- University News Archive - 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock /news-archive/tag/democratic-party-of-arkansas/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:28:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Grad believes 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has prepared him for future career of public service /news-archive/2019/12/12/dylan-wright-graduation/ Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:28:53 +0000 /news/?p=75893 ... Grad believes 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has prepared him for future career of public service]]> A University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate is grateful for the personalized yet flexible college education he received that helped him gain experience in politics, public policy, and nonprofits that will be invaluable to his future career.听 Dylan Wright of Little Rock will graduate Dec. 14 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and minors in economics, math, and creative writing. 鈥淚 think the biggest reason that I attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is that I got the Donaghey scholarship,鈥 Wright said. Donaghey Scholars receive a financial package that includes full tuition and fees, a housing subsidy, a stipend, a study abroad experience, and a new laptop computer. 鈥淚 knew I would have a lot of opportunities to be flexible in my education,鈥 Wright said. 鈥淚 got to study abroad and take a bunch of classes in different areas. Dr. Jessica Scott and Dr. Simon Hawkins from the Donaghey Scholars Program have been amazing and helped me through any problems I鈥檝e had.鈥 The Little Rock native has also studied human rights and social movements at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. During his study abroad trip, Wright researched queer cinema in Argentina and the role it plays in citizen鈥檚 LGBTQ rights under the mentorship of Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and assistant professor of Spanish. He presented his research at the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies conference in Mexico in March.听 In another research project, Wright is working with Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs, to study the implementation of more than 1,000 recommendations of truth commissions in 13 Latin American countries. The truth commissions investigated histories of human rights violations. Wright and Wiebelhaus-Brahm have presented their research at the Law and Society Association conference and will present at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting in Chicago next year with support from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 presidential Studies Program. 鈥淒ylan has done some amazing things at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥 Wiebelhaus-Brahm said. 鈥淗e鈥檚听 supported some of the most important nonprofits in our community. He鈥檚 worked on several election campaigns, ranging from mayoral to presidential. There are great things in his future.鈥 Wright remains thankful to the research opportunities he had with his mentors. 鈥淒r. Brahm and Dr. Finzer have been the two professors who have been the most active in guiding my interests and helping me explore the topics I鈥檝e been interested in, including human rights, international relations, and social justice,鈥 Wright said. 鈥淭he professors here have done a really great job of providing me with guidance and resources and passion for different areas that I am now interested in and want to pursue.鈥 During his time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Wright has become an active volunteer in the Little Rock nonprofit world. He has served on the advisory board for Lucie鈥檚 Place and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Diversity Council. He has also volunteered with El Z贸calo Immigrant Resource Center, Heifer International, and the Clinton Presidential Library.听 鈥淚 started out as an English major, but I didn鈥檛 feel fulfilled,鈥 Wright said. 鈥淚 switched my major to political science. As I became more politically aware, I wanted to become more active in local organizations who are doing important work. I tried to dedicate as much of my time as I could to volunteering.鈥 In the political arena, Wright has interned for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, the Clinton Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign: Project One America, and two political campaigns. After graduation, Wright plans to attend a joint graduate program where he will attend law school while studying public policy. While he鈥檚 keeping his options open, Wright鈥檚 future career will most likely involve law, politics, and public policy. 鈥淚鈥檓 applying to graduate programs, but I do know I want my career to be nonprofit or public-service oriented,鈥 Wright said. 鈥淚 really want to spend my career helping people.鈥 ]]> Donaghey Scholar readies for next step in her future /news-archive/2019/05/10/julia-ohara-graduation/ Fri, 10 May 2019 14:07:08 +0000 /news/?p=74277 ... Donaghey Scholar readies for next step in her future]]> When Julie O鈥橦ara graduates on May 11, she will leave behind a legacy of success at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. With an acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh in hand, her energy is focused on a future in international politics. O鈥橦ara, a political science major from Little Rock, has been involved in local politics since she was a teenager. 鈥淚 actually started volunteering with the Democratic Party or Arkansas when I was 14,鈥 O鈥橦ara said. 鈥淚 worked with various campaigns. Through those interactions, I realized how much I enjoyed getting to talk to the community.鈥 As a high schooler, O鈥橦ara decided to attend 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock after hearing about her older sister鈥檚 experience as a Donaghey Scholar. 鈥淢y oldest sister went through the Donaghey program, so I had a really good idea about what I would get out of it,鈥 O鈥橦ara said. 鈥淥ne of my favorite things about it was the Socratic-style classes that let you actually discuss the material rather than have it lectured to you.鈥 O鈥橦ara has had the opportunity to present her research at multiple national conferences. 鈥淚 attended the Southern Political Science Association鈥檚 conference twice, once to present research that I worked on in a methods course and again to present my final project for the Donaghey Scholars Program,鈥 O鈥橦ara said.
Julia O'Hara, who is graduating from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a bachelor's degree in political science, stands outside the Senate chambers in the Arkansas State Capitol building. Photo by Ben Krain.

Julia O’Hara, who is graduating from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in political science, stands outside the Senate chambers in the Arkansas State Capitol building. Photo by Ben Krain.

Throughout her time as a student, O鈥橦ara has continued to be active in state politics, thanks to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 location in Arkansas鈥檚 capital city. 鈥淗aving grown up in Little Rock, I knew the opportunities for studying politics that I would get here,鈥 O鈥橦ara said. 鈥淚 had built up connections through volunteering and internships.鈥 When reflecting on her time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, O鈥橦ara points to her interactions with its non-traditional student body as one of the university鈥檚 biggest strengths. 鈥淲e have such a nontraditional student body,鈥 she said. 鈥淎t 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, you get diversity in ideas and experiences.鈥 After finishing her Ph.D. in political science, O鈥橦ara plans to continue her research in international politics at a professional level.]]> Two K糖心Vlog传媒R reporters say farewell /news-archive/2018/07/20/kuar-departures/ Fri, 20 Jul 2018 14:45:26 +0000 /news/?p=71161 ... Two K糖心Vlog传媒R reporters say farewell]]> K糖心Vlog传媒R Public Radio reporters Jacob Kauffman and Sarah Whites-Koditschek are leaving the radio station to pursue other endeavors. Their last day is Friday, July 20. Kaufman, who joined K糖心Vlog传媒R in 2013 as a reporter and hosted 鈥溾 and during his time, has accepted a position as coordinated campaign communications director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas. 鈥淚t has been an immense privilege to be a part of Arkansas鈥檚 flagship public radio station,鈥 Kauffman said. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for an opportunity which allowed me a first hand look at our state from its people and politics to its best minor league baseball team. I want to thank the K糖心Vlog传媒R staff and listeners for putting trust in our news team and its ability to relay the stories of Arkansas to our neighbors, as well as across the globe. 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock should be praised for its role providing an invaluable service by sowing the seeds for an informed and educated community,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hanks for listening, and I look forward to stepping out of the anchor chair and being able to tune in myself.鈥 Sarah Whites-Koditschek, who was a reporter and Morning Edition host for K糖心Vlog传媒R from 2014-2016 and has been a reporter for since 2016 has accepted a fellowship with , where she will do investigative reporting. 鈥淥ver the past four years I have become part of the K糖心Vlog传媒R family, and have relished collaborating with such a unique team of hosts and reporters,鈥 Whites-Koditschek said. 鈥淚 consider it an honor to have been part of the adventure of launching Arkansas Public Media. Ultimately, the best thing about my role has been the opportunity to engage with so many Arkansans. 听I will certainly carry those connections with me.鈥 Nathan Vandiver, interim听general manager and program director for ,听 said听the station will fill the positions as soon as possible. 鈥淪arah and Jacob have both contributed significantly to the growth and development of K糖心Vlog传媒R these past four years,” Vandiver said. “They鈥檝e both helped us think of how to adapt and grow our service. It鈥檚 been a pleasure working and learning with them and everyone at KLRE/K糖心Vlog传媒R is looking forward to the amazing things they will do in their new endeavors.鈥澨]]>