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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Arts and Business Panel Discussion

John Hill — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:10:32 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is working to connect the arts and business through an upcoming panel discussion. The panel discussion is set for Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 9:30 a.m. in the Reynolds Business Building Auditorium Room 103. As part of the panel, the participants will discuss how art and business are connected and the importance of philanthropy in supporting students in both fields. Panelists Include:

Leslye Shellam, Donor to the L. Dickson Flake Endowed Scholarship and donor of the Linda Blaine Flake Endowed Art Student Scholarship
2022-2023 Flake Scholarship Recipients: Ashley Lawrence, Lamar Townsend, Kailey Whitaker, and Annika Wade
Michael Johnson, Director of Development for the College of Business, Health, and Human Services
Joseph Lampo, Director of Development for the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education

In addition to the panel discussion, the scholarship recipients for the L. Dickson Flake Endowed��Scholarship��and the Linda Blaine��Flake��Endowed Art Student��Scholarship will be recognized. Wednesday’s presentation is a first for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to combine the business school and students from the Windgate Center for Art + Design art students in one scholarship presentation to show a greater benefit to the community. To learn more about other advancement opportunities at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, visit /development. In the upper right photo, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock studio art major Caleb LeFevre, left, presented philanthropist Leslye Shellam with a charcoal drawing during a celebration of World Art Day in 2021. Photo by Ben Krain.��

Nduku, McElwee, Hendon Named 2022 Faculty Excellence Winners for College of Business, Health, and Human Services

John Hill — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 14:51:48 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services has honored Josy Nduku, Tracey McElwee, and John Hendon as its top professors of 2022. Nduku, assistant professor of nursing, has received CBHHS’s Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, while McElwee has received the Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors Award. Hendon, a senior instructor, has been honored with the Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award. More information about the winners:

Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service

Hendon is a 24-year veteran of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and serves as a senior instructor in the Department of Management and Human Resources. He served as a board member for the Small Business Institute from 2012 to 2017. He also served in a number of executive positions over the years, including vice president of programs, president-elect, and president. He continues to serve as a mentor and fellow. He also holds the title of Small Business Institute Fellow, which is the highest honor the organization bestows on its members. This honor goes to those who have significant and noteworthy accomplishments in teaching, research, and service involving small businesses. One of his major accomplishments is creating a link between traditional large organization human resources research and small business/entrepreneurial research. Hendon also serves as a member of the Central High School Technology Committee. His service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock includes being on the Institutional Effectiveness Committee and several terms on the Faculty Senate. “During his time here, he has routinely gone above and beyond in his efforts to serve, amplify, and promote our university,” said Joseph Bell, professor of entrepreneurship. “He is quick to assist others in the college while at the same time shuns personal credit. His significant corporate knowledge of the university and willingness to share that information with others makes our job easier. His extensive volunteerism is a significant illustration of John’s devotion to our institution, while also demonstrating his competency and tenacity.”

Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching

Josy Nduku

Nduku also serves as the RN-BSN online program coordinator. She earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice, all from the University of Central Arkansas. Since taking on a leadership role in the School Nursing, Nduku has also become a mentor to new faculty members and is instrumental to the program through curriculum revisions, policy updates, recruitment, and research endeavors. “The School of Nursing is fortunate to have Dr. Nduku as a leader on our team that educates over 800 nursing students every year,” said Dr. Sloan Davidson, director of the School of Nursing. “She embodies the description for the Excellence in Teaching Award and is an outstanding representative of everything our school stands for, particularly our vision of inspiring excellence, transforming care, and creating leaders.”

Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Creative Endeavors

McElwee has an impressive research agenda that has resulted in 20 peer-reviewed publications, four manuscripts under review, and four book reviews.

Tracey McElwee

“Tracey has maintained a commitment to students and service, all while maintaining a stellar publication record that rivals those at R1 institutions,” said Dr. Laura Danforth, assistant professor of social work. “Dr. McElwee is a scholar and master researcher, and is always pursuing her goal of adding to the literature in the field of social work. She has demonstrated a passion and commitment to her research agenda, loves challenges, and is one of the most perceptive and prolific researchers in our department and field.” Her research agenda includes being a part of a team of researchers, led by Dr. Taren Swindle, who received a $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to complete a seven-year project to address early habits in early childcare and education settings with the goal of reducing cancer. The project will reach 5,000 children and 500 teachers across Arkansas and Louisiana. McElwee is also studying the results of a research study conducted with a $10,000 grant from the Council on Social Work Education’s Policy Practice in Field Initiative through the New York Community Trust. Approximately 125 students participated in this high-impact learning experience embedded in social work and political science courses at Philander Smith College and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. In 2017, McElwee and her students assessed the state of campus food insecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock after the creation of the Trojan Food Pantry. This project led to her next research endeavor involving a partnership with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and exploration regarding how reduction in SNAP funding would affect SNAP recipients. McElwee and students in her policy course called grocery stores, food pantries, farmers markets, and SNAP recipients across all 75 Arkansas counties. In 2018, McElwee was invited to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to present findings from this study.

AY Magazine Names Collier-Tenison as 2021 Intriguing Woman

John Hill — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 13:28:55 +0000

Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison, associate dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services (CBHHS) at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has been named to A veteran of higher education for more than two decades, Collier-Tenison found it surprising to be named an intriguing woman by AY. “This was a surprise, although it’s fun to think someone might find me intriguing,” she said. “This is certainly outside of my comfort zone, as I am more of a behind the scenes person generally. Even so, it is good for me to step outside of my usual role, especially as an introvert.” 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. While she now spends her days in administrative leadership roles, Collier-Tenison said that working with students has always been the draw to higher education. “My favorite thing about working in higher education now, as it was then, is working with the students,” she said. “I enjoy teaching and mentoring individuals who are new to the field, and it is especially gratifying to see a student reach an ‘aha’ moment in class when it all (policy/practice) starts to come together. That interaction with students pushes me to continue to grow and I often say it feeds my soul, particularly as I’ve been in primarily administrative roles for so long now.” 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. She was inspired to become a social work professor after working in centers that focused on counseling and women’s programs. “My second internship in my Master of Social Work program was in student affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, where I split my time between Counseling Services and the Women’s Resource Center, a student-run center,” Collier-Tenison said. “A couple of years and some direct practice experience later, I returned to Wash U for a full-time position as the coordinator of Women’s Programs and Community Service/Women’s Crisis Counselor. I loved the blend of social work and higher education, and it was in this role that I felt called back to earn my doctorate in social work.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she served as interim dean of CBHHS, 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. With her many years of service in mind, Collier-Tenison shared her advice for how college students can be successful in school and during their careers. “First, choose a major/profession that speaks to you, that will allow you to grow as a person, and that sets you on the road to a career that suits you,” she said. “Reach out to your professors with questions. Utilize office hours to connect with faculty. Find a cohort of peers that you connect with, whether it is a study group, individuals in your major classes, or people with shared extracurricular interests. Make the most of opportunities to work with a mentor, whether in school or in your chosen profession. While each relationship with a mentor is unique, that support and guidance is invaluable.” Collier-Tenison lives in Little Rock with her husband and twin sons. An active member of the community, she 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.

��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.

USAble Life donates $50,000 to create scholarship for first-gen business students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:22:30 +0000

USAble Life is giving back to the community by donating $50,000 to create a scholarship for first-generation business students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a unique and invaluable educational resource to the population of central Arkansas,” said Jim Casey, USAble Life president and CEO. “USAble Life continues to be a supporter of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and their mission in our community.” The gift will create the USAble Life Endowed Scholarship, which will benefit undergraduate students in the School of Business. The scholarship will be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, books, fees, and room and board. “The School of Business is thankful for this generous donation that will help more business students receive a college education,” said Dr. Jane Wayland, dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “USAable Life has been an excellent partner and supporter of our students for many years. Their executives have served on our business advisory boards and worked with students in our Career Catalyst program.” The scholarship will go to a first-generation college student who graduated from a high school in Pulaski County. Academic accomplishments and financial need will be strongly considered during the application process. “We really enjoy working with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock because of the great education they offer Arkansans,” said Rich Macy, chief operating officer of USAble Life and a member of the School of Business Advisory Board. “ Supporting our local university benefits not only USAble Life’s talent but also the Little Rock community as a whole.” The scholarship also helps with the university’s goal of providing student-success opportunities for first-generation students, which make up more than 40 percent of the university’s total student population.�� “With the growing needs of our student population, we are grateful that USAble Life is providing this important endowment for first-generation college students,” said Michael Johnson, director of development and external relations at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “This impactful gift will change the lives of future generations who have dreams of becoming a college graduate thanks to the generosity of USAble Life.” USAble Life executive Kendall Kirby, senior vice president of information technology, has served on the Business Information Systems (BIS) Business Advisory Council and the EIT Information Science Advisory Council. He provides a business perspective to assist faculty in designing and implementing curriculum, serve as a resource for students and faculty members, support student capstone projects, and provide a leadership role in development activities. “We consider ��Vlog��ý Little Rock a valuable talent resource in the Little Rock area,” Kirby said. “Their EIT and BIS programs are key partners in our Information Technology Internship program and have provided us with numerous high performing employees.”

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Arts and Business Panel Discussion