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

Doctoral student attends prestigious international ecology program in France

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 17:11:48 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock doctoral student has found a passion for international collaboration after attending a prestigious summer ecology program in France.�� Patricia Covington, a Bryant native and Ph.D. student in applied biosciences, was one of just 25 doctoral students to be admitted to the COTE Summer School 2019 in Bordeaux, France, taught by 21 international experts in the field. The Summer School is part of the training program and gathers Ph.D. students in environmental sciences, each specialized in different disciplines such as ecology, chemistry, biology, and sociology. Through talks, field trips and round tables with international experts on integrative ecology, the program provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach on frontiers and boundaries in ecology and society. “It was the most amazing experience I have ever had,” Covington said. “There were students from over 16 countries and different walks of life. It was the first time I’ve been in the room with such a diverse group of people.”�� During the program that ran June 3-7, she met with international experts on integrative ecology, participated in interactive round table discussions to encourage cross-disciplinary research and collaboration among the participants, and took field trips to sites in France to study agriculture, hydrosystems, and forests. “The program is about getting Ph.D. candidates together to promote interdisciplinary work,” Covington said. “It brought all of us together to identify collaborative and innovative ways to address issues through interdisciplinary work. We talked about what we can do in the areas of science that would solve common problems around the world.” To keep the collaborative spirit going, Covington created a Facebook page where the program participants keep in touch. They share articles, give advice on papers and projects, and discuss collaborative research ideas. “It serves as a way we can keep in touch and get feedback on other pursuits,” Covington said. “I made lifelong friendships, and I networked with a lot of people from different disciplines. I am so grateful that I got this opportunity. I want to thank Scott Woolbright (assistant professor of biology), David Tonkyn (chair of the biology department) and Sarah Beth Estes (dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences) for their help in getting me to France.”�� Covington was one of only three students from the United States and the only student from Arkansas to attend. The summer school program, food, and accommodations were paid for by the program organizers. Covington also received a travel grants from COTE and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Biology. Covington’s mentor, Dr. Scott Woolbright, encouraged her to apply after learning about the summer program from Tonkyn, who said it was an opportunity most academics do not have until they are much older. “Patricia is a leader among our students, and shows initiative in many ways,” Tonkyn said. “Winning admission to this workshop is yet another example. No single university could assemble a team of instructors of this caliber from their own staff, and the training and connections Patricia has made with students and scholars from all over the world is incredible. We are proud that one of our students was able to participate in this elite program.” In the upper right photo, Patricia Covington and fellow COTE Summer School 2019 program participants explore the forests in Bordeaux, France.��

Farmstand event promotes green living on campus

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 17:24:05 +0000

Jennifer Heinley, an accounting major at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, was out shopping at the Campus Garden with her two sons on during the garden’s first farmstand event in mid-July. The family was looking for honey, squash, zucchinis, and any other fresh ingredients that might go well with the Instant Pot recipe she was planning to make for dinner. Heinley said it’s important to buy fresh, organic food and often shops at farmers markets for everything she doesn’t grow in her own garden.�� “I prefer buying locally sourced food if I can’t grow it myself,” she said, adding that her children enjoy the food, even if they don’t always enjoy the work. “I like the food, but I don’t like the weeding,” Blake Heinley, 7, agreed. In the farmstand model, people make donations as they can and then pick whatever they want from the garden. At the garden, which is organic and pesticide-free, students and volunteers grow corn, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, Turkish melons, and herbs, as well as host perennial and annual flower beds, beehives, and rented stalls. “The donations all go straight back into the garden and helping the community,” Marion Richard, senior biology major and president of the Campus Garden Alliance, said. “I want people to know about the importance of community. We would not have this beautiful garden without all of the people who help us. This garden is a labor of love.”

Visitors harvest produce from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Campus Garden during a pay-what-you-can farmstand sale. Photo by Ben Krain.

Toni Boyer-Stewart, web marketer and analyst, took the opportunity to buy some locally grown honey, corn, and pick some fresh flowers straight from the campus garden.�� “Nobody knows about the Campus Garden, and people need to realize that we have a wonderful resource for fresh vegetables and locally grown honey right on campus,” Boyer-Stewart said.�� More than 100 people attended the two-hour event, where the garden staffers sold out of tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and sweet corn. “We love fresh produce,” said Kisa Bellamy, a nursing major from Little Rock, who was picking collard greens at the campus garden. “For me, it brings it home from what we see in the grocery store to how we actually get the vegetables in our home. I didn’t even know how to pick collards from the ground, so it’s cool that they showed me how.” Leaders of the Campus Garden are planning to hold farmstand events throughout the rest of the growing season as the crops continue to mature. “Maintaining the garden takes a lot of work, and it’s all done by faculty, student, and staff volunteers,” said Dr. Stephen Grace, biology professor and faculty advisor of the Campus Garden Alliance. “The Campus Garden is a model urban farm that can promote better health and nutrition for the community by providing locally grown, fresh produce, contribute to the revitalization of underutilized urban land, provide social and economic benefits to the urban community, and improve urban landscapes.” The next farmstand event will take place from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2.��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock grad ready to take next step in research, community, and med school

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 12:41:57 +0000

With a father as a doctor and an older sister in medical school, being a doctor would seem the obvious choice for Arooba Ilyas, a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in biology.�� “Ever since I was little, just seeing how happy my dad, a pediatric nephrologist (kidney doctor for kids), is and how many people he gets to help is inspiring,” she said. “Ever since I was little, I thought I would be a doctor. When I get into high school, something about marine biology piqued my interest.” Choosing ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was an easy choice for Ilyas. She was familiar with campus since she conducted research with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors in high school. Her older sister graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and was a member of the Donaghey Scholars program. Ilyas was thrilled when she was also accepted to the program, which covers her tuition, fees, computer, housing, and study abroad experience. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock really stood out to me,” she said. “In high school, I worked with faculty from the Chemistry Department, and I got to see how willing ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is to promote research in youth. That is something I am very passionate about, since I think it is important to expand young minds. Since my sister was in the Donaghey Scholars program, I know that they really help students to become who they are during college.” Ilyas started at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in fall 2015 as a biology major with no plans to enter medicine, but those plans quickly changed. “I came into college saying I’m not pre-med, but I really gained a passion for medicine working as a volunteer in the ��Vlog��ýMS Emergency Department,” Ilyas said. “I realized that I didn’t want to be a doctor just because I wanted to be like my dad.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Ilyas has been passionate about educating the public about world cultures and developing services in the Muslim community. Ilyas’ parents are from Pakistan, and she is a first-generation American college student. As part of the Muslim Student Association, she helped organize the World Hijab Day celebration on campus as well as a multicultural fashion show. “World Hijab Day is Feb. 1, and we encourage people to wear scarves to step into the world of a hijabi woman. I put on the hijab in ninth grade, and I remember getting so many stares when I was walking down the hallway,” she said. “If people are looking at me, I realized I can be an example of what a Muslim is instead of what Muslims are perceived as. And the multicultural fashion show is a way for us to get in touch with different cultures on campus.” In the community, she volunteers with the Islamic Center of Little Rock as part of a team that is working to bring counseling and therapy to the mosque. “The Islamic Center of Little Rock want to start implanting counseling services and couples therapy. Muslim couples have been turned away from other places for counseling because they are Muslim,” Ilyas said. “My team is also trying to get counseling services for high school kids. I’ve become a mentor for a lot of the younger Muslims that I know. They often tell me that they feel like they don’t’ fit in or have to conform to things that don’t fit with their religion. Having a therapist who is Muslim or who understands the Muslim experience is helpful to these kids.” Now that she has graduated, Ilyas is taking a gap year to focus on her research and volunteer work with the Islamic Center of Little Rock as well as study and take the MCATs (Medical College Admission Test) and apply for medical school. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she received a Signature Experience Award, which provides $1,000 for a student to conduct a research or creative project, to study how renewable resources can be used to purify water with Dr. Noureen Siraj, assistant professor of chemistry. “I’m using consumption waste materials, such as used tea leaves and cigarette buds, as a green chemistry source to purify water,” she said. “I walked around campus with little baggies and gloves and picked up the old cigarette buds. Why not use something that is littering the world and put it to better use?” She has even come full circle by mentoring high school students that work in Siraj’s lab during the school year, just like she did in high school. “I could have just done a baking soda volcano for a high school science fair project, but the fact that I got to work in a real lab was very cool,” Ilyas said. “I’ve got to help high school students in Dr. Siraj’s lab, since I want to encourage students to pursue their passions at a young age.”

Helgestad looks forward to giving back to the community through dentistry

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 20 May 2019 13:06:56 +0000

Ingrid Helgestad, 22, of Bryant, has been considering becoming a dentist since she was 14. To encourage this goal, Helgestad’s parents, Karl and Tara Helgestad, took her on a mission trip to Guatemala with St. James United Methodist Church when she was 17. She can remember the exact moment when she decided to become a dentist.�� “When we went to Guatemala, I asked specifically to assist in the dentistry portion. I assisted Dr. Tina Nichols,” Helgestad said. “Since they don’t have enough time to do bridges, the dentists pull all the teeth and the patients get dentures. I remember standing there holding 20 bloody teeth for one woman who was getting dentures. Even though these people were in pain, they were leaving with so much hope because they were about to get their health back. This is when I solidified that dentistry is what I wanted to do in college.” Helgestad graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on May 11 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and is well on her way to becoming a dentist. She already works as a registered dental assistant with Dr. Kathleen Good Ederle in Little Rock and is applying to dental schools this month. “I like dentistry because I enjoy doing art and being creative, but I also enjoy business. Combining these areas together is what general dentistry is like,” she said. “Working as a dental assistant, I see how happy people get even with just a little cosmetic work to their teeth.” After graduating from Bryant High School in 2015, Helgestad decided on ��Vlog��ý Little Rock after meeting the faculty and being accepted to the Donaghey Scholars program, which covered her tuition, fees, and housing while providing a living stipend, computer, and study abroad assistance. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock was the perfect medium between a small school environment and a big school environment,” Helgestad said. “Once I got a tour of the facilities, met the professors, and received the Donaghey scholarship, it was a no brainer. I had a great experience with every professor I met.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Helgestad found she had a knack for business and entrepreneurship. She was part of a medical startup company, Spiritum Solutions, with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students Noah Asher and Nick Lester. The start-up was selected for the Delta I-Fund Business Accelerator program in the fall 2017 semester and won first place in the undergraduate division of the Arkansas Governor’s Cup in April 2018. Helgestad developed a prototype for a device that reduces unplanned extubations in critical care units. “Winning the Governor’s Cup is a highlight of my college career, but the thing that sticks out the most to me at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is how close I am to my professors,” Helgestad said. “To me, that is way more important than being in a lecture hall with 400 students. Dr. Brian Berry from the Chemistry Department, Dr. David Tonkyn from the Biology Department, and Dr. Jessica Scott and Dr. Simon Hawkins from the Donaghey Scholars have always been there for me. Having support from my chairs and the Donaghey Scholars program has led to my success.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Donaghey Scholars and best friends Ingrid Helgestad, left, and Abby Resendiz, right, congratulate each other after their commencement ceremony on May 11. Photo by Ben Krain.

As someone who is very grateful for the help she received in her college career, Helgestad has given back to the community by volunteering with Girls of Promise Annual STEM Conference, Girl Scouts, CARE for Animals, Habitat for Humanity, and the 12th Street Health and Wellness Dental Clinic. “The Girls of Promise STEM Conference was my favorite volunteer experience in college,” she said. “I became a team leader, and I was kind of afraid because I was in charge of 13- and 14-year-old girls. I’ve always been an advocate for girls and women to do what they can do without feeling like they aren’t good enough. I tell these girls that they are worthy and smart and totally capable of doing anything they want to do. All the girls in my group wanted to do computer science or physics and biology, and it was really fun to see their faces light up when they talked about it.” Helgestad also continued her love of service in the dental area. At the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, she and a classmate, Brendan Frazier, started a student chapter of the Natural Teeth Ambassador program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Theoutreach program focuses on dental care that educates at-risk elementary school students and families in the Little Rock area. Last year, the ambassadors visited two elementary schools and hope to reach more this year. “It’s called the Superhero program, and we use lots of different fun activities to get kids excited about being superheroes,” she said. “They combat the bad guys, plaque and acid, with their special tools, toothpaste and floss. At the end of the program, we give them dental supplies donated by Delta Dental.” At the end of her ��Vlog��ý Little Rock education, Helgestad said that combining her love of dentistry, engineering, and business is what made the journey so special. “I definitely have enjoyed getting to incorporate business and entrepreneurship into my college experience,” she explained. “I was unsure when I first started how I was going to do that. It’s crazy that I combined everything I love into my college experience – dentistry, engineering through the medical device, and business. I’m really proud and excited that this community has supported me in doing that.”

Lee, Khodakovskaya, and Mitchell named Faculty Excellence Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 02:30:06 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock professors Dr. Jin Wook Lee, Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya,��and Alicia Mitchell have been named the 2019 winners of the Faculty Excellence��Awards.�� Each of the three professors will receive a $5,000 award as winners of the Faculty Excellence Awards in the categories of teaching, research and creative endeavors, and public service. Lee, assistant professor of systems engineering, received the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award while Khodakovskaya was named the winner of the Faculty Excellence and Creative Endeavors Award. Mitchell, assistant visiting professor of law and director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, won the Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award. “Thirty years of recognizing the work of our outstanding faculty underscores the university’s commitment to our mission,” said Dr. Christina Drale, interim executive vice chancellor and provost. “It signifies the value we place on excellent teaching, research and creative activity, and service to our community. These essential components of our institution create a learning environment that enriches the education of our students and prepares them to embrace a bright future.” The winners were honored during an April 11 awards ceremony in the Schueck, McCarty, Lexicon Inc. Auditorium. Fourteen additional faculty members who earned Faculty Excellence awards at the college level also were honored, and they will each receive a $1,000 award. The 15 members of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors reviewed the achievements and selected the winners. This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Faculty Excellence Awards. Since 1989, the event has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Bailey Foundation, Office of the Chancellor, Office of the Provost, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle. Sharon Bailey of the Bailey Foundation, which was instrumental in the creation of the Faculty Excellence Awards, presented the Bailey Teaching Award. “I would like to express our appreciation for the outstanding service each of you here have given,” Bailey said. “The Bailey Foundation has a long history with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. My late husband, Dr. Ted Bailey II, recognized the importance of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock many years ago and helped establish this teaching award. It is my honor to carry on his legacy.” More about the winners:

Faculty Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Jin Wook Lee is an assistant professor of systems engineering in the College of Engineering and Information Technology. “I never expected this kind of big award,” Lee said. “I am very honored. I would like to thank my wife, Ji, and son, Jason.” He began his career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2013 and previously worked as a senior engineer at Samsung in South Korea. He connects with his students through a “disciplined, yet friendly” approach to instruction. In his teaching, Lee incorporates his personal experiences as examples in the classroom. He enjoys helping students understand new concepts and establish strong foundations to build their future careers. He is known for placing a high priority on his teaching and student interactions. “I just keep asking students questions instead of just giving lectures,” Lee said. “I want to make sure they understand what I am teaching. And after each test, I arrange a one-on-one meeting with those who have below average scores to ask how we can improve their learning. I think that helps a lot.” He contributed to the development of the Bachelor of Science in mechanical systems engineering at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and developed courses in fluid mechanics and computational fluid mechanics. Lee has been a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 2010. He was awarded two grants from NASA in 2015 and 2017 and has two patents pending.

Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors

Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya is a professor of biology and interim associate dean in the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Her research is primarily on plant biology and nanotechnology, and she is well known for collaborations with scientists from other disciplines. Last year, she received a $1 million grant to study the genetic qualities of rice to determine its heat tolerance. Khodakosvkaya is a part of a consortium of four universities that collectively received $4.65 million from the National Science Foundation to study heat tolerance in rice in hopes of reducing hunger by helping rice farmers improve their yield. Khodakovskaya’s collaborations with material scientists, nanotechnologists, and other plant molecular biologists and biotechnologists resulted in the development of a unique research area in the intersection of plant biology and nanotechnology. She was the first person to demonstrate that carbon-based nanomaterials can affect plants at genomic and metabolomic levels, which activates genes involved in water transport, cell division, and response to environmental stress. She has also established new methods for increasing seed germination and plant and cell growth using nanomaterials. Khodakosvkaya strives to commercialize her research through interactions with industry��professionals and through the submission of patent applications. In the past five years, two of her patent applications have been approved. In 2014, she formed a start-up company, Advanced Plant Technologies, LLC. Since 2008, she has been a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on grants totaling more than $9.6 million. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, and the Arkansas Space Consortium.

Faculty Excellence in Public Service

Alicia Mitchell is an assistant visiting professor of law and director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bowen School of Law. She has worked at Bowen for almost 17 years and has spent her entire teaching career working in the clinical program, training students to ethically and professionally represent parties before the Internal Revenue Service. Alongside her students, Mitchell has served hundreds of economically distressed individuals in need of assistance with tax information. She works with the international student population, ensuring they are in compliance with federal tax regulations. Since 2014, Mitchell has been awarded the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic grant from the National Taxpayer Advocate each year to aid in her endeavors. She also works in the Little Rock Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition and several national taxpayer committees. “The most impactful thing I do for students is give them the opportunity to learn by gaining practical experience,” Mitchell said. “They gain satisfaction by helping their clients in the clinic. When the students get a positive result, it reinforces everything that I am trying to teach them in the clinic – to be a good and impactful attorney.” In the community, she participates in events like the Hispanic Heritage Festival and the Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition Super Saturday. She believes in educating the community on their rights and responsibilities as taxpayers while spreading awareness of the clinic’s services. Mitchell is active on campus in the Delta Project Committee, Law School Admissions Committee, Assessment Committee, Faculty Development Committee, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Sustainability Committee. �� In the upper right photo, the 2019 Faculty Excellence Award winners include Jin Wook Lee (left) for teaching, Mariya Khodakovskaya (midde) for research and creative endeavors, and Alicia Mitchell (right) for public service. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock awards funding to six projects in Seed Grant Competition

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 14:22:04 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has awarded funding to six research projects by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty members through the 2018-19 Seed Grant Competition.�� This year, the competition accepted research proposals in two tracks. Four projects were awarded funding of $6,000 each in Track A, while two projects were awarded $12,000 each in Track B. The grant period for each award is from Aug. 16, 2018, to Aug. 15, 2019. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Seed Grant Competition aims to kickstart compelling research projects that can later be funded by external support after the term of the seed grant. The Track A winners and their projects include:

Annie Childers and Liangfang Lu, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, “Placement and Retention in Developmental Mathematics at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock”
Amar Kanekar, School of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation, and Joseph Williams, Department of Rhetoric and Writing, “Health Quest – A Training Simulation for Health Education Students and Workers”
Rebecca Glazier, School of Public Affairs, and Heidi Skurat Harris, Department of Rhetoric and Writing, “Identifying Reliable Indicators of Instructor-Student Rapport in Online Classrooms”
Fusheng Tang, Department of Biology, “Osh6-Mediated Sterol Redistribution Extends the Lifespan”

The Track B winners and their projects include:

Hirak Patangia, College of Engineering and Information Technology, “An Experimental Investigation of a Faster Voltage Equalizer for a String of Batteries in Electric Vehicles”
Shanzhi Wang and Brian Berry, Department of Chemistry, “Investigation of the Pre-steady State of MTANs from Borrelia burgdorferi”

Kanekar and Williams’ project involves testing a digital simulation that will train health education students in how to conduct public health initiatives by learning aspects of program planning and evaluation for preventing a condition/disease of public health importance. “My co-investigator, Dr. Joe Williams, and I feel great about winning this grant as we believe that this pilot project may open up doors for extending educational games for student learning in other health courses and looking into advanced gaming projects for student learning,” Kanekar said. Proposals were judged based on the significance of the research or creative activity, quality of the research plan, expected outcomes and direct impact to the community, strength of plan to seek external support, ability to enhance and acquire external support, and qualifications of the researchers. “The quality of the proposals for this year’s Seed Grant competition blew me away,” said Jerry Damerow, chair of the Dean’s Science Council for the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences and one of judges for the seed grant competition. “The quality was so good it made judging very difficult.” Damerow said the judges looked for projects that would give ��Vlog��ý Little Rock a competitive advantage and projects that could lead to commercially viable products or services. “In this regard, Dr. Childers and Dr. Lu’s project to improve outcomes in developmental mathematics has the opportunity to give ��Vlog��ý Little Rock an advantage in retaining and graduating students versus other universities that use a more traditional approach,” Demerow said. “Dr. Patangia’s project aimed at improving the efficiency of charging a string of batteries has important potential in the rapidly growing field of alternative energy.”

Olson receives Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in Spain

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 14:43:14 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has received a prestigious Gilman Scholarship, so she can study abroad in Spain to improve her language skills to better serve her future Spanish-speaking patients.�� Erica Olson, of Gassville, Arkansas, received $2,500 from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program. She will use the money to study at the University of Granada: Center of Modern Languages in Spain during the fall semester. The U.S. Department of State’s is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. “I am very grateful for the scholarship. I come from a single-parent household, so money for education has been tight,” Olson said. “Beginning in high school, I have tried to ensure myself financially by trying to get as many scholarships as possible to try to relieve that financial pressure on my mom.” Olson is a super senior entering her fifth year at ��Vlog��ý little Rock with three majors. She could have graduated in 2018 with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biology. During summer 2017, Olson went on a short-term study abroad trip to Spain led by Dr. Edna Delgado, professor of Spanish. They spent a week in Madrid, which Olson describes as the “New York City of Spain,” before spending a month living with a host family while taking classes at the University of Granada. “My homestay life was incredible,” she said. “I had such a delightful group of ladies and an adorable, feisty cat to spend my time with during meal times and downtime. I have the palate of a five-year-old, and yet I found myself opening up to the variety of foods cooked for me. I also had the nerve-wracking yet exciting daily opportunity to practice my conversational Spanish with my family, all of whom were very patient and understanding.” After discovering a love of the language and country, Olson decided to stay an additional year to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and to study abroad for a semester in Spain.

Erica Olson, of Gassville, Arkansas, received $2,500 from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program to study at the University of Granada: Center of Modern Languages in Spain during the fall semester. Photo by Ben Krain/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

“During and after my Spain experience, I kept thinking about how far I had come in my journey of learning Spanish and how much further I could and wished to continue,” she said. “Last summer, I was supposed to study for and take my MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and start applying to different medical schools. �� However, I had a revelation. I realized how the study abroad experience had affected me. I didn’t want to jump into medical school, where there would be rigid limits with regrets of not taking advantage of the opportunity I so desired. I wanted to study abroad again with the same amazing program and in Spain again to continue my dream experience but in a fresh, new way.” Olson plans to attend the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is already at home at ��Vlog��ýMS as a volunteer in the Intensive Care Unit and a research assistant in the Emergency Department. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Olson is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, University Science Scholars Program, Biology Club, American Chemical Society, Wesley Foundation and a resident assistant and student ambassador for the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. �� Olson is also dedicated to helping other students get a head start in their careers. In 2017, she founded the university’s Pre-Health Club for students who are planning to work in the health industry as doctors, nurses, dentists, physical therapists, pharmacists, physician’s assistants, etc. She is hoping that her semester in Spain will improve her language skills enough so she can hold conversations with patients who only speak Spanish. “I came into college with the goal of becoming a physician who would be able to speak with patients in Spanish on at least a basic level,” she said. “This goal intensified when I would volunteer at ��Vlog��ýMS in the Intensive Care Unit, and I would come across families who only knew Spanish, and I wasn’t able to communicate with them and meet their needs most effectively. I would envision myself in the future as a physician and hope that I could bridge the gap between the communication barriers and make my patients feel more comfortable and understood. This inspired me even further to continue my Spanish education that was no requirement for any of my degrees. I am really excited to go back to Spain, get to visit new places, learn more about the languages, and be able to speak it more fluently. That’s my overall goal, so I can one day help patients, regardless if they can speak English or not.” For more information about study or interning abroad opportunities, contact the Office of Study Abroad at 501-569-3376 or studyabroad@ualr.edu.

Tonkyn helps uncover elephant-poaching crisis in Myanmar

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 13:41:23 +0000

Dr. David Tonkyn, new chair of the Department of Biology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, is among a group of scientists who have discovered an elephant-poaching crisis in Myanmar.�� Researchers at the (SCBI), along with Clemson University, where Tonkyn worked previously, and the Myanmar Forest Department, recently published a paper on the emerging poaching crisis there in PLOS ONE. The researchers first discovered the crisis after fitting 19 Asian elephants in Myanmar with satellite GPS collars to conduct a telemetry study, to better understand their movements and try to reduce human-elephant conflicts. “One of the challenges people have in developing countries is to coexist with animals such as elephants that we love from afar but which can be dangerous up close,” Tonkyn said. “Myanmar has one of the largest wild elephant populations remaining in the world. But people can lose their crops or even lives to these animals, leading to retaliatory or preventative killings of elephants in response, and perhaps a tolerance of poaching you wouldn’t see otherwise.” Christie Sampson, doctoral student at Clemson University and lead author on the paper, had intended the telemetry study of human-elephant conflict in Myanmar to be the basis of her dissertation. However, Sampson and Tonkyn, her doctoral advisor, soon made an unsettling discovery. Seven of the 19 elephants were poached within a year of being fitted with collars. This suggests that human-elephant conflict, which was thought to be the biggest threat to Myanmar’s wild elephants, may be secondary to poaching, and that conservation efforts to help the remaining 1,400 to 2,000 wild elephants there should prioritize anti-poaching efforts. “Poaching has suddenly become a much bigger threat to Asian elephants, especially in Myanmar, than we realized,” Sampson said. ‘”The biggest difference is that elephants in Myanmar are now being targeted for their skin and meat. That means there is no discrimination between males, females, or calves. And that could have dire consequences for elephants, who reproduce very slowly.”

Dr. David Tonkyn

Observations and discoveries from other researchers on the ground in Myanmar found further evidence of large-scale poaching. In less than two years, they confirmed that at least 19 elephants, including the seven with satellite GPS collars, were poached. And systematic surveys showed an additional 40 elephants had been poached across the south central region of the country. Tonkyn and Sampson are particularly alarmed by the results of the study since female Asian elephants, unlike their African counterparts, have been relatively safe from poaching since only male Asian elephants have tusks. A new market for non-ivory elephant products is on the rise. Elephant skin, fat, and feet can be used in items such as lotions, jewelry, medicine, and furniture, putting female and young elephants at risk. Reports from the government of Myanmar show that poaching is on the rise in the country. During 2016, 25 elephants were poached. In the preceding five years, 61 elephants had been poached. Myanmar is one of the last remaining countries in Asia with large habitats capable of supporting elephant populations. “It is urgent to let people know the scope of the problem,” Tonkyn said. “We’ve known this has been happening for years, but no one knew how big the problem has become. Female elephants only have one baby at a time, and the calf stays with the mother for five years. They are not like other animals that breed early and often. The elephant population cannot tolerate these kinds of losses, and they may not last long at this rate. I hope this study helps mobilize a response.” The paper’s additional authors include John McEvoy, SCBI; Zaw Min Oo, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar; Aung Myo Chit, SCBI; Aung Nyein Chan, SCBI, Colorado State University and WWF-Myanmar; Paing Soe, WWF-Myanmar; Melissa Songer, SCBI; A. Christy Williams, WWF-Myanmar; Klaus Reisinger, Compass Films; George Wittemeyer, Colorado State University; and Peter Leimgruber, SCBI. In the upper right photo,��David Tonkyn’s doctoral student, Christie Sampson, stands with a rare royal white elephant in Myanmar.

Doctoral student is giving back to fellow students through new biology tutoring center

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 14:11:57 +0000

A doctoral student in applied bioscience will run a new tutoring center created this semester to help biology students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� Azure Yarbrough, 40, of Conway, will staff the new tutoring center in Room 350 of the Science Laboratory Building. She has served as a graduate instructor in several biology courses and currently teaches microbiology. The center is open Mondays from 5-6 p.m., Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “I think that it is important to provide students with all possible tools to insure their academic success, and I feel that additional instruction can be instructional for some students,” Yarbrough said. “I think it is vital for students to understand how they learn best, and I know that students learn in different ways, so I try to adjust my teaching techniques accordingly.” She will tutor students taking Introductory Biology (Biol 1400 and 1401), Anatomy and Physiology I and II (Biol 1411 and 1412), and Microbiology (Biol 2401). The biology department plans to add additional staff members who will tutor more classes in the future. Yarbrough will help tutor students in additional biology classes and outside the tutoring center’s scheduled times as she is able. Yarbrough is a 2013 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She said she understands the value of education well since she earned her undergraduate degree after a 12-year gap when she was first enrolled as a full-time college student. Yarbrough attended college for two years directly after high school and originally dreamed of going to work for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. But her education was placed on hold following the birth of her daughter, who had a bleeding disorder. Five years later, her son was also born with the disorder and diagnosed with autism. To support herself and her children, Yarbrough worked two and sometimes three jobs. But whether she was bartending, assisting at a veterinarian clinic, or helping disassemble vehicles at a garage, she never stopped dreaming of returning to school. In 2010, her grandmother generously offered to pay her tuition, and Yarbrough has been back at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock ever since, finishing her undergraduate degree, earning a master’s degree studying cellular and molecular biology, and plans to graduate with a doctorate in December. After graduation, Yarbrough hopes to complete a post-doctoral fellowship and then work as a professor. For more information, contact Yarbrough at alyarbrough@ualr.edu.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Spotlight: Cory Davis

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 14:45:41 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumnus is making the world a better place, helping people and businesses recover from some of the country’s worst disasters. As a partner and principal consultant at the (CTEH), a management, technology, and science-based consulting firm based in North Little Rock, has spent his career traveling across the country to help manage the fallout from disasters. When someone is facing the worst day of their lives, Davis is often the one to answer the call for help. “When we get a call, everyone is dealing with a crisis,” he said. “When you answer an emergency call, it is almost like answering a 911 call. These people are shaken up, and help is a long way out sometimes.” Davis has worked on hundreds of projects involving the release or threat of release of hazardous materials. He also worked on occupational health and safety issues related to industrial ventilation and indoor air quality as well as exposure to chemicals, asbestos, aerosol and dust. CTEH has emergency response teams, a plane and pilot on standby. So when a disaster strikes, emergency teams can often be on the site of a disaster in six hours or less. In his 17 years with CTEH, Davis has worked on many disaster scenes, including the World Trade Center after 9/11, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, and, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an outbreak of bird flu in 2015. During Hurricane Harvey, CTEH employees arrived in Houston two days after one of the most devastating hurricanes in the country’s history made landfall. In the midst of historic rain and floods, Davis and his co-workers provided air monitoring and other services for the U.S. Coast Guard and assessed chemical plants that had flooded. “There is so much going on,” Davis said. “We are going back and forth to Houston, and we have crews in the Florida Keys and Puerto Rico as well. We need to help our clients get people back home and get businesses back in business.”

From ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to environmental health and safety hero

Davis worked full time as a legal assistant at Gilbert Law Firm while pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health Science and minor in industrial psychology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. As his time in college was wrapping up, Davis dropped off a resume with one of CTEH’s founders, Glenn Millner, who hired Davis as an industrial hygienist the very same day. “When I got to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I was really focused on enhancing my knowledge base and learning more about science on the environmental health and safety side,” he said. “That education is really what the CTEH founders were looking for in expertise. When I graduated, I had the right background, the right education, and CTEH had the need.” With about 15 employees, CTEH was a much smaller company when Davis started working there in 2000. Millner, Jay Gandy, Phil Goad and Alan Nye founded CTEH in 1997, when all four worked as adjunct professors at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, but had zero experience in business. ��Vlog��ýMS’ business incubator, now known as BioVentures, helped them get started. Davis joined three years later. By 2003, Davis became the first manager of the Toxicology Emergency Response Team, where he managed a program responsible for providing high-level scientific consulting in extreme situations, usually related to a catastrophic release of hazardous materials. He was promoted to vice president of operations in 2010. In his current role, Davis leads CTEH’s Major Projects Team and manages the response and recovery side of the business. He works to maintain a constant state of readiness and availability. This year, CTEH is celebrating its 20th anniversary and has 125 full-time and 200 part-time employees, including industrial hygienists; environmental health and safety consultants; and medical doctors. When the firm’s founders began looking to retire, they wanted to leave the future of the company in the hands of its employees. Since 2013, the founders have been selling majority interest in the company to its employees. In the end, Davis said the main goal of his job is to help people and businesses survive a disaster through readiness, response and recovery. “We help get businesses back up and running and help get people back in their homes,” Davis said. “That’s what we are really about. Recovery is about getting people back to their lives.” In the upper right photo,��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumnus Cory Davis provides air monitoring and chemical plant assessments in the Houston area after Hurricane Harvey hit. Submitted photo.��

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