Geissler’s students were one of three finalists from throughout the world who competed in the Facebook Global Digital Challenge as part of P2P: Challenging Extremism, an initiative mandated by the White House National Security Council.

UMR Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors

Dr. Anindya Ghosh, professor of chemistry, is being honored as the 2020 Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors award winner for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “The award is a great honor,” Ghosh said. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has given me the best possible platform to work on my research and succeed in it. I am proud of my university and the Chemistry Department. It is also a success for my students. I am lucky to have some excellent undergraduate and graduate students who helped me to become a better researcher and instructor.” The primary focus of his current research is the development of novel catalysts and synthetic pathways that are strongly related to sustainable development. Using readily available reagents or renewable polymers, Ghosh and his co-researchers are developing catalysts that are highly useful in remediation of organic and biological pollutants.�� “His research efforts speak for themselves as a major contributor to developing new and novel methods that are being used in the Green Chemistry approaches to develop safer and cleaner chemical synthetic methods,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gaffney, professor emeritus of chemistry. “Dr. Ghosh’s research contributions are also leading the way to developing safer, more economic, and less environmentally impacting synthetic methods at the heart of the Green Chemistry movement, which is needed if we are to develop sustainable chemistry in the future.” Ghosh’s recent research in the area of green chemistry, catalysis, and novel material research has resulted in six peer-reviewed articles and one book chapter in 2019 alone. He brings his research directly into the classroom and actively uses green chemistry experiments in his courses.�� Ghosh enjoys giving back by mentoring young students in scientific research. He regularly hosts middle and high school students in his laboratory who are conducting research projects related to his research areas. As a major adviser, Ghosh has supervised four master’s degree students and five doctoral students. Currently, he runs a research group of five graduate students and eight undergraduate students. “I am really passionate about my research,” Ghosh said. “I believe in my work and the people who I work with, and together we make it possible. I can only excel if my students excel in their research activities and future endeavors.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Ghosh authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and has 21 patents with three more pending. Ghosh was part of the scientific advisory committee which wrote a successful National Science Foundation EPSCoR ASSET III proposal of $24 million for the state of Arkansas. He has been co-leading a team of 20 researchers from 10 different universities in Arkansas for this proposal to develop novel materials for pollution remediation using cellulose as the starting material.�� He is also a part of a team of researchers that recently secured $5.1 million in funding from the Department of Defense. In a collaborative effort between ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Ghosh’s role as a co-principal investigator is to develop novel, injectable, stimuli-sensitive polymeric materials for use in bone scaffolds.

Faculty Excellence in Public Service

Dr. David Briscoe, professor of sociology, is being honored as the 2020 Faculty Excellence in Public Service award winner for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I received this coveted award in honor of my parents, the late David and Marjorie Briscoe, who led me down the pathway to service,” Briscoe said. “Public service is so important because it offers everyone an opportunity to share some aspect of themselves with others.” Briscoe has been serving the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community for almost three decades. After earning undergraduate (‘80) and graduate (85′) degrees from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (’93), Briscoe returned home to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, where he has been teaching since 1992. “Dr. Briscoe gives his life and his all to this university and to its students,” said Dr. Krista Lewis, chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. “He is very well-loved by his students and is known for his genuine interest in supporting people. It seems that hardly a week passes in which I am not contacted by students, community members, or organizations who wish to reach out just to praise the service and care that Dr. Briscoe has extended to them.” Briscoe is known to enthusiastically advocate for students with disabilities and was voted among the Best of the Best Professors three times by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student body. He serves on the National Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Selection Committee, the Diversity Council, the Athletics Committee, and the Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity. Briscoe is also well-known and admired in his role as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts. As a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Briscoe became the inaugural national chairman of Learning for Life, an academic and character development program serving more than 1.7 millions students. “David Briscoe is an outstanding leader to the Quapaw Area Council and the Boy Scouts of America,” said Marcal Young, scout executive. “His leadership has inspired others to serve and help change lives in thousands of youth in our program. Dr. Briscoe has been instrumental in building a vibrant boy scouting program in Arkansas and across the nation.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to reveal Faculty Excellence Award winners April 23

John Hill — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 17:58:35 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will reveal the winners of the 2020 Faculty Excellence Awards at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23. The results will be announced on the Faculty Excellence website and the.�� “Though we cannot celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our faculty members in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud to honor our dedicated faculty members for their hard work and perseverance in educating our students, providing groundbreaking research, and serving the public good,” Provost Ann Bain said. “Please join us on April 23 as we celebrate this bright spot at the university, our Faculty Excellence Award winners!” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock annually celebrates the achievements of the top professors of the year who are making a difference in the community through their contributions in teaching, research and creative works, and public service. This is the highest honor ��Vlog��ý Little Rock awards its faculty members. Created in 1989, the Faculty Excellence Awards has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty for the past 31 years and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle, Bailey Foundation, and UMR.�� The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors will select the university-wide winners from the 17 faculty members who were selected as the top faculty member for the 2019-20 academic year in each of the three categories in their respective colleges.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock is also initiating a new award program that recognizes schools and departments that have made significant contributions to improving the success and retention of undergraduate students.�� Awards will be given to a department or school within each of the university’s five colleges. One of the college winners will receive the university-wide award. The awards are funded by gifts from Provost Bain and Dr. Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.�� Congratulations to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock college-level winners:

��Public Service

David Briscoe, professor of sociology, College of Social Sciences and Communication
M. Keith Hudson, professor of chemistry and director of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
René Shroat-Lewis, assistant professor of Earth Sciences, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
Anastasia Boles, associate professor of law, William H. Bowen School of Law
Linda Stauffer, professor of interpreter education, College of Education and Health Professions
Joe Felan, associate professor of management, College of Business

Research/Creative Endeavors

Heidi Skurat Harris, associate professor of rhetoric and writing, College of Social Sciences and Communication
Anindya Ghosh, associate professor of chemistry, College of Arts, Letters, and Science
Mariofana Milanova, professor of computer science, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
Nicholas Kahn-Fogel, professor of law, William H. Bowen School of Law
Jim Vander Putten, associate professor of higher education, College of Education and Health Professions

Teaching

Londie Martin, assistant professor of rhetoric and writing, College of Social Sciences and Communication
Stacy Pendergraft, associate professor of theatre arts, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
Michael DeAngelis, associate professor of Earth Sciences, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
Terrence Cain, professor of law and associate dean for faculty development, William H. Bowen School of Law
Jami Hollingsworth, senior instructor of interpreter education, College of Education and Health Professions
Gary Geissler, professor of marketing and advertising, College of Business

Department Student Success and Retention Awards

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Social Sciences and Communication
Department of English, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
Department of Earth Sciences, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Nursing, College of Education and Health Professions
Department of Management, College of Business

Lee, Khodakovskaya, and Mitchell named Faculty Excellence Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 02:30:06 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock professors Dr. Jin Wook Lee, Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya,��and Alicia Mitchell have been named the 2019 winners of the Faculty Excellence��Awards.�� Each of the three professors will receive a $5,000 award as winners of the Faculty Excellence Awards in the categories of teaching, research and creative endeavors, and public service. Lee, assistant professor of systems engineering, received the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award while Khodakovskaya was named the winner of the Faculty Excellence and Creative Endeavors Award. Mitchell, assistant visiting professor of law and director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, won the Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award. “Thirty years of recognizing the work of our outstanding faculty underscores the university’s commitment to our mission,” said Dr. Christina Drale, interim executive vice chancellor and provost. “It signifies the value we place on excellent teaching, research and creative activity, and service to our community. These essential components of our institution create a learning environment that enriches the education of our students and prepares them to embrace a bright future.” The winners were honored during an April 11 awards ceremony in the Schueck, McCarty, Lexicon Inc. Auditorium. Fourteen additional faculty members who earned Faculty Excellence awards at the college level also were honored, and they will each receive a $1,000 award. The 15 members of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors reviewed the achievements and selected the winners. This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Faculty Excellence Awards. Since 1989, the event has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Bailey Foundation, Office of the Chancellor, Office of the Provost, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle. Sharon Bailey of the Bailey Foundation, which was instrumental in the creation of the Faculty Excellence Awards, presented the Bailey Teaching Award. “I would like to express our appreciation for the outstanding service each of you here have given,” Bailey said. “The Bailey Foundation has a long history with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. My late husband, Dr. Ted Bailey II, recognized the importance of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock many years ago and helped establish this teaching award. It is my honor to carry on his legacy.” More about the winners:

Faculty Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Jin Wook Lee is an assistant professor of systems engineering in the College of Engineering and Information Technology. “I never expected this kind of big award,” Lee said. “I am very honored. I would like to thank my wife, Ji, and son, Jason.” He began his career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2013 and previously worked as a senior engineer at Samsung in South Korea. He connects with his students through a “disciplined, yet friendly” approach to instruction. In his teaching, Lee incorporates his personal experiences as examples in the classroom. He enjoys helping students understand new concepts and establish strong foundations to build their future careers. He is known for placing a high priority on his teaching and student interactions. “I just keep asking students questions instead of just giving lectures,” Lee said. “I want to make sure they understand what I am teaching. And after each test, I arrange a one-on-one meeting with those who have below average scores to ask how we can improve their learning. I think that helps a lot.” He contributed to the development of the Bachelor of Science in mechanical systems engineering at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and developed courses in fluid mechanics and computational fluid mechanics. Lee has been a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 2010. He was awarded two grants from NASA in 2015 and 2017 and has two patents pending.

Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors

Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya is a professor of biology and interim associate dean in the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Her research is primarily on plant biology and nanotechnology, and she is well known for collaborations with scientists from other disciplines. Last year, she received a $1 million grant to study the genetic qualities of rice to determine its heat tolerance. Khodakosvkaya is a part of a consortium of four universities that collectively received $4.65 million from the National Science Foundation to study heat tolerance in rice in hopes of reducing hunger by helping rice farmers improve their yield. Khodakovskaya’s collaborations with material scientists, nanotechnologists, and other plant molecular biologists and biotechnologists resulted in the development of a unique research area in the intersection of plant biology and nanotechnology. She was the first person to demonstrate that carbon-based nanomaterials can affect plants at genomic and metabolomic levels, which activates genes involved in water transport, cell division, and response to environmental stress. She has also established new methods for increasing seed germination and plant and cell growth using nanomaterials. Khodakosvkaya strives to commercialize her research through interactions with industry��professionals and through the submission of patent applications. In the past five years, two of her patent applications have been approved. In 2014, she formed a start-up company, Advanced Plant Technologies, LLC. Since 2008, she has been a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on grants totaling more than $9.6 million. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, and the Arkansas Space Consortium.

Faculty Excellence in Public Service

Alicia Mitchell is an assistant visiting professor of law and director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bowen School of Law. She has worked at Bowen for almost 17 years and has spent her entire teaching career working in the clinical program, training students to ethically and professionally represent parties before the Internal Revenue Service. Alongside her students, Mitchell has served hundreds of economically distressed individuals in need of assistance with tax information. She works with the international student population, ensuring they are in compliance with federal tax regulations. Since 2014, Mitchell has been awarded the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic grant from the National Taxpayer Advocate each year to aid in her endeavors. She also works in the Little Rock Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition and several national taxpayer committees. “The most impactful thing I do for students is give them the opportunity to learn by gaining practical experience,” Mitchell said. “They gain satisfaction by helping their clients in the clinic. When the students get a positive result, it reinforces everything that I am trying to teach them in the clinic – to be a good and impactful attorney.” In the community, she participates in events like the Hispanic Heritage Festival and the Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition Super Saturday. She believes in educating the community on their rights and responsibilities as taxpayers while spreading awareness of the clinic’s services. Mitchell is active on campus in the Delta Project Committee, Law School Admissions Committee, Assessment Committee, Faculty Development Committee, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Sustainability Committee. �� In the upper right photo, the 2019 Faculty Excellence Award winners include Jin Wook Lee (left) for teaching, Mariya Khodakovskaya (midde) for research and creative endeavors, and Alicia Mitchell (right) for public service. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

Longtime ��Vlog��ý Little Rock supporter Ted Bailey passes away

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 16:34:14 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community is mourning the loss of Dr. Howard Ashley Ted Bailey Jr., longtime supporter of higher education and pioneering physician, who passed away Jan. 21 in Little Rock at the age of 94.�� A reception in his honor will be held at the Country Club of Little Rock, 4200 Country Club Blvd., from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. ��A private burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock. “Dr. Bailey was a great man to whom we owe so much. His support lifted us to reach our full potential in so many places,” said ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson. “His belief in the university still inspires our work to be world-class.” �� Dr. Bailey was one of the university’s earliest supporters, having founded the Society of Philanthropy, a precursor to the current. The Bailey Family also facilitated the establishment of the Faculty Excellence Awards in 1988, an awards ceremony that recognizes the contributions of outstanding faculty members in teaching, research, and public service. The family also helped initiate the university’s Foundation Fund Board. In 2002, a generous gift from the Bailey Family Foundation began the construction of the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center, named after Dr. Bailey and Virginia, his wife of nearly 58 years who passed away in 2003. The Bailey family is a strong supporter of student scholarships, having created multiple endowed scholarships across disciplines and departments. In 2015, the Bailey Family Foundation made a direct gift of $2 million to support student scholarships. Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor of University Advancement, expressed the university’s love and support to Dr. Bailey’s wife, Sharon; his five children, Mary Maude Shafer, Ted Bailey III, Jo Bailey McCray, John Bailey, and Amy Madeline Bailey; 23 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. “In a special tribute to Dr. Bailey and his wife Sharon, we honored them at the 2017 Taste of Little Rock event for their enduring support,” O’Neal said. “The Bailey family legacy continues to serve the university, with Sharon serving on the ALL IN Campaign Steering Committee; son John Bailey as a member of the Board of Visitors; and son Ted Bailey III through his support of Trojan Athletics.” Dr. Bailey was born in Little Rock in 1924 to parents H.A. Ted Bailey Sr. and Madeline S. Bailey. He graduated from Little Rock High School and received his M.D. degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. He served as a medical officer during the Korean War. He began his private practice in otolaryngology but primarily practiced otology in Little Rock for more than 40 years, being the first physician in Arkansas to limit his practice to otology. His excellence as an ear surgeon was widely recognized, as were his many accomplishments in the medical field. He was the first physician to open an outpatient surgery center in the state. He was a pioneer in stapedectomy surgery, with one of the largest series in the United States, and developed new instruments and techniques for the procedure. He was also the first ear surgeon in Arkansas to perform cochlear implant surgery. Dr. Bailey was a clinical professor of otolaryngology at ��Vlog��ýMS throughout his career, head of the Division of Otolaryngology for a decade, and chief of staff at Baptist Hospital. He founded the Ear & Nose-Throat Clinic in Little Rock, now the Arkansas Otolaryngology Center, and served as its president and physician administrator until his retirement. Dr. Bailey was a man of many accomplishments who was deeply devoted to public service. He served on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Foundation Fund Board and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors in addition to numerous other organizations, including the Little Rock Rotary Club, Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Union National Bank in Little Rock, Worthen Bank in Little Rock, United Way, YMCA, Little Rock Boys Club, Arkansas Arts Center Foundation, and Baptist Health Foundation. Memorials may be made to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bailey Scholarship Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of.

Foster, Glazier, and Anderson named Faculty Excellence Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 14:58:55 +0000

Lynn Foster, Rebecca Glazier, and Glenn Anderson have been selected as the 2018 winners of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Faculty Excellence Awards.�� Each of the three professors will receive a $5,000 award as winners of the Faculty Excellence Awards in the categories of teaching, research and creative endeavors, and public service. “The amount of resolve, persistence, and pride our faculty exhibit in their scholarly work on campus and in the greater community is a testament to the vision of our university,” said Dr. Velmer Burton, executive vice chancellor and provost. “Faculty like the ones we honored during this ceremony mold our students into earnest creators, leaders, and change agents.” The winners were honored during an April 12 awards ceremony at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology Auditorium. Fourteen additional faculty members who earned Faculty Excellence awards at the college level also were honored, and they will each receive $1,000. The 15 members of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors reviewed the achievements and selected the winners. Since 1989, when the first award was given, the event has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Bailey Foundation, Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle. More about the winners:

Faculty Excellence in Teaching

Lynn Foster is the Arkansas Bar Foundation professor of law at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law. In the classroom, Foster utilizes a team-based learning method focused on problem solving and skills assignments to maximize comprehension. In 2014 and 2015, she revised the Property I and II courses to include team-based learning and assessment by creating class structures with clear expectations and manageable assessment tools. After assessing her curriculum revision, Foster discovered that students perform better when there is more team-based learning and assessment built into the course. “I feel very grateful, and I am grateful for all my great students over the years,” Foster said. “It’s a complicated course, but I have seen team-based learning increase what our students have learned.” A decade ago, Foster started the Arkansas Real Estate Review, an Arkansas Bar Foundation publication that summarizes Arkansas’s appellate real estate decisions with commentary provided by real estate attorneys. Foster’s students gain property law experience by working with attorneys to write abstracts for the publication. She is the recipient of the Charles W. Goldner Teaching Award, two William H. Bowen School of Law Faculty Excellence awards for Public Service, the first Law School Outstanding Service award, and the Arkansas Bar Association Golden Gavel, Continuing Legal Education, and Presidential Excellence awards.

Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors

Dr. Rebecca Glazier is an associate professor of public affairs and advisor to the Model Arab League. Her research centers on religion and politics, framing and foreign policy, and pedagogy. Glazier’s work on religion and politics has included a focus on providential beliefs, religious peacemaking, and the impact of religious organizations on congregants’ political and community attitudes and behaviors. Her articles on providential religious beliefs have influenced the work of other scholars of political science. She has worked closely with organizations from around the world to collect survey data from over 160 peacemakers. “I feel very surprised and humbled by this award,” Glazier said. “The other researchers are doing incredible work. I try to do work that brings real change to the world, and I appreciate the university and the College of Social Sciences and Communication for supporting that.” She recently submitted a grant through Notre Dame’s Global Religious Research Initiative to support the project’s next phase involving fieldwork in Sri Lanka, Israel, and Palestine. Glazier was a principal investigator on the Little Rock Congregations Study. The study began in 2012 with a survey of five Little Rock congregations during the 2012 presidential election. In 2016, she partnered with the Clinton School of Public Service, where students collected surveys from more than 1,500 respondents at 17 congregations around Little Rock. “A big part of my research is the Little Rock Congregations Study, work that wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful places of worship in Little Rock that open up their hearts and their sacred spaces for this research,” Glazier said. “It is also such a joy to get to work with students on research. Over 60 students were part of the 2016 Little Rock Congregations Study. They are a huge part of the work that I do and make it so much more rewarding.” Glazier has written 12 peer-reviewed articles, four book chapters in edited volumes, and received numerous grants from internal and external sources leading to numerous citations. She has won best paper awards at several conferences including those of the Arkansas Political Science Association, the American Political Science Association, and the Midwest International Studies Association.

Faculty Excellence in Public Service

Dr. Glenn Anderson is an associate professor in the School of Counseling, Rehabilitation and Adult Education who has received national attention for his contributions to the field of interpreter education. “This award is not something that I was expecting, and I really appreciate the recognition from the scholarship committee and from the university,” Anderson said. “There are four deaf faculty members working in the College of Education and Health Professions, so it’s nice when a deaf faculty member can be recognized for their work.” Anderson’s significant contributions to the black deaf community are undeniable. He often guest lectures, makes presentations, and writes journal articles on black deaf history and linguistic variations among black American Sign Language users. From 1982 to 2008, he served as director of training at the University of Arkansas Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. He currently serves on the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education, the national accrediting board for interpreter education programs and is a past member of the National Council on Disability and Board of Directors for National Black Deaf Advocates. In 2010, Anderson was one of 20 national advocates for individuals with disabilities interviewed by the Federal Communications Commission and featured in the documentary, “Celebration Progress: Americans with Disabilities Act’s 20th Anniversary.” Anderson received the National Black Deaf Advocates Lifetime Achievement Award at its 30th anniversary gala in 2012. In addition to the award, the board of directors voted to establish a scholarship in Anderson’s honor to provide financial support for deaf African American students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate postsecondary education programs. In 2017, Anderson participated in a federal think tank administered by the Center for Advanced Training in Interpreter Education at St. Catherine University. The project focused on incorporating learning principles into interpreter education training practices from the 2014 book “Make It Stick.” Anderson also lays claim to several pioneering roles. He is the first deaf person hired by Michigan Rehabilitation Services to work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor (1970), the first African-American alumnus of Gallaudet to earn a doctoral degree (New York University, 1982), and the first African-American deaf person to be appointed as a Gallaudet trustee (1989) and to serve as chair of the Board of Trustees (1994 to 2005). In the upper right photos, the winners of the 2018 Faculty Excellence Awards are Lynn Foster (left), Rebecca Glazier (middle), and Glenn Anderson (right). Photos by Ben Krain.

Taste of Little Rock to honor Bailey Family

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:36:13 +0000

The 14th annual Taste of Little Rock alumni fundraising event will honor the Bailey Family for their decades of support to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� Set for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the Jack Stephens Center, Taste of Little Rock raises funds for student scholarships while introducing guests to some of the best food in the city from the finest restaurants in Little Rock. Led by patriarch Dr. Ted Bailey II, the family is composed of long-time supporters of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and higher education. Dr. Bailey serves as president of the Bailey Foundation. Additional family board members include Dr. Bailey’s wife, Sharon, and children, Mary Bailey Shafer, Ted Bailey III, Jo Bailey McCray, John Bailey, and Amy Bailey. Virginia Bailey, who was married to Dr. Bailey for nearly 58 years when she passed away in 2003, also served on the board. “The Bailey name is synonymous with higher education opportunities at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Their gifts over the years truly keep on giving through student scholarships, faculty awards for excellence, and the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center, the central gathering for our alumni and friends of the university. “It is very fitting that we honor the members of the Bailey family who are so integral to this university.” The Baileys have long invested in the university as a way to give back to and help grow the community. Dr. Bailey is one of the university’s earliest supporters, having founded the Society of Philanthropy, a precursor to the current Chancellor’s Circle. “My family has always had a passion for education and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock,” Dr. Ted Bailey said. “This university is an essential part of the community, and I have been privileged to watch it grow and reach its potential as I have watched my own children and grandchildren grow over the years.” Individual tickets are $75 and will be available at the door tonight, or you can still contact the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni office at 501.683-7208, email��alumni@ualr.edu, or visit the��.��Proceeds support ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association scholarships.

A history of generosity

In 2002, a generous donation by the Bailey Family Foundation facilitated the construction of the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center, named after Dr. Ted Bailey and Virginia, his wife of almost 58 years who passed away in 2003. Throughout the year, the Bailey Center hosts numerous events and gatherings, serving as a welcome center to the university family and the community. The Bailey family members are strong supporters of student scholarships, having multiple endowed scholarships across disciplines and departments. The family foundation made a direct gift of $2 million to boost student scholarships in 2015. The Baileys also started the Faculty Excellence Awards in 1988, an awards ceremony that recognizes the contributions of outstanding ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty in teaching, research, and public service. They are also supporters of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle and Trojan Athletics, as well as the College of Engineering and Information Technology.

ATLE to host writing workshops

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 13:15:55 +0000

The ��Vlog��ýLR Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence will host a faculty and staff writing retreat and two writing workshops May 17-18 in Little Rock.�� , associate provost for academic engagement and director of the writing center at the University of Oklahoma, will lead the workshops. The faculty/staff writing retreat will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at the University of Arkansas System Office boardroom at 2404 N. University Ave. Participants should bring a copy of their current writing projects in electronic or paper format. Space is limited to the first 24 participants. Lunch will be provided. To RSVP for this retreat, please fill out . A two-part workshop that focuses on working with student writers will be held on Wednesday, May 18, at the University of Arkansas System Office boardroom. The morning session, from 9 a.m. to noon, will focus on how to design meaningful writing assignments. Participants should bring a copy of a writing assignment or assignments they would like to improve. The Wednesday afternoon session will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. It will focus on working with students engaged in independent writing projects, particularly undergraduate and graduate theses and dissertations. Both sessions are limited to 24 participants. To register for one or both of these workshops, please fill out . Eodice has been a writing center director and a leader in the field of writing centers for more than 20 years. She currently serves as an editor of “The Writing Center Journal,” the primary research journal of the International Writing Centers Association. Her ongoing research interests include co-authoring, collaborative writing, adult and higher education, developing faculty writing at universities, and student engagement and learning through writing practices. The faculty/staff writing retreat and the workshops are sponsored by the Bailey Foundation. In the upper right photo, Dr. Michele Eodice��will lead the writing workshops. Contributed photo.

��Vlog��ýLR Top Faculty share stories of success

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 16:00:05 +0000

In 2002, Gary Geissler joined the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as an assistant professor of marketing and advertising. After 14 years of a remarkable teaching career, Geissler was named one of the top ��Vlog��ýLR faculty members during the 2016 Faculty Excellence Awards Ceremony April 14 at the ��Vlog��ýLR George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. “It’s quite an honor, and it’s quite humbling, because there are a lot of deserving people at the university,” he said. Geissler, the recipient of the Bailey Teaching Award, will receive $10,000 from the Bailey Foundation. Since higher education has greatly enriched Geissler’s life, he said it’s only fair to put that money back into higher education by investing it in college funds for his 10- and 13-year-old sons. As a professor, Geissler institutes what he describes as “high-involvement learning” in the classroom. His teaching style emphasizes high amounts of student involvement through client-based class projects. He has directed more than 150 of these semester-long projects, greatly benefitting thousands of students and well over 100 businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. “I think the best thing we can teach our students is how to be adaptable. Everything changes quickly, and adaptability is something employers really look for. I want my students to be able to hit the ground running when they get hired,” Geissler said. Adjoa A. Aiyetoro From an early age, Adjoa Aiyetoro learned the virtues of helping others. “I was raised by parents who believed strongly in public service,” said Aiyetoro, a ��Vlog��ýLR professor of law. “My whole life my father said the purpose of life was to serve. It’s in my nature.” Aiyetoro has been a leading voice in ending racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Her public service focuses on researching and resolving racism and its effects in the United States, with a particular focus on the need for racial justice. Ever since joining ��Vlog��ýLR in 2004, Aiyetoro has continued her lifetime of public service, which was recognized when she received the 2016 award for Faculty Excellence in Public Service and a $5,000 prize. She said serving as the director of the Racial Disparities in the Arkansas Criminal Justice System Research Project was one of her greatest accomplishments. Aiyetoro developed a team and began researching records of hundreds of Arkansas prisoners to determine the reasons for significant racial disparities within the state’s criminal justice system. Their findings concluded blacks were more likely to receive capital murder charges than whites and were more likely to receive more severe punishment, especially the death penalty, even for the same type of conviction. Aiyetoro’s  work on this project resulted in a conference in August 2015 sponsored by  the Racial Disparities Project’s Steering Committee and has contributed to legislation to obtain support for racial impact. She has also worked as a board member of the Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and served as the inaugural director of ��Vlog��ýLR’s Institute on Race and Ethnicity. “I think that public service is one of the purposes of our lives, and we have to provide community service on any of the issues that we are passionate about,” she said. “I think public service is important to create a viable and healthy society.” Shucheng Yu Shucheng Yu, an assistant professor of computer science, said he was quite surprised to be named one of the top faculty members at ��Vlog��ýLR. He received the Faculty Excellence in Research award and a $5,000 prize. “I am a very lucky person among the excellent faculty members at ��Vlog��ýLR, and it is my great honor to win this award.” Yu’s main research areas include data security, privacy in cloud computing, applied cryptography, and wireless network security. Since arriving at ��Vlog��ýLR in 2010, Yu has also been awarded six grants, three from the National Science Foundation, that total more than $1 million. In his project, “MRI: Acquisition of a Cloud Computing Infrastructure for Research and Education,” Yu successfully built the first private cloud in the state  of Arkansas. �� “Good research should have impact, help the community, and advance an area in technology,” Yu said. “It should also benefit the general public, and it should provide good opportunities for the next generation of young researchers.” Yu has provided many opportunities for his graduate students. Together, he and his graduate students have published 37 research articles the past five years. “I am grateful to have a good team of graduate students to work with. Without them, the research cannot happen,” he said. Since 1988, the Faculty Excellence Awards have provided a way to recognize outstanding ��Vlog��ýLR faculty. The awards program is made possible through the contributions of the Bailey Foundation, Pepsi Beverages Co., and the ��Vlog��ýLR Chancellor’s Circle.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Briscoe, Agarwal, and MacFarlane as Top Professors of 2021

Briscoe, MacFarlane, and Anson receive Faculty Excellence Awards from CHASSE

����Vlog��ý Little Rock honors Geissler, Ghosh, and Briscoe as top professors of 2020

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to reveal Faculty Excellence Award winners April 23

Lee, Khodakovskaya, and Mitchell named Faculty Excellence Award winners

Longtime ����Vlog��ý Little Rock supporter Ted Bailey passes away

Foster, Glazier, and Anderson named Faculty Excellence Award winners

Taste of Little Rock to honor Bailey Family

ATLE to host writing workshops

����Vlog��ýLR Top Faculty share stories of success

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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Briscoe, Agarwal, and MacFarlane as Top Professors of 2021

��Vlog��ý Little Rock honors Geissler, Ghosh, and Briscoe as top professors of 2020

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to reveal Faculty Excellence Award winners April 23

Longtime ��Vlog��ý Little Rock supporter Ted Bailey passes away

��Vlog��ýLR Top Faculty share stories of success