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

Briscoe Elected Division II Vice President of Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

John Hill — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:51:27 +0000

Dr. David Briscoe, Inaugural University Professor of Sociology and Distinguished Teaching Fellow at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has been elected the Division II vice president for the Honor Society of . Briscoe was elected during the 47th Biennial Convention of Phi Kappa Phi Aug. 4-6 in Orlando, Florida. In his new role, he will provide advice, counsel, and leadership to dozens of Phi Kappa Phi chapters within Division II. “Phi Kappa Phi is a wonderful organization that recognizes thousands of outstanding college students every year,” Briscoe said. “I am thankful for being elected the Division II vice president since this gives me another opportunity to serve others as a labor of love.” Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society and initiates approximately 25,000 members a year on more than 325 campuses in the United States, its territories, and the Philippines. Briscoe was inducted into the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock chapter of Phi Kappa Phi in 1994 and served as chapter president in 2002. In 2005, he became a distinguished member of Phi Kappa Phi and the first African American in the United States to receive the National Phi Kappa Phi Ray Sylvester Distinguished Service Award in 2018. He has participated in three national conventions and served on three national committees. He earned a B.A. in sociology and an M.A. in criminal justice at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Ph.D. in family sociology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is also an alumnus of numerous leadership and education institutes at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Oxford. He is the 2020 university-wide recipient of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service and the recipient of the 2021 university-wide Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching. He was inducted into the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Trojans Athletics Hall of Fame this year. He is a Distinguished Eagle Scout and a recipient of the Silver Buffalo Award, scouting’s highest award for distinguished service to youth on a national level.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alum Cassandra Booker Overcomes Incredible Odds That Lead to a Family Legacy of College Graduates

John Hill — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 17:38:04 +0000

Cassandra Booker, a 2008 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, overcame incredible odds to graduate with the bachelor’s degree that she is so thankful for. Yet, her college journey is far from over. Booker first attended ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1978 when she was 27, but she soon left college to support her family. “My journey by far is not like most. I found myself pregnant with my second child and responsible not only for them, but three siblings,” she said. “I wasn’t able to figure all this out as a single mom. I decided to put school on the back burner and work two jobs to care for the children. It was crazy but there were no other options for me. My sisters had to be safe. When you are dealing with addiction and mental illness with your family members, it is even harder.” Booker said that setting a good example for her family and showing them the value of hard work and education has always been her motivation to succeed. “I worked two jobs for years to provide because I did not want to depend on the state or compromise my integrity to keep a roof over our heads,” she said. “As long as I can remember, I have lived in a survival mold. Not because I wanted to, because I didn’t want the other option. It has always been me and God, and I had my siblings watching.” In 2000, Booker’s life took an unexpected turn when she was laid off from her job. She decided to go after the degree she left behind more than two decades earlier. “When it came to going back to school in 2000, the only other option was to be laid off and do nothing,” Booker said. “To me, that was not an option so I chose to go back to school. I was afraid, embarrassed, unprepared, and uneducated for college life.” TRiO Student Support Services turned out to be Booker’s key to prepare for the long-awaited return to college. She took classes on college preparation and met with academic advisors, mentors, and career counselors to help with her college education. “Ms. Valerie Brown (former director of TRiO) was there to help connect me with mentors and tutors,” she said. “Ms. Brown followed me and ensured that I had guidance counselors, academic advisors, and that they did their jobs. Her and Gus Swain (a counselor) were advocates for the advancement of higher education. They pushed us to do our best and worked with us if necessary to get the resources we needed.” Several caring professors also served as mentors for Booker and helped her through some difficult times in her life. “They did not just care about our education,” Booker said. “They cared about our families. We talked about my health and all. I had 27 hospital stays while at ��Vlog��ýLR, but my professors ensured that I got my assignments and turned them in. Even in the hospital in the rain, they came through. I really appreciate professors like Dr. Briscoe and Dr. Krain, who was also my academic advisor and stood up for me regarding an internship. I love them both.”

Photo of Cassandra Booker by Ben Krain.

Going to college turned into a family affair as Booker’s younger sisters also earned degrees at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “My sister worked at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock the first time I got on the Dean’s List,” Booker said. “They were so proud of me to know that I made the Dean’s List. It’s crazy how I look back at how we started, how God blessed us all, and how my siblings and I ended up where we are today. There was a time I didn’t think it was even possible that we would all graduate from college.” In 2008, Booker’s long fought journey to complete her college education came to fruition with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in psychology. It was even a suggestion by an inspirational professor that sent her on her current career journey to help children and Alzheimer’s patients. “Dr. Carolyn Turturro (former gerontology program coordinator) told me that I had a spirit that would work well with geriatrics before I even knew what that was,” Booker said. “I went on to work and care for Alzheimer’s patients for 15 years. Go figure. I loved it.” While she currently works as an administrator with DCFS, Booker has also worked as a case manager, paraprofessional, sponsor in recovery, and an investigator with DCFS. “I have been with the state a total of 18 years, and it has been a ride,” Booker said. “Professors like David Briscoe and Mark Krain showed me what a good social worker looks like. Without the tools that were given to me and the support that was shown to me from the faithful few, I would not be where I am.” As she looks back on her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Booker is grateful not only for her degree, but also that her sisters were able to earn their college degrees as well. “I tell people I earned this degree for sure,” Booker said. “We came from small beginnings, but God had me and two of my siblings all on that campus at the same time and we all have graduated with degrees.” Booker and her family aren’t finished with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock yet. She and her granddaughter, Airianna McDaniel, are both planning to go to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2022 to pursue graduate degrees together. McDaniel, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Philander Smith University this December, and her grandmother are both applying for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Master of Social Work Program. For Booker, it will be the third time she’s attended ��Vlog��ý Little Rock throughout her 45-year history with the university. “Airianna is my oldest grandchild out of 14,” Booker said. “I’ve worked really hard to maintain my health because I want us to do this together. That’s our plan. Whatever we do, we are going to enter the master’s program together, me and my oldest grandchild. We’ve excited to do this together.”

Briscoe Receives Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion

John Hill — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 17:18:18 +0000

Dr. David Briscoe, a university professor of sociology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has recently been awarded the Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion by the Chapel of Four Chaplains for his humanitarian efforts. The Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion is granted for extraordinary contributions to the well-being of others at the national or world level to world peace and inter-faith and inter-ethnic understanding. “To whom much is given, much more is required,” Briscoe said. Briscoe’s award honors his service to the youth of America and his commitment and dedication to academic excellence worldwide. He has participated in the Boy Scouts of America for 55 years. 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. Briscoe has taught at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for 30 years. He has more than 60 honors for academic excellence and service, including the 2020 recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service, the 2021 recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching, and being the first ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty member appointed the honorific title of university professor this spring.

The Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion by the Chapel of Four Chaplain

The award publicly recognizes and honors outstanding members of society whose lives model the giving spirit and unconditional service to community, nation, and humanity without regard to race, religion, or creed as exemplified by the Four Chaplains. honors those who encourage sacrifice and interfaith cooperation just like the four chaplains who gave their lives on the U.S.A.T. Dorchester. On February 3, 1943, a German U-boat torpedoed the ship just 90 miles short of its destination in Greenland. Out of the 902 passengers on board, only 230 survived. The four chaplains of different faiths gave their life jackets to four men that they might be saved, and they themselves went down with the ship to a watery grave. Those chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed.

Briscoe Named University Professor at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 09:22:02 +0000

Dr. David Briscoe, a professor of sociology, has the distinction of being the first ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty member appointed the honorific title of university professor.�� This is a special honor conferred only upon active faculty in recognition of an extended period of exemplary service in a spirit of collegiality to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as well as a combination of service in their profession and to the public through their professional activities.�� In order to achieve the distinction, faculty members must have been a full professor for 10 years and have gained wide recognition at the national or international level for their sustained excellence in service, teaching, research, or creative activity relevant to their respective disciplines and academic roles. “I am beyond words that the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas conferred the distinguished title of University Professor on me,” Briscoe said. “It’s historical in the sense that I became the Inaugural University Professor at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. It means the world to me.”�� Briscoe is known for a legacy of teaching excellence at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that stretches for nearly three decades. He is the 2021 recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching as well as the 2020 recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service. “This is a historic year for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as we recognize our first Distinguished Professors and our first University Professor,” Provost Ann Bain said. “These outstanding faculty have had long standing careers that have been, and continue to be, full of accomplishments. Their dedication to their profession, our university, and our students is commendable. We are thankful to have the opportunity to honor our faculty with these prestigious awards.” Since beginning his career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1992, Briscoe has been awarded nearly 60 honors, including being named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence twice, voted among the Best of the Best Professors three times by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student body, and receiving the Graduate and Retention Advocate Award four times. He supports student-athletes as the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and 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.�� “Dr. Briscoe is tireless in his service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, its students, and the wider community,” said Dr. Krista Lewis, chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. “It seems that hardly a week passes in which I, in my role as department chair, 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.” In addition to his teaching and university service, Briscoe has participated in the Boy Scouts of America for 55 years. 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.

��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.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students honor one-of-a-kind faculty members

John Hill — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:28:37 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock students are honoring faculty members who have made a positive impact in their lives through the 2021 We Heart Our Faculty Awards.�� Overall, six ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty members were selected by undergraduate, graduate, and law school students. Each of the recipients will receive a certificate and a one-of-a-kind, handmade glass heart created by in the colors of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� The glass hearts symbolize positive, influential support that makes a real difference in the lives of students. As students enter the university to pursue their education, faculty often play a nurturing role, guiding students through the learning process and working hard to foster an environment that best ensures success.�� “There is no doubt that this school year has been extremely challenging for our students, but oftentimes we fail to acknowledge the enormous amount of work that our faculty members put into ensuring that our students excel,” SGA President Landon DeKay said. For the 2021 year, the We Heart Our Faculty Awards awards were expanded to also highlight graduate and law school faculty who were selected by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate Student Government Association and the William H. Bowen School of Law students.�� “These awards originated with our student government leaders, and this initiative clearly demonstrates that our students recognize the positive impact that faculty have on their lives,” said Dr. Ann Bain, executive vice chancellor and provost. “Our faculty make a difference in ensuring our students complete their degree and achieve their career goals, and they do this in a manner that is supportive and inclusive.” The 2021 award recipients include: ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Government Association

David Briscoe, professor of sociology
John Talburt, professor of information science and coordinator for the Information Quality Graduate Program
Cynthia Johnson, advanced instructor of accounting

Graduate Student Government Association

Barbara L’eplattenier, professor of rhetoric and writing
John Talburt, professor of information science and coordinator for the Information Quality Graduate Program
Jason Kushner, professor of counseling and graduate program coordinator

William H. Bowen School of Law

Joshua Silverstein, professor of law

Wilkerson fulfills dream of earning college degree 55 years after graduating high school

John Hill — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 17:03:33 +0000

At 73, Carolyn Wilkerson has completed her lifelong dream of earning a bachelor’s degree.�� “My journey has been one the most rewarding personal decisions that I’ve ever made,” Wilkerson said. “This is probably the only major milestone that I have ever established for myself. I’ve done some things that I think are monumental but nothing of this magnitude, especially at my age. This has been quite rewarding. It’s been a phenomenal journey.” The Little Rock native will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in applied communication and a minor in sociology this month from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Wilkerson joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2016, fulfilling a promise she made to herself many years ago. “I didn’t go to college when I graduated high school,” she said. “I always said to myself that when I retire, I am going to go to college. After I retired, my daughter opened a daycare, and I started helping her. Then my children reminded me that I said I was going to go. I always wanted a college degree.” Having graduated from Little Rock’s Horace Mann High School in 1965, Wilkerson is the third of her high school classmates who have graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in recent years, including Philip Bryant in 2016 and Vivian Littrell in 2019. “When I came out of high school, I went to vocational school and I ended up with a very nice job,” Wilkerson said. “Once you get into the job market and you make good money, it’s hard to quit to go to school, especially as a mother and wife. I had a friend who encouraged me to go, Philip Bryant.” Being the eldest of eight children and only the second to earn a college degree, Wilkerson said her extended family has mixed views on her decision to pursue a college degree at 68.�� “Needless to say, every possible mental reason not to attend surfaced, reminding me of the time span, the young students on campus, and that real loud voice that said ‘You’re a grandmother,’” she said. “A couple of my sisters and some of my family members think I am crazy. They couldn’t believe I would do this at my age. This is something I wanted to do for me, not for anybody else.” Wilkerson and her husband, Ronald, pastor of Faith Temple Deliverance Church of God in Christ, have a blended family with a total of seven children, 24 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. “My husband has been the greatest supporter anyone could have asked for. He got his master’s degree three or four years ago, so whatever I needed to do to make the grade was okay with him,” Wilkerson said. “My children all graduated college and quite well, but I never saw that for myself. They said, ‘Momma, we got it from somewhere. I did not ever think that I would make the Chancellor’s List or the Dean’s List, but I’ve done that nine times and will graduate Cum Laude.”

Carolyn Wilkerson

Wilkerson has found several mentors on her road to success. “In applied communication, I would say my mentors are Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter and Dr. Kristen McIntyre,” Wilkerson said. “They were both phenomenal. Dr. McIntyre was the biggest cheerleader you could ever have. They just don’t get any better than Dr. David Briscoe in sociology. When I hit a slump, Ida Humphrey (senior instructor in mathematics and statistics) was my go-to professor.” McIntyre, professor of applied communication and director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communication Skill Center, said that Wilkerson helped many students find confidence during her time as an intern at the center. “Carolyn’s joy and enthusiasm for learning is contagious,” McIntyre said. “She’s always willing to try new things, tackling whatever challenges cross her path with grace and humor. She’s an amazing support to her classmates. During her time as a CSC intern, she was a favorite among students seeking help on their ACOM 1300 assignments. So much so, Carolyn inspired one of the incredibly anxious ACOM 1300 students she helped to join the CSC staff so she could continue building her communication skills and pass on that same support she received from Carolyn to others.” Now that her education is complete, Wilkerson will use her education to help students who attend the city-sponsored youth program, , which she has been helping to run since her husband started the program in 2011. The program serves at-risk youth ages 13-19 in Little Rock. She also wants to use her degree to help people and “do something that will make a difference in the community.” As she reflects on her long road to a college degree, Wilkerson has the following advice for college students. “I would say, especially for young people, that it is a mistake to doubt your capabilities,” Wilkerson said. “As a young woman, I doubted my ability to get into a college arena and really excel. As a senior citizen, I would say that it’s never too late to learn. I wouldn’t know if I hadn’t dared myself to take an adventure that most normally don’t take at my age. I don’t think anyone that wants a degree can’t get it. If I can do it, I believe anyone can do it.”

Briscoe recognized in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Heritage Hall

John Hill — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 16:12:19 +0000

A man who has spent the past 55 years dedicated to service with the Boy Scouts of America has now been honored by having his picture installed in the Heritage Hall in the Bailey Alumni Center. Dr. David Briscoe, a professor of sociology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, said he was “blown away” by the honor. Those who are recognized in the Heritage Hall are ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumni and employees who have been recognized for a significant or historic achievement in the community. “Dr. Briscoe is a part of our distinguished heritage on campus,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “He was recognized earlier this year with the Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service for his extensive service in the community, especially with the Boy Scouts of America. He serves as a role model for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community.” Briscoe is 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 million students. He also served as the trustee and acting treasurer of the Learning for Life Foundation. For more than 25 years, Briscoe has served on the board of the Boy Scouts of America Quapaw Area Council, which covers 29 of the 75 counties in Arkansas. After serving as president from 2016 to 2018, he continues to serve as chair of the long range planning committee, vice president of administration, and chairman of the World Scout Jamboree. “David Briscoe is an outstanding leader to the Quapaw Area Council and the Boy Scouts of America,” said scout executive Marcal Young. “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.” He has also received several awards and accomplishments over the years from the Boy Scouts, including the Distinguished Eagle Award. This award is given for distinguished service in a scout’s profession as well as in his community for at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout. He is the first and only African American in Arkansas to receive the Silver Antelope Award for distinguished service to youth in the Southern Region in 1996. In 2005, he was the first African American and the fourth Arkansan to receive the Silver Buffalo Award for distinguished service to youth on a national scale. Briscoe 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. “I got involved in scouting at the age of 14, and I loved it so much that I remained registered and active in the program for 55 years,” Briscoe said. “Being involved in the program was a way that I could serve the program on a local, national, and international level.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, where Briscoe has been teaching since 1992, he serves 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 Dissertation Selection Committee, the Diversity Council, the Athletics Committee, and the Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity. To Briscoe, scouting reinforces his faith. As the oath states, Briscoe does his best to do his duty to God, his country, and obey the Scout Law. “My advice for someone to be successful is to make a serious commitment and dedication to their faith,” Briscoe said. “Put your faith into practice everyday.”

��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.”

Briscoe receives Faculty Excellence in Public Service award for College of Social Sciences and Communication

John Hill — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 21:30:58 +0000

Dr. David Briscoe, professor of sociology, is being honored as the 2020 Faculty Excellence in Public Service award winner for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Social Sciences and Communication. “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 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. During that time, Briscoe has been awarded 55 honors, earned three distinguished certificates, and been named Distinguished Teaching Fellow for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence. He has received the Graduate and Retention Advocate Award three times. 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. “University staff and colleagues across campus are quick to comment on Dr. Briscoe’s willingness to serve students,” said Regina Carter, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock chief of police. 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.” Lewis noted that for Dr. Briscoe, the lines between teaching, mentoring, and service to students, the university, and community are porous, and that this is his greatest strength. “Everything that he does is service, given honestly and fully,” Lewis said.

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