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

DCSTEM recognizes Kattoum, Ruhl-Whittle, Agarwal as Faculty Excellence Winners

John Hill — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:50:17 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) has selected its 2021 Faculty Excellence winners. “The committee would like to extend our deepest congratulations to the three DCSTEM Faculty Excellence Winners,” said Dr. Rene Shroat-Lewis, chair of the awards selection committee. “We were humbled reading each nominee packet that clearly showed their dedication and persistence in their respective category. This is certainly a reflection of not only hard work, but ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s strong commitment to providing an environment conducive to excellence in research, teaching, and service.” Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching – Ronia Kattoum, instructor of chemistry

Faculty Excellence nominee Ronia Kattoum. Photo by Ben Krain.

Kattoum is known as one of the most popular and effective teachers in the Department of Chemistry. She serves as the Freshman Programs coordinator, where she trains graduate teaching assistants, and the Education Minor coordinator, where she works with chemistry majors who are education minors on the path to teach grades 7-12. “Ms. Kattoum is one of the best-recognized instructors in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chemistry Department,” said Dr. Anindya Ghosh, chair of the Department of Chemistry. “Her outstanding teaching capabilities and contributions in the areas of fundamental, general, and organic chemistries have benefitted and shaped the future of our students tremendously.” Her efforts to introduce modern teaching tools in her classes include the use of clicker technology to promote active learning, an online homework platform to enhance student learning outside the classroom, and the creation of a series of tutoring videos to help nontraditional students who can’t normally make it to office hours and tutoring sessions. Kattoum said that one thing that has inspired her to be a good teacher is a card she received from one of her students that read: “The kindest of hearts expect no reward, but deserve it all the more.” “This statement continues to resonate with me. When I set my heart on teaching, it was for the sheer award of knowing that I can touch people’s lives and inspire them to be the best versions of themselves,” Kattoum said. “I love chemistry and just simply want to spread the joy of discovery to others. However, this award still means the world to me. Although we may never be able to measure the impact that we have on this world and we may never know what some of our students have accomplished because of our influence and effort, this award will always serve as a reminder to keep pushing forward, even on the most difficult days. To remember that one act of kindness or one word of encouragement could change the trajectory of one student’s life who could impact thousands of more lives for the better.” Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service – Dr. Laura Ruhl-Whittle, associate professor in the Department of Earth Sciences

Faculty Excellence nominee Laura Ruhl. Photo by Ben Krain.

Ruhl-Whittle’s notable public service includes protecting Fourche Creek Watershed, which surrounds ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and most of the city of Little Rock. “While Dr. Ruhl serves by mentoring student researchers, leading field trips, and supporting and participating in volunteer clean-up efforts within the watershed, her major contribution to public service is aiding in the development of a watershed management plan,” said Dr. Beth McMillan, chair of the Department of Earth Sciences. The watershed plan will serve as a guide for resource managers, policy makers, and community organizations to restore and protect the quality of lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. Ruhl-Whittle is using her research and expertise on the water quality to gather and supply data from Fourche Creek for the Water Management Plan.�� “I think service is a vital part of my role as a faculty member,” Ruhl-Whittle said. “I have performed service in my discipline, to the university, college, and departments, as well as applied my expertise to a community problem. It has been rewarding in every aspect from the human interactions to helping my community. I will continue my work to improve the Fourche Creek Watershed, which is a priceless resource to the community, University, and the State of Arkansas.” Faculty Excellence Award in Research – Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Professor of Information Science

Faculty Excellence nominee Nitin Agarwal. Photo by Ben Krain.

Agarwal is an internationally renowned 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. “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.” 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. 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 $1o 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. “Dr. Agarwal has identified key issues and approaches in understanding the interplay between what people write in blogs and what they do in real life that are critical to grasping the fundamentals of conflict in the new information environment,” said Dr. Rebecca Goolsby, program officer at the Office of Naval Research. “His work has clear implications for understanding crowd behaviors and the emergence of ‘crowdwar’ – phenomena that are now emerging in Ukraine and elsewhere.” The DCSTEM awards committee included Shroat-Lewis, Haydar Al-Shukri, Ivan Conde, Lakeshia Legette-Jones, Mamdouh Bakr, Scott Hearnsberger, Shanzhi Wang, Soheil Saedi, Xiaowei Xu, and David Manry. Kattoum, Ruhl-Whittle, and Agarwal will compete for the university-wide Faculty Excellence Awards, which will be announced April 15.

Shroat-Lewis receives Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award for Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology

John Hill — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:12:48 +0000

, assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, has been awarded the 2020 Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service in the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology.�� Shroat-Lewis is well known for her tremendous efforts in serving the public good. She has compiled an impressive record of service, including women in the geosciences, K-12 teachers and students, and the university community.�� Shroat-Lewis currently serves on eight ��Vlog��ý Little Rock committees, including the Faculty Senate, and is a member of the Donaghey Scholars program teaching faculty. Nationally, Shroat-Lewis serves on the Association of Women Geoscientists Chrysalis Scholarship committee. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a better place because of Dr. Shroat-Lewis’ actions and accomplishments,” said Dr. Margaret McMillan, chair of the Department of Earth Sciences. McMillan noted that in the eight years Shroat-Lewis has been a member of the faculty, she has dedicated her expertise as a geoscience educator and researcher in service to the community, state, and nation in the areas of science advocacy and outreach and in providing opportunities for geoscience students.�� “This is extremely important, as a better understanding of science by all is needed to help us confront the societal challenges of natural hazards such as flooding and earthquakes, energy resources such as the use of fossil fuels versus renewables, and the impacts of a changing climate,” said McMillan. Shroat-Lewis has given public presentations on the paleontology of Arkansas, coral reefs, Darwin and the Galapagos Islands, and the geology and ecology of the Bahamas. She has also served as a fossil expert at the Museum of Discovery. She provides science content and merit badges for the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of America as well as serves as a judge for numerous science fairs and the Arkansas Science Olympiad. Shroat-Lewis received a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and M.S. and B.S. degrees from the University of North Carolina, Willmington.

DeAngelis honored as Faculty Excellence in Teaching winner for Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology

John Hill — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 15:33:31 +0000

Dr. Michael DeAngelis, associate professor of Earth Sciences, has been selected as the 2020 Faculty Excellence in Teaching award winner for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. “Over the past 8.5 years, Dr. DeAngelis has built a very impressive record of teaching accomplishments, establishing himself as a dedicated teacher-scholar in the Department of Earth Sciences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Dr. Margaret “Beth” McMillan, chair of the Department of Earth Sciences. “He has dedicated almost all of his teaching, research, and service efforts to the goal of supporting students.” DeAngelis is known for superior teaching, content knowledge, creative curriculum development, innovative teaching methods, and a serious commitment to professional development in teaching. In 2018, he was named a co-director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence (ATLE), where he is responsible for designing and planning pedagogical professional development events and activities for faculty at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I have not, until now, written a letter in support of any faculty member at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for the Excellence in Teaching Award but, in Dr. DeAngelis’ case, I do so with delight,” said J. Bradley Minnick, associate professor of English. “I have also had the great honor to be able to work with him as an ATLE Co-director, and in that capacity, too, his world view exemplifies teaching excellence. Dr. DeAngelis uses a wide variety of techniques and is not afraid to be experimental.” DeAngelis teaches courses in physical geology, field geology, mineralogy, environmental geology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, and planetary geology. His students give credit to his hands-on lab work for giving them an advantage in their careers. “Dr. DeAngelis would use his own extensive experience in education, research, and field work to help students understand the concepts at hand,” said Sarah Kuper, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate and former student of DeAngelis. “In mineralogy, we were allowed to choose which rock we’d make a thin section to analyze. This project, along with the basics of optical mineralogy and petrology, allowed his students an edge in some career field. I, myself, would not have the job I have now as an asbestos microscopist without his tutelage.” DeAngelis holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in geology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

EARTHtalk! lecture to shed light on importance of preserving dark skies, mitigating impacts of artificial outdoor light

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 13:56:47 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Earth Sciences will host a lecture Oct. 16 on the environmental and health impacts associated with the use of artificial light at night in the outdoor environment. J. Bruce McMath, retired civil trial lawyer and chair of the , will give the talk, “Preserving Arkansas’ Natural Dark Skies: It’s not Just About the Stars,” at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at the College of Engineering and Information Technology building auditorium. McMath will discuss the aesthetic and cultural impacts of losing visual access to the natural night sky as well as the role of wasted light in global warming, the biological impacts to wildlife, and risks to human health. McMath will also offer methods for mitigating these impacts through responsible lighting techniques. McMath is past president of the and a member of the , where he serves on the Photometric Validation Team. McMath has recorded over 75,000 variable star observations, discovered two variable stars, and initiated the reclassification of several others.

Lecture to discuss urban farming in Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 14:13:34 +0000

Urban farming in Little Rock will be the topic of the next at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� The lecture, “Farming in the Rock,” will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in the College of Engineering and Information Technology Auditorium. Chris Hiryak of Little Rock Urban Farming will share lessons learned from a decade of producing and marketing organically grown flowers and vegetables in the capital city. Hiryak is an organic farmer, pragmatic food activist, minimalist, artist, and yoga practitioner. He graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish, history, and international studies. He participated in the LeadAR, a leadership program through the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension, and an apprenticeship program at Dripping Springs Garden, an organic farming operation in the Ozark Mountains. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Department of Earth Sciences at 501-569-3546 or visit the.

Hydrogeologist will detail results of hypothetical study of chemical resolvent spill

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 14:18:02 +0000

Tim Hill, principal hydrologist and director of environmental services for ATOKA, Inc., will give the next ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Earth Sciences EARTHtalk! lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 20.�� The lecture, “Hydrogeologic Study of a Chemical Solvent Tank Containment Area,” will begin at 6 p.m. in the College of Engineering and Information Technology Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Hill will discuss the results of ATOKA’s hydrogeological study of a hypothetical chemical solvent release from an above ground storage tank at a chemical manufacturing site. The purpose of the study was to produce a model capable of estimating the rate and extent of contamination resulting from a hypothetical spill from a chemical solvent tank. Two different scenarios were developed for the model. The first scenario describes a chemical solvent release during wet conditions when soils are saturated. In the second scenario, the release occurs during dry conditions when soils are unsaturated and the shallow water table is depleted. Hill is an environmental leader and hydrogeologist with distinguished international, corporate, and consulting assignments. He has provided leadership direction to corporate and facility managers, environmental staff, coordinators, and contractors in implementing cost effective environmental programs and new technologies for new plant startups, mergers, and acquisitions. For more information, contact Michael DeAngelis at 501-569-3542 or mtdeangelis@ualr.edu or visit the.

EARTHtalk! lecture to discuss the role of maps in modern society

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 18:21:59 +0000

Dr. David Baylis, assistant professor in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Department of History, will discuss the importance of maps in a modern setting and how map-making techniques and technologies can evolve to meet those needs. “Maps are indeed a complex and highly nuanced form of infographic,” stated Baylis. “That being said, the ability to think spatially and create maps that have meaning, that matter, and that speak to contemporary social and environmental concerns is a task that should extend beyond the expert map-maker and to the general populace as a whole.” Baylis’ presentation, “Maps that Matter: GeoLiteracy, Geospatial Technologies and the Democratization of Mapping,” will make the case for more accessible mapping technologies and skills in order to best serve an increasingly diverse society. His lecture will begin at 6 p.m. in the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology Auditorium. Baylis is a human geography and cartography expert who obtained his Ph.D. in geography from Michigan State University. He joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s faculty this semester. For more information, contact the Department of Earth Sciences at 501-569-3546 or visit the EARTHtalk! website.

Nature Conservancy director to discuss Arkansas conservation projects in next EARTHtalk! lecture

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 16:07:55 +0000

The director of The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas will talk about conservation and restoration projects in Arkansas during the next ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Earth Sciences EARTHtalk! lecture series on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The talk, “Forests, Rivers, and Fire: Restoring the Natural State with The Nature Conservancy,” will begin at 6 p.m. in the Schueck, McCarty, Lexicon Inc. Auditorium in the Engineering and Information Technology Building. It is free and open to the public. Scott Simon, director of The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas, will talk about innovative prescribed fire, river restoration, and reforestation projects happening in Arkansas. Guests will also learn about conservancy preserves to visit in central Arkansas. Simon joined The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas as a land steward in 1996 and became the conservancy’s director in 2003. He previously worked as a wetland ecologist for the Illinois Natural History Survey. Scott has helped to develop conservation projects in Central America and Africa, testifies on conservation issues for congressional and state legislative committees, and has authored 20 articles and book chapters. For more information, contact Michael DeAngelis at 501-569-3542 or mtdeangelis@ualr.edu or visit the.

Finalists for Staff Achievement Awards announced

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 15:51:20 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Staff Senate has announced the finalists for the 2018 Staff Achievement Awards.�� A $1,000 cash award is given to the top staff member in each of three categories: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, community service, and personal growth. The winners will be announced at the Staff Awards Ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, April 20, in the Engineering and Information Technology Building Auditorium. “The staff members are a vital part of the success of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Staff Senate President Richard Harper. “The Staff Achievement Award winners underscore ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s commitment to serving the university and community through hard work. Our staff’s dedication to these principles continues to amaze me.” The winners of the Staff Senate Scholarship and Jerry Crittenden Employee Book Scholarship will also be announced. Staff members who are celebrating work anniversaries, have graduated in the past year, and retiring will also be recognized. Members of the university and community are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony and reception to celebrate the achievements of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock staff members and to wear ��Vlog��ý Little Rock colors and apparel to show school spirit. For more information, contact Angie Faller at 501-916-5905 or amfaller@ualr.edu. The finalists include: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Tom Coffin, senior visualization and operations manager, Emerging Analytics Center
Terry Harrison, higher education program coordinator, William H. Bowen School of Law
William Wagner, operations manager, KLRE/K��Vlog��ýR

Community Service

Tiffani McAdoo, grant implementation specialist, School of Social Work/MidSOUTH
Melody Muldrow, research associate, Graduate Institute of Technology
Virginia Oswalt, administrative specialist, Department of Earth Sciences

Personal Growth

Erin Fehr, archivist, Sequoyah National Research Center
Marty Mayfield, fiscal support analyst, TRIO Student Support Services
Pamala Stanley, administrative assistant, Department of Systems Engineering

Patton to discuss danger of abandoned oil and gas wells at next EARTHtalk! lecture

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 13:06:15 +0000

Dr. Jason Patton, associate professor of geology at Arkansas Tech University, will discuss the environmental impact of abandoned oil and gas wells in the U.S. on Wednesday, April 18, as part of the EARTHtalk! lecture series at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� The talk, “Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells: Infallible Barrier orEnvironmental Disaster?”, will begin at 6 p.m. in the Engineering and Information Technology Building. Across the U.S., more than one million abandoned oil and gas wells are thought to exist. Many of these wells were drilled before significant regulation of the industry existed and were not properly plugged. “These wells represent a possible environmental hazard because they can act as a conduit from the deeper subsurface allowing naturally occurring brines and/or injected waste fluids to contaminate shallow groundwater, or they can allow powerful greenhouse gases to escape to the atmosphere,” Patton said. Patton has more than 20 years of experience working on a wide variety of environmental projects. During his early career, Patton worked as an environmental consultant in the oil and gas industry. Much of his academic career has focused on the effects of sedimentation on water quality, primarily in drinking water sources. Patton served as the director of the Arkansas Center for Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental Studies at Arkansas Tech University for seven years and is currently a board member on the Arkansas Board for Registration for Professional Geologists. He was recently selected as an executive committee member on the National Association of State Boards of Geology, and is the incoming chair for the Department of Physical Sciences at Arkansas Tech, where he has been a faculty member for 10 years.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Department of Earth Sciences at 501-569-3546 or visit the EARTHtalk! website.

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