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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Search for Dean of College of Business, Health, and Human Services

John Hill — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:40:09 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has launched a national search for a leader for the College of Business, Health, and Human Services (CBHHS). The College of Business, Health, and Human Services is the largest college at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and contains eight departments and schools as well as the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state’s lead Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and MidSOUTH. The dean will be responsible for working with many business and industry leaders in the area and cultivating students to help build the state’s growing workforce and economic development. The search committee brings together a wide variety of university, industry, and community leaders to choose the next leader of this distinguished college. Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School, is leading the search committee as chair. “We are excited to begin the search to fill this critical leadership position on our campus,” Berry said. “The committee that has been assembled includes representation from all of the schools in the college as well as community stakeholders. I am hopeful that we can identify the right candidate to help lead this college and continue to build upon the strength of the faculty and students.” Other search committee members include Melvin Beavers, the Chancellor’s DEI fellow; Mike Blain, captain with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce; Sloan Davidson, director of the School of Nursing; Mark Funk, chair of the Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance; David Gilliam, associate professor of marketing; Michael Johnson, director of development and external relations; Kim Jones, professor of social work; Mary Parker, professor of criminal justice; Janae Snyder, associate professor of counseling, human performance, and rehabilitation; Michael Stewart, CEO of Saline Health System; Cathy Tuggle, owner and principal broker of Tuggle Services, Inc.; and Sharon Vogelpohl, president and CEO of MHP/Team SI. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will continue for the position until it is filled, though the priority application review deadline is Oct. 30. Interviews will begin in November, and the new dean is expected to begin during the spring 2023 semester. They will take over for Dr. Deborah Baldwin, associate provost of collections and archives at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, who has been serving as the interim dean of CBHHS since August.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Forge Institute, and ��Vlog��ýPB Announce Creation of Consortium for Cyber Innovation

John Hill — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 14:04:49 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has partnered with the Forge Institute and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to establish the Consortium for Cyber Innovation (CCI) to meet the country’s growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals. The consortium will develop and align cyber education and grow applied research capabilities throughout the state. The consortium partners will collaborate on workforce development, research, and innovation to create a strategic industry cluster in emerging technologies that will support national defense and enhance Arkansas as a Cyber Defense State and cybersecurity hub. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is proud to join the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Forge Institute in an effort to scale and leverage resources towards workforce development, research, and innovation in cyber technologies,” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale said. “Together, we are building the future of our state as we pursue the common goal of ensuring national security through strategic and collaborative workforce development, research, and innovation.” The Forge Institute develops capabilities to solve broad challenges in emerging technology, cybersecurity, and national security. Its experienced cyber operators and leadership team are leveraging their extensive national network to promote workforce training and research collaborations by joining forces with the academic resources at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and ��Vlog��ýPB. “The Consortium for Cyber Innovation is monumental to developing our high-tech workforce and developing new capabilities to prevent, detect, and mitigate emerging technology risks to businesses, including our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said Lee Watson, CEO of the Forge Institute. “Both campuses already have outstanding undergraduate and graduate computer science programs, cybersecurity resources, and world-class faculty. We’re excited to lend our expertise to this very important endeavor which will help fill the coming 3.4 million job gap.” Cybercrime is a growing threat that is expected to cost the world more than $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, according to Watson. This increase in cyberattacks is expected to open 3.4 cybersecurity positions in the next few years. There are already 1,400 open positions in Arkansas, and more than 467,000 open positions in cybersecurity in the U.S., Watson said. This collaboration expands an existing successful collaboration between ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and Forge Institute. Students who complete the Forge Institute’s IT/Cyber Fundamentals professional development course can apply to receive three credit hours in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s recently launched bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity. This recognition of learning outside of higher education is a bold step towards how colleges and universities can modernize their curricula to meet the needs of today’s students and industry. “We’re extremely excited to build this collaboration with Forge Institute,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “We view cybersecurity as an important field of study for our students, and the expertise Forge Institute lends offers a real-world perspective that can’t be simulated in the classroom.” The CCI builds on existing partnerships among the Forge Institute, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (U of A) that have already resulted in National Security Agency (NSA)-funded academic training and research programs. This includes the GenCyber summer camp for 7-12 graders, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Certification research project, and a new graduate certificate in cybersecurity education. Congressman French Hill said the creation of the CCI is a giant step in making Arkansas more competitive in cyber innovation, and that he is looking forward to following the consortium’s continued growth and success.

Dr. Al Baker, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock computer science chair, discusses a collaboration with ��Vlog��ýPB and the Forge Institute to establish the Consortium for Cyber Innovation with the purpose of developing and aligning cyber education and growing applied research capabilities in the state. Photo by Ben Krain.

“The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff have taken steps to create a nurturing environment to promote computer science and cyber innovation,” Congressman Hill said. “This collaboration will take their commitment one step further.” Future research projects will include developing next-generation artificial intelligence capabilities to manage cybersecurity threats to both critical infrastructure and military and national defense networks. Advanced machine learning technologies will increase efficiency and expand near-term industry use of readily-available quantum computing capabilities. The CCI also plans to create a Strategic Initiative Office that will allow the consortium to obtain and manage large-scale federal funding for creating a sustainable network of education and research efforts in emerging technology and national defense. “As our state’s land grant, Historically Black University, ��Vlog��ýPB looks to contribute to the CCI’s strategic initiatives in a number of ways,” ��Vlog��ýPB Chancellor Laurence Alexander said. “Our expectation is that our university’s priorities of expanding computer education and the cyber workforce will lead to a more diverse industry workforce, reaching many of our underrepresented population. As such, the consortium will help build regional capacity to support economic growth and development across various industry sectors as the state recovers from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Industry partners who join the CCI can help in a number of ways, Watson said. They can hire new talent, especially Arkansas graduates, mentor students, bring in interns, help fund student research, and advise educators who are developing classes. David McCoy, principal security analyst, incident response commander, and head of forensics and investigation at Acxiom, a data management, data science, and privacy technology company, represented Acxiom as a founding industry partner. “I’m extremely honored to represent Acxiom in this effort to join these different entities together,” McCoy said. “The industry has been growing, to say the least, and to the point where you need formal tracks to get into what I do. We are getting into more formal education programs, which is going to be amazing, not only to the state of Arkansas but to the United States. Acxiom is super excited to join into this collaboration across industry’s public and private sectors sharing information, which is something we all need to do because the threats are real.” Globally, cybersecurity has become a trillion dollar industry with career opportunities open to thousands of Arkansans. Because of the state’s deep experience with data management, logistics, fintech, and other data-driven industries, Arkansas is well positioned to become a rallying point for the nation’s cybersecurity efforts. These opportunities produce good paying jobs for Arkansans. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is committed to growing a talented workforce of highly skilled cyber professionals in Central Arkansas,” Drale said. “Directly related to that effort is the applied research of our nationally recognized faculty in cybersecurity, including research on social media threats by our Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies. This collaboration sets the stage for additional partnerships and initiatives, and that will establish Arkansas as a national leader in cybersecurity and related emerging technologies.”

New Issue of Research in the Rock Hits the Stands

John Hill — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 21:08:53 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has released the 2021 edition of Research in the Rock, the university’s official research magazine. “This year’s Research in the Rock provides just a small glimpse into the amazing research being done by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and students,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “While the research occurring at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is absolutely critical to the success of our educational mission, the full effects of it extend far beyond the halls and walls of this institution into our community.” Produced by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Research in the Rock highlights the diverse work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s researchers, artists, writers, and community service leaders. “Every year, it is always a joy to highlight our fantastic researchers through this publication,” said Lydia Perry, editor of Research in the Rock. “As an urban university in the heart of the capital city, research and creativity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is vital to the success of the communities around us.” Research in the Rock will be available around campus. People may also request a copy of Research in the Rock by visiting this website. “This year’s magazine showcases a vast selection of research, from the humanities to the sciences to community service efforts,” Perry said. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock continues to engage in diverse and unique projects that affect our community and the world around us.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Names Braun as New Dean of College of Business, Health, and Human Services

John Hill — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 14:56:01 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has named Dr. Frank Braun as the new dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, effective Aug. 16.�� “I am pleased to announce Dr. Braun will be joining us at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Dr. Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor. “I have confidence that he will be an excellent addition to our leadership team and will foster expanded connections with our local community and business partners throughout the state.”�� Braun, dean of the School of Business and a professor of business informatics at Baldwin Wallace University, will replace Dean Jane Wayland, who retired this summer after 14 years of service at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison, associate dean, has been serving as interim dean of the college. The College of Business, Health, and Human Services is the largest college at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and contains eight departments and schools as well as the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state’s lead Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and MidSOUTH. Braun will be responsible for working with many business and industry leaders in the area and cultivating students to help build the state’s growing workforce and economic development.�� “I see many opportunities at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to cultivate transdisciplinary connections that will enrich scholarship, experiential learning, and industry engagement,” Braun said. “I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues and other key individuals to engage our students and stakeholders in initiatives that promote innovative, inclusive, and prosperous partnerships across the college, campus, and community.” Braun was selected following a national search conducted by a committee of dedicated faculty, staff, and university stakeholders led by Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Braun as a colleague,” Berry said. “He brings a wealth of experience and has some fantastic ideas for how the College of Business, Health, and Human Services can further engage our city, region, and state. He is exactly the right person to move this relatively new college forward.” Braun will bring comprehensive experience in the business industry and the classroom to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He has more than 20 years experience in executive-level information systems management, consulting and business development, including senior leadership positions with United Dairy Farmers, TouchScreen Systems, and Klosterman Baking Company. He also was the contracted general manager for the IBM North America Technology Asset Management and Evaluation Program Logistics Center. “Dr. Braun will bring the right expertise and direction to this position,” Bain said. “He will be a community-oriented, thoughtful leader for the college. His expertise and multifaceted background position him to be a synergistic leader for the university’s largest college.”�� Prior to joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Braun also served as department chair, associate professor of business and health informatics, and director of the Master of Science in Information Systems Program at Northern Kentucky University. His research areas include project leadership, knowledge management, experiential learning, organizational resiliency, and entrepreneurship. Braun earned a bachelor’s degree in applied science from Miami University, a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University, and a Doctor of Management from Case Western Reserve University. Braun is active in the cybersecurity domain and holds the Certified Information Security Manager credential.

Collier-Tenison Named Interim Dean of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s College of Business, Health, and Human Services

John Hill — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 20:01:33 +0000

Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison has been named interim dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, effective July 1.�� “I am glad to be able to step into the interim dean role to provide continuity of support and stability for the college as faculty and students return to campus in the new academic year,” Collier-Tenison said. “As a new college, we are eagerly working to form a shared identity and CBHHS is ripe with opportunity for increased collaboration across disciplines, new external partnerships, and continued growth.” Collier-Tenison, associate dean of CBHHS, will oversee the college until a permanent dean is announced to replace Dr. Jane Wayland, dean of CBHHS, who will retire at the end of the month after a 14-year tenure at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School, is leading a national search conducted by a dedicated committee of faculty, staff, and university stakeholders. The search is near completion, and the new dean is expected to be announced in July. As interim dean, Collier-Tenison will oversee the college with the largest student enrollment at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The College of Business, Health, and Human Services contains eight departments and schools as well as the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state’s lead Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and MidSOUTH. “Shannon’s experience as associate dean in two colleges coupled with her experience as interim dean of the previous College of Education and Health Professions made her the logical choice to serve in this interim capacity,” said Dr. Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor. “I appreciate her willingness to serve in this critical role.” Collier-Tenison graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hendrix College as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in social work from Washington University in St. Louis. After beginning her career as a teaching fellow, graduate advisor, and assistant professor of social work at the University of Texas at Arlington, Collier-Tenison joined the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Social Work as an assistant professor in 2006 and served as coordinator of the Bachelor of Social Work program from 2010 to 2014. She also served as the restructuring liaison for the College of Social Sciences and Communication, interim co-director of the School of Social Work, associate dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, interim chair of the Department of Speech Language Pathology, and interim dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. An active member of the community, Collier-Tenison serves as an executive board member and Race Equity Committee member of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and volunteers at Little Rock Central High School. She previously served on the boards of Women and Children First and Kaleidoscope Grief Center and as a volunteer with Arkansas Kids Read. She has experience working with survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault as a crisis counselor, researcher, and advocate.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to keep tuition and fees flat for 2021-22 school year

John Hill — Fri, 28 May 2021 00:53:41 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received approval by the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas to hold tuition and fees flat for the second year in a row.�� “We understand that many students and their families are still getting back on their feet as the pandemic begins to wind down,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “We remain committed to providing affordable access to high quality education.” This decision comes as the university is focused on greater access to education, increased student success initiatives, and more scholarship and student aid opportunities. Changes underway include the establishment of a learning commons in Ottenheimer Library designed to maximize access to tutoring and academic support.�� The university is providing a new Trojan Strong Scholarship as a part of its enhanced scholarship portfolio. Most new freshmen attending the university in the fall qualify for merit scholarships with an ACT superscore of 20 and a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0. These scholarships are available on a rolling deadline leading up to the start of the fall semester. In addition to the latest freshmen scholarships, new scholarship opportunities are available for undergraduate transfer students and new graduate students. “Graduate education is truly transformative for our students,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “We are committed to keeping it affordable.”�� Additionally, through the American Rescue Plan, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock expects to provide approximately 10 million dollars in federal student aid grants over the next year. “We are committing resources to help all students pay for college,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “Many students struggle to make ends meet. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is committed to the success of our students and will use available federal, state, institutional, and private funds to help ensure a college degree remains in reach.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate programs named to 2022 U.S. News and World Report Rankings

John Hill — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 19:19:12 +0000

Several graduate programs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock were named in the 2022 Best Graduate School rankings by U.S. News and World Report.�� Some of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s top graduate programs listed in the most recent U.S. News and World report include: 36th in Best Criminology Schools, 39th in Best Part-time Law Programs, and 111th in Best Public Affairs Programs. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also ranked in the #154-202 category in Best Engineering Schools.�� “These rankings from U.S. News and World Report confirm what we have known for some time,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a lot to offer in graduate education. These programs are shining examples of the great things that happen at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Criminal Justice has been ranked 36th in the . The School of Criminal Justice is home to the state’s only doctoral program in criminal justice as well as two master’s degree programs, one of which is completely online. “We are thrilled that our Criminal Justice and Criminology program is being nationally recognized by the U.S. News and World Report,” said Dr. Tusty ten Bensel, director of the School of Criminal Justice. “Our school is dedicated to ensuring that we provide the best possible education for our undergraduate and graduate students through innovative teaching strategies, one-on-one mentoring, and community-engaged research. It’s exciting that our colleagues across the nation see this too.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law has been ranked 39th among the . Part-time law programs play a vital role in legal education, as they allow working professionals to balance a career while earning a law degree through evening and weekend courses. Bowen offers the only part-time law program in Arkansas. In specialty rankings, Bowen was ranked 25th in Best Legal Writing Programs and 52nd in Best Dispute Resolution Programs. Bowen has also been noted as one of the law schools where graduates have considerably lower average indebtedness and graduate with an average student loan debt of under $70,000. “We are pleased our part-time program has been recognized by U.S. News,” said Dean Theresa Beiner. “With our location in the state capital and our low student debt, we are proud to offer our working students a quality education that allows them to accomplish their career goals.” The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Public Affairs brings together academic, applied research, and training units that share a focus on government, politics, nonprofit organizations, and public service. The School of Public Affairs houses a Master of Public Administration degree as well as graduate certificate programs in nonprofit management and conflict mediation. The program has been ranked 111th in .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock ranked top university for social mobility in Arkansas

John Hill — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:57:56 +0000

U.S. News and World Report ranked the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as the No. 1 university in Arkansas for social mobility. The ranking measures a university’s success in graduating economically disadvantaged students who are less likely to finish college. “Facilitating social mobility is a fundamental value at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. It is inherent in our role and scope as a metropolitan university,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “We also know that helping our students advance means more than providing excellent programs. We must also provide a success infrastructure that will keep them engaged, help them solve problems, and enable them to build relationships with professionals in their field that will assist in their transition to a career path after graduation.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumnae Reteisha Byrd, was able to afford college with the help of Pell grants, scholarships, a graduate assistantship, and student loans. She graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2014 and a Master of Public Administration��in 2016. An internship at Little Rock Port Authority led to her current job as a research manager for Boyette Strategic Advisors. “I knew I wanted to attend ��Vlog��ý Little Rock upon graduating from high school,” Byrd said. “The university had a great business program and was in the capital city with plenty of job opportunities. The College of Business provided plenty of opportunities for students to network with local businesses. My education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has allowed me to apply what I learned in the classroom, make connections within the community, and advance in my personal life. I’ve also made lifelong friends who were either classmates or roommates while attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The social mobility indicator measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. Students receiving these grants typically come from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, though most Pell Grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000. The social mobility ranking was computed by assessing Pell Grant graduation rates and Pell Grant graduate rate performance. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, 47 percent of undergraduate students from the fall 2020 semester are Pell Grant recipients, and 48 percent of undergraduates are first-generation students. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student body is the most diverse of any college or university in Arkansas. More than half of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students are over the age of traditional college students, with an overall average age of 27. Mercades Parker, a single mother who will graduate in May 2021 with a Master of Social Work degree, would not have been able to afford college without taking on substantive loans if she had not been selected for the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the Academic Challenge Scholarship from the Arkansas Department of Education. Parker said that the advancement of social mobility is shown at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock by the way people take care of the students. “I think ��Vlog��ý Little Rock really cares about its students,” Parker said. “From 2013 and on, I always felt like there was someone to help me when I needed help the most. College is challenging and tough. Having those different outlets to go to is what helped me. Having a professor who would go back and look over your work with you is very helpful. They really want you to succeed. I think social mobility is shown in how people care about their students.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has proven to be the higher education institution in Arkansas that can transform your life and empower graduates through education. When Dr. Brian Berry came to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a first-generation college student, he never imagined that he would get his Ph.D. and go one to become ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School. “I couldn’t even dream of a Ph.D. when I first got here. I was just happy to be going to college,” Berry said. “This place gave me more to dream about. I’ve always been thankful for the opportunities that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has given me. Not only has this institution given me an education, but it’s given me a career.” Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, emphasized the many programs ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has available to help underrepresented students as one of the reasons for the university’s high social mobility ranking. Those programs include the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy, a year-round program open to students in the Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) that provides academic support and mentoring for underrepresented students at the university. Additionally, the Summer Bridge Academy is a three-week residential program that prepares incoming freshmen socially and academically for college-level work and accelerates their progress toward degree completion. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is also home to the African American Male Initiative, African American Female Initiative, Hispanic Latino Initiative, TRIO Talent Search, and McNair Scholars, which also support underrepresented students towards degree completion and graduate school enrollment. “Our academic programs, service to students, and commitment to community engagement are determined by our mission to improve students’ lives through engaged teaching and learning,” Finzer said.

Berry makes planned gift to support ��Vlog��ý Little Rock STEM students

John Hill — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 15:55:54 +0000

Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School, has made a planned gift, currently valued at about $50,000, to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to support the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). “I love this institution, and I love its mission,” Berry said. “This place has meant a lot to me. I am a first-generation college student. I couldn’t even dream of a Ph.D. when I first got here, but this place gave me more to dream about. I got hooked into chemistry and research, and I decided to get my Ph.D. I’ve always been thankful for the opportunities that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has given to me, and it’s natural to want to establish something to give back to the institution that has given me so much.” The Dr. Brian Berry Endowed Scholarship for the Sciences will provide funds for undergraduate ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who are majoring in the sciences in the Donaghey College of STEM for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, and room and board. “The great thing about being in STEM is there are so many opportunities,” Berry said. “Majoring in STEM gives you a broad-based education. Moving into the future, a STEM major gives you a lot of possibilities. The skills that you learn are transferable to so many different areas. The future is consistently moving in a technological direction. STEM majors will be set up well to achieve great things as society continues to move in that direction.” Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of STEM, thanked Berry for providing students a way to achieve their dream of a college education. “Our college reaches students from many backgrounds with different needs,” Whitman said. “This scholarship is a welcome addition for our students who would not previously be able to complete a science degree, but will now have a scholarship opportunity to fulfill their dream of a career in the sciences.” Berry earned a Ph.D. in applied science/chemistry and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, both from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He completed a postdoc at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a National Research Council postdoc fellowship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) before returning to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as an assistant professor of organic chemistry in 2008. He’s served as the graduate coordinator and chair of the Department of Chemistry as well as the director of the Applied Science Program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� Berry’s advice for students to be successful in college is to choose a major that they love. “My parents never pushed me in a particular direction,” Berry said. “They told me to find something that you love, and you’ll never do a day of work in your life. That is what I would encourage students to do. Find something that you love and are passionate about, and everything will fall into place after that.”

NuShores Biosciences receives $2.8 million contract for intelligent manufacturing automation of NuCress medical devices

John Hill — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 16:01:17 +0000

NuShores Biosciences, a spin-off company of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has received a three-year, $2.8 million contract from the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), a biomedical technology consortium associated with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. “This new contract will enable us to develop an intelligent, hands-free factory-in-a-box with features such as real-time situational awareness that anticipates failures or production challenges before they cause waste,” said Sharon Ballard, CEO of NuShores. “Our factory-in-a-box concept will reduce human error to increase quality and meet regulatory standards.” The contract will enable NuShores to develop intelligent automated production of its NuCress bone void filler scaffold products using its factory-in-a-box concept. Key collaborators on the project include ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and of Cincinnati. “This project will enable NuShores to compete globally in pricing and performance and to accelerate the maturity of emerging products in our pipeline,” said NuShores manufacturing manager Mark Pelo, a 27-year veteran of the implantable medical devices industry who joined the company in July. MiQ Partners brings a long history of manufacturing intelligence solving complex problems. MiQ will combine their automation experience with NuShores’ material sciences experience in bone regeneration scaffolds to develop multi-generational manufacturing solutions and a roadmap of the full expression of the factory-in-a-box concept for future investment. Founded in 2014 at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense, NuShores is the licensee of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s bone regeneration products, which have been developed primarily with DOD funding. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is pleased to continue its productive collaboration with NuShores,” said Dr. Brian Berry, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock vice provost for research. “Research is a cornerstone of our university, and we look forward to seeing these tangible results.” Today, NuShores is positioning itself to become a leader in regenerative medicine by tackling some of the field’s most challenging clinical problems. The new contract complements more than a decade of research into the science of tissue regeneration by Dr. Alex Biris, director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences and pioneer of the NuCress scaffold technology.

Dr. Alexandru Biris is chief scientist and director of the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

“We are very pleased that MTEC saw the value and innovation in our manufacturing process,” Biris said. “This contract represents a major step toward getting our bone regeneration scaffold in the hands of surgeons and fulfilling our promises to the DOD. Smart manufacturing will help make our long-term advanced research a clinical reality.” Dr. Karrer Alghazali, a research scientist at NuShores and graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, said the improved automation process will allow NuShores to produce bone regeneration projects quicker. “This project will allow us to move from a labor-intensive manual process to a standardized system engineering automated process that will benefit our current and future product pipeline,” Alghazali said. “It is exciting to have been a part of both this groundbreaking tissue regeneration research and now innovating the manufacturing automation efforts of the resulting medical devices.” In the upper right photo, NuShores CEO Sharon Ballard holds a piece of NuCress bone void filler scaffold. Photo by Ben Krain.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Search for Dean of College of Business, Health, and Human Services

����Vlog��ý Little Rock, Forge Institute, and ����Vlog��ýPB Announce Creation of Consortium for Cyber Innovation

New Issue of Research in the Rock Hits the Stands

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Names Braun as New Dean of College of Business, Health, and Human Services

Collier-Tenison Named Interim Dean of ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s College of Business, Health, and Human Services

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to keep tuition and fees flat for 2021-22 school year

����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate programs named to 2022 U.S. News and World Report Rankings

����Vlog��ý Little Rock ranked top university for social mobility in Arkansas

Berry makes planned gift to support ����Vlog��ý Little Rock STEM students