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

Former ��Vlog��ý Little Rock SGA president utilizes political expertise on presidential campaign trail

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 13:29:02 +0000

A former University of Arkansas at Little Rock Student Government Association president is putting his passion for politics to work as a political organizer trying to elect the next president of the United States.�� Brian Gregory, the 2017-18 SGA president and life member of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association, is now working in Iowa for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Ever since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2018, Gregory has immersed himself in political campaigns. His first post-college stint was as campaign manager for Little Rock mayoral candidate Warwick Sabin, followed by a job as campaign field director for a mayoral campaign in Alabama. The chance to work on a presidential campaign was too good an opportunity for Gregory to pass up. “I had the chance to interview for the Warren campaign, and I jumped at the chance,” he said. “If I was good enough, I wanted to work for a presidential campaign. It was my dream. Now I’m working on this campaign, and I’ve moved to Iowa. It has been a bit of a whirlwind since graduation, but it’s a good time.” Stationed in Waterloo, Iowa, Gregory’s duties include managing campaign interns and employees, recruiting and organizing volunteers, canvassing, and getting people to the polls for the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses on Feb. 3, 2020. Gregory said that he has gained vast experience by working in Iowa, one of the most important political battleground states in the presidential election. “Iowa is the first state to have a primary, and it introduces the country to the major political candidates in the presidential campaign,” he said. “This is a chance for Iowa to be involved in the process, and it invigorates the states every four years when they have it. They always say that if you want to learn how to organize, Iowa is the place to go. It’s the toughest, but it’s the most rewarding place to be. Most candidates who do well in Iowa gain a lot of momentum going forward in their campaigns.”�� While talking with Iowa’s citizens, Gregory has found that the two issues voters seem to worry about the most are healthcare and jobs. “Healthcare debts and costs are rising by the minute, and a lot of people are going into debt because of that,” he said. “People just want to know that they can take care of their family members who are sick and will have a job to put food on the table. Those two issues are always Numero Uno in elections.” His time in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s SGA has been essential to building critical skills for his political career.

Brian Gregory campaigns for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign in Waterloo, Iowa.

“I’ve tried to determine what is the most important issues to the people. I’ve always tried to remember people who were patient with me and explained things to me in SGA, because there were times when I needed a kick in the butt as a leader,” Gregory said. “I tried to sit down with my senators and executive committee as often as possible, and I’ve tried to implement that in Iowa. I’m trying to build relationships with people, so I will really be able to work well with building a volunteer base and get people connected to different issues that are important to them. Otherwise, you won’t succeed if you don’t get people interested and involved in the issues.” While Gregory may consider running for office one day, he has a lot to accomplish before in the meantime.�� “I’d like to get a graduate degree in public policy and go to law school,” Gregory said. “I would love to work on a federal campaign or state-wide race. Maybe in the future, if I’m likable enough, I’ll run for office someday, but public advocacy is where my passion lies. I want to hear people’s stories and tell their stories in a way that moves people to take action.” Dr. Rebecca Glazier, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs and Gregory’s advisor on his Donaghey Scholars final project, said Gregory was a great student with a head for politics. “As a political science major, Brian was always interested in politics, but more than other students, he cared deeply about the implications of public policies,” Glazier said. “He wanted to better understand how the policies governments implement impact real people. I think he saw the potential for making a difference there and wanted to take it.”�� Gregory said he owes his success to many people at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock: Faith Thomas, his vice president in SGA; Drs. Jessica Scott and Simon Hawkins of the Donaghey Scholars Program; and political science professors Glazier, Christopher Williams, Joseph Giammo, and Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm.�� “I want to thank all of my professors, especially those in the political science program,” Gregory said. “They taught me to think of politics in different ways. I am also very thankful for all the opportunities the Donaghey Scholars and SGA gave me to get involved in projects around the city. Drs. Scott and Hawkins really motivated me not to sell myself short. I wouldn’t be in this position without them.” In the upper right photo, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alum Brian Gregory, right, is working on the presidential campaign of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, left, in Iowa.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock recognizes students, faculty, and staff who have passed away

Jenny Lambert — Thu, 03 May 2018 15:33:00 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock hosted a memorial ceremony on May 1 to honor the faculty, staff, and students who passed away during the 2017-18 school year.�� The campus community and families of the deceased were invited to attend the event. As guests gathered in the Upper Concourse of the Donaghey Student Center, Karen Jarboe, violinist, rendered the songs “Be Thou My Vision” and “Bach Air.” Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, vice chancellor for student affairs, welcomed attendees and expressed his sincerest gratitude to the eternal Trojans, the phrase designated for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s departed. He also expressed his deepest regrets to the families and acknowledged that whether they’d spent one semester or many years with the university, their loved ones would forever be Trojans. Following his address, Jennifer Dodson, director of the Student Experience Center, recited the poem, “We Will Remember.” The first stanza read:

Chancellor Andrew Rogerson and Janessa Rogerson place flower petals in a memorial fountain to honor ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, students, faculty, and staff members who have passed away during the 2017-18 academic year. Photo by Ben Krain.

“The ones that we’ve lost still go on with us in spirit We will remember them.” Brian Gregory, president of the Student Government Association, followed Dodson with the reading of the names of the deceased. This list included students William Kendrick, Emily Cook, Jasper Cosper, Michael Hargrove, Joseph Pollock, Brad Orell, Margaret Garrett, and Domorion Williams; faculty member Karen Russ, research and community engagement librarian; and staff member Carol Tucker, administrative support supervisor at the Benton Campus. A moment of silence was observed after the reading. Before the ceremony concluded, Jarboe performed her final selection, “Ashokan Farewell,” while Richard Harper, associate dean of students, gave the final words. Guests ended the ceremony by placing flower petals in a memorial fountain to honor the deceased.

College of Social Sciences and Communication honors McIntyre, student research winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:54:39 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Social Sciences and Communication presented Dr. Kristen McIntyre with the Faculty Mentor Award and awarded six additional student research prizes during the college’s Research and Creative Works Showcase on Feb. 27.�� Dr. Julien Mirivel, interim dean of the college, said McIntyre is deserving of the award, which was created to celebrate a faculty member from the college who goes above and beyond in being a positive role model and mentor for their students. “She is always mentoring, always teaching, and always available to students,” Mirivel said. “I think this award is well deserved. We have great faculty in every unit of our college, and Kristen is a great example. She is very engaged with her students.” McIntyre, associate professor of applied communication, said she was surprised, humbled, and overwhelmed to receive the award. “I think the secret to being a good faculty mentor is listening,” McIntyre said. “I think you have to love your students, and you have to practice tough love sometimes. You have to give students what they need even if it’s not what they want.” The showcase featured about 65 presentations from students, faculty, and staff of the college, many of which highlight the college’s mission to apply “theory and research to drive social change and inspire human expression, reflection, and interconnection.” “I really believe that we use our own work not just to understand, but to reach out and try to improve the world around us,” Mirivel said. A prime example of the college’s belief in improving the world through research is the recipient of the Community Engagement Award, which recognizes the research project that most affects the community. Leonardo Moya, who is majoring in rhetoric and writing, won the award for his project, “Homeless in Little Rock.” Moya’s faculty mentor was Dr. Heidi Skurat-Harris. Additional award winners include:

��Student Government Association President Brian Gregory, a senior political science major, won the Undergraduate Research Award for his project, “Growing Grace.” Dr. Rebecca Glazier served as Gregory’s faculty mentor.
��Mass Communication student Dallas Smith won the Undergraduate Creative Works Award for his presentation of the film, “The Bombastic Scholastic,” which he and several of his colleagues from their Cinema Techniques class at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock produced. ��His colleagues on the project included Zatches Allen, Eric Holsomback, Bailey Park, and Nathan Treece.
��Mary Hughes, a criminal justice major, won the Graduate Research Award for her paper, “Is My Health Why I’m Scared? Examining the Effects of Perceived Health Conditions in Fear of Crime.” Her faculty mentor was Dr. Robert Lytle.
��Kristena Merritt, a graduate student in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, won the Graduate Creative Works Award for her paper, “Powerfemme Conversations.” Dr. Londie Martin served as her faculty mentor.
��Tabrina Bratton, a criminal justice major, won the Poster Presentation Award for her research, “Predicting Regional Hate Crime Rates: The Relationship between Fundamentalism and Attitudes Toward Sexual Orientation.” Bratton’s faculty mentors were Dr. Tusty ten Bensel and Dr. Robert Lytle.

Iveta Imre, assistant professor of mass communication, headed the showcase’s task force, which included Chatham-Carpenter, Lytle, Martin, and ten Bensel. In the upper right photo, winners of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Social Sciences and Communication Research and Creative Works Expo (L to R) include Tabrina Bratton, Poster Presentation Award; Mary Hughes, Graduate Research Award; Kristen McIntyre, Faculty Mentor Award; Julien Mirivel, interim dean of the college; and Dallas Smith and Nathan Treece, Undergraduate Creative Works Award.

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

Former ����Vlog��ý Little Rock SGA president utilizes political expertise on presidential campaign trail

����Vlog��ý Little Rock recognizes students, faculty, and staff who have passed away

College of Social Sciences and Communication honors McIntyre, student research winners

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

Former ��Vlog��ý Little Rock SGA president utilizes political expertise on presidential campaign trail

��Vlog��ý Little Rock recognizes students, faculty, and staff who have passed away