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

Watching the atmosphere

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:31:48 +0000

For several years, researchers have focused on the prevalence of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Currently, major satellites such as the NASA/NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Program indirectly monitor atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases like water vapor, methane, oxygen, ozone, and oxides. However, scientists are still finding ways to refine such monitoring. Dr. Yupo Chan from the Department of Systems Engineering, along with Dr. Edmond Wilson of Harding University and Dr. Po-Hao Huang at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, is leading the effort to develop a small, cost-effective way to observe atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases, including in the state of Arkansas. The research team is developing the SAMSAT measuring satellite, a 6U CubeSat that will be launched into orbit by NASA to gather atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases. SAMSAT stands for “solar and atmospheric measuring satellite.” The “6U” part of the title means that it is six times larger than a 1U satellite, which was a cube sized at 10 centimeters, similar to the size of a peanut butter jar. CubeSats have been used by NASA and many other organizations for various research purposes in space, but this research team is designing its own unique functions for the satellite to improve its mobility and data collection mechanisms. Chan, Wilson, and Huang are part of the Arkansas Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR), a NASA program designed to provide seed funding for aerospace research in Arkansas. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is the lead institution in this EPSCOR project. At Harding University, Wilson is responsible for measuring the gases in the atmosphere using spectrometry, a technique that shows how gases absorb light. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Chan is responsible for downloading the signals from both the NOAA/NASA GOES satellite and the SAMSAT and analyzing their data. The GOES signals are downloaded to a satellite dish housed on top of the ETAS building on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. By comparing the observations from the spectrometer with the processed data from GOES, the research team can validate the functionality of the nanosatellite constellation. If the constellation can monitor greenhouse gases similar to its much more expensive counterpart, the research project is deemed fully successful. The NOAA/NASA GOES is a network of stationary satellites that monitors weather, land, environmental, and climate conditions. The National Weather Service uses this network of satellites to forecast the weather. The SAMSAT will not monitor weather conditions, only greenhouse gases. While the NOAA/NASA GOES is considered the gold standard of monitoring environmental conditions, the SAMSAT is cheaper, leaner, and more flexible in its viewing directions. “Working with Dr. Chan is a great experience. He is an expert in computer imaging and theory. He is very organized and goal oriented and I have the greatest respect for his leadership in this exciting mission,” Wilson said. Due to the size of the NOAA/NASA GOES satellite, it can only see the earth in a top-down point of view. The SAMSAT, however, can view the earth at many different angles and viewpoints. “The first step is to show the world that we are reading the same thing as the big, expensive satellite at a much lower cost with much more flexibility,” Chan said. “We want to show the world that we’re not just saying we can do it, [but] we can validate it against the gold standard.” Satellite History According to NASA, the NOAA/NASA GOES satellite project began in 1975, but its roots go back to 1966 when the Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) series was launched on December 7 of that year. In 1967, the ATS-3 snapped the first color photo of the entire Earth. Future Effects The research team is now in the second year of the project. As they move forward, they plan to boost their research capabilities to gather more detailed data of the atmospheric conditions in Arkansas. By creating more cost-effective and flexible ways to monitor the state’s atmosphere, leaders and scientists in the state can continue to develop new ways to make our communities healthy and vital. This story was provided by Lydia Perry.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors named ‘Visionary Arkansans’

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 18:42:54 +0000

Two professors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock have been named” by the Arkansas Times for their extraordinary research accomplishments. The list recognizes “inspired men and women who are making great things happen.” Dr. Yu-Po Chan, chair of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Systems Engineering, is part of a trio of “spaceflight cubed” researchers who are designing CubeSats, low-cost, miniature satellites. “We are planning in the long run to have a constellation of these satellites … flying in formation,” Chan said. “This would be Arkansas’s very first with our name on it. Many other states bigger than us have already launched, so we are catching up, basically.” His collaborators are Dr. Po-Hao Adam Huang, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at ��Vlog��ý Fayetteville, and Dr. Edmund Wilson, a chemistry professor at Harding University in Searcy. Their first CubeSat model, ArkSat-1, is being designed by Huang and should be delivered to NASA by the end of 2019 and launched in early 2020. In October, Chan received a $24,900 grant from NASA to develop a different CubeSat project. Called SAMSAT (solar and atmospheric measuring satellite), the research will eventually map the presence of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere above Arkansas. Chan will then compare that information to data collected by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, or GOES-16, which is one of two weather orbiters operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES weighs in at over 3 tons, according to NASA’s website — about the weight of a Hummer H2. SAMSAT will probably weigh around 3 pounds. “We are using the big satellite’s data to validate that what we see is accurate,” Chan said. “We’re talking about billions of dollars in the big satellite, thousands of dollars in these small satellites.” Additionally, “History Detective” Dr. Brian Mitchell, a professor of history at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has been highlighted for research that is filling in the gaps of the Elaine Massacre, one of the deadliest race riots in American history.

Dr. Brian Mitchell

“Receiving the honor took me by surprise,” Mitchell said. “If I had to say anything, I would thank the students who worked with me on the projects, past and present. I would also thank my colleagues Drs. Barclay Key and Guy Lancaster, noted author and distinguished attorney Grif Stockley, Congressman French Hill and his staff, the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the Solomon family for their assistance and support.” In September 1919, after one of several meetings black farmers held with representatives of the Progressive Farmers and Household Union, a white deputy spying on the meeting was fatally shot. Acting at the urging of the Phillips County sheriff, a mob of whites roamed the county, killing hundreds — some estimates are as high as 800 — of black residents. Five whites were killed, but only African Americans were arrested and jailed. Twelve black men were quickly found guilty of murder by an all-white jury and sentenced to death. They were imprisoned while their appeals in two famous cases traveled to the state and U.S. supreme courts. Their convictions were overturned, and they were sentenced to time served and released. But fearing they’d be lynched, all 12 fled the state, along with hundreds of other African Americans from Elaine who feared for their lives. Mitchell and his public history graduate students have searched census records, city directories, vital records, and newspaper accounts to discover what happened to the Elaine 12. So far, they have discovered the locations of six of their graves. The students are writing biographies of the men for the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies’ Encyclopedia of Arkansas. They also are raising funds to place markers on their graves, a project ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is doing in collaboration with the National Park Service and other agencies and with the help of private individuals. A previous class worked to transcribe the death certificates of African Americans killed in the race massacre and created a database. The database has been provided to the Arkansas State Archives for public use. In the spring, Mitchell’s History of Racial Violence class will look at the connections between race and violence in America from first contact through the 21st century.

Two ��Vlog��ý Little Rock programs earn accreditation

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:45:48 +0000

Two programs from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology have received accreditation from ABET. The Architectural and Construction Engineering (ARCE) and Mechanical Systems Engineering (MSEG) programs have been accredited by ABET after a 20-month review process. The added accreditation is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2016. “ABET is the gold standard for technical education of all kinds,” said Nickolas Jovanovic, professor in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering. “Meeting the accreditation standards for ABET is a testament to the high quality of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock ARCE and MSEG programs, their faculty, and graduates.” Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed process that evaluates many factors, including curriculum, educational facilities, institutional support, faculty expertise, student performance, and outcomes. Many employers require degrees from accredited programs for employment in certain technical fields. The Architectural and Construction Engineering program in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering was approved by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in August 2012, and the program produced its initial graduating class in May 2017. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s program focuses on building structure design and construction engineering and management. All students in the program are required to complete a minimum of 800 contact hours of practical work experience in an approved construction- or engineering-related activity to gain valuable industry experience and insights. The Mechanical Systems Engineering program in the Department of Systems Engineering started in the spring 2017 semester. It is a unique, interdisciplinary program which combines the strengths of traditional mechanical engineering with a core of systems engineering concepts. , previously known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology at the associate, bachelor and master degree levels. Accreditation criteria focus on what students experience and learn. Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance. ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students compete in university’s first human powered vehicle challenge

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 25 May 2018 13:03:25 +0000

A team of systems engineering students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has gone where no ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students have gone before by participating in the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge.�� For their senior design and capstone project, Team Captain Hugh Benfer, Nathanael Menhinick, Cameron Palmer, Jason Reed, and Shelby Wingate designed and built the university’s first human powered vehicle. Dr. Jin Lee, professor of systems engineering, and Dr. Samer Yahya, visiting scholar of systems engineering, served as the team’s faculty advisors. Human-powered transport is often the only type of transportation available in underdeveloped parts of the world and is an increasingly viable form of sustainable transportation that is becoming more popular in urban areas. The challenge provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate sound engineering design principles in the development of sustainable transportation alternatives. “A human-powered vehicle is generally for commuting in a metropolitan area,” said Benfer. “You find a way to have a more ecologically, environmentally, and economically way to commute in cities, which are filled with cars that pollute the air and take up much needed space. Human powered vehicles solve an old problem of metropolitan cities that have too many cars, crowded traffic, and little parking. As biking becomes more popular, human-powered vehicles will become more popular as people branch out and customize their experiences.” The team worked on the human-powered vehicle, which they dubbed the “Trojan Horsepower,” during the 2017-18 academic year. Riders sit in the three-wheeled vehicle in a recumbent-bike position. “Our human-powered vehicle is pure engineering might, steel, and zip ties. It has an extremely robust steel roll bar, so that in the event of a crash, the roll bar protects the rider and the rider will not touch the ground,” Benfer said. “We also used aerodynamic fairing, which is something that will block the wind and allows the air to move more smoothly around your body. It makes the vehicle easier to pedal. You can cut through the wind like a knife.” The students had the opportunity to test their vehicle in the at Pennsylvania State University April 13-15.��

Hugh Benfer drives Trojan Horsepower as teammates Jason Reed and Shelby Wingate watch. Photo by Ben Krain.

The Department of Systems Engineering even recognized the contributions of the students’ parents. Darin Reed, father of Jason Reed, received a special award, “Outstanding Father of the Year,” at the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology’s 2018 awards ceremony for driving the team the 16-hour trek from Little Rock to Pennsylvania and back so they could participate in the competition. The event consisted of safety tests to ensure the vehicle’s sound design, a drag race, and an endurance race in which teams competed to complete the most laps possible during a 2.5 hour race. Wingate placed 13th in the women’s drag race, while Benfer placed 18th in the men’s drag race. In the endurance race, Benfer, Palmer, Reed, and Wingate placed 13th after completing 26 total laps. “There are obstacles like stop signs, speed bumps, and tight turns,” Benfer said. “It puts your vehicle to the test. The rumble strip is going to destroy your vehicle if anything is loose. That is what happened to us. We had to go to the pit to keep our vehicle together. It’s basically the ultimate stress test for the vehicles, and some vehicles were destroyed because the design was not robust enough. The disk brake snapped in the middle, so we had to do an emergency repair and come up with an engineering solution, which was to take the brake off and race with one brake for most of the race. Our legs were like jelly afterwards.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock placed 16th out of 47 teams for the overall competition, and a new team of students will take up the challenge of building a human-powered vehicle next year, only this time they will not be starting from scratch. The systems engineering department may eventually start a student organization dedicated to building human-powered vehicles. “It was really cool to apply our degree to a tangible product that we made,” Benfer said. “It was cool to use what we have learned from the mechanical engineering department and use it and stress test it and watch it fall apart and fix it. We were able to use the skills we learned here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in a real-world setting.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock honors Wagner, McAdoo, and Stanley as Staff Achievement Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 21:07:38 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock honored three of its staff members for excellence in the areas of service to the university, community service, and personal growth. Each winner will receive a $1,000 prize.�� William Wagner, operations manager for KLRE/K��Vlog��ýR, received the Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Award. He was joined by Tiffani McAdoo, grant implementation specialist for the School of Social Work and MidSOUTH, who won the Community Service Award, as well as Pamala Stanley, administrative specialist in the Department of Systems Engineering and recipient of the Personal Growth Award. “In 1989, the University initiated an awards and recognition program to honor staff members who have brought recognition to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock through personal growth, service to the university, and service to the community,” Staff Senate President Richard Harper said. “These awards give the campus community an opportunity to recognize the work, dedication, and passion of our staff.” Two ��Vlog��ý Little Rock staff members received a $250 Staff Senate Scholarship: McAdoo and Tierra Hutley, a buyer for Procurement Services. Hutley relocated to Little Rock in 2017 from Atlanta, Georgia, where she studied fashion and business at Southern Polytechnic State University. She is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in nonprofit management and plans to enroll in the Master of Public Administration program after finishing the graduate certificate program. The winners of the $75 Crittenden Book Scholarship are Sara Squires, project program specialist for TRIO, and Celeste Watson, administrative specialist in Testing Services. Squires is a mother of four who is working toward a master’s degree in counselor education. She plans to become an academic advisor focusing on college athletics. “As a previous student-athlete, I understand having to juggle academia with athletic performance,” Squires said. “It takes excellent time management as well as persistence in both key areas of academics and athletics. I am anxious to help young adults find success in their passions.” Watson plans to become a speech pathologist and is currently taking prerequisites to apply for the joint ��Vlog��ý Little Rock/��Vlog��ýMS Doctor of Audiology program. More info about the Staff Achievement Award winners:

William Wagner

Wagner was nominated by eight of his coworkers in recognition of his dedicated service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He is KLRE/K��Vlog��ýR’s second longest-serving employee with more than 30 years of employment at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “William is the kindest, most compassionate staff member, and is most willing to help,” said Nathan Vandiver, interim general manager of KLRE/K��Vlog��ýR. “Every day, William supports and encourages not only our public radio staff, but also our faculty and community leaders who produce content for the station. He has tirelessly worked with many faculty to produce short informational programming intended to provide ongoing educational radio content for the central Arkansas public radio audience. William consistently goes above and beyond to provide service to his co-workers, campus community, and our ��Vlog��ý Public Radio Family.” His helpful and caring nature was highlighted by his efforts to help Ann Nicholson, producer of “The Arts Scene,” who was hospitalized after an accident last year. Williams spent considerable hours working with Nicholson and taught her how to use an iPad so she could continue to record and produce her show and communicate with her daughter in England. “I have noticed that William always comes to work with a smile on his face and inquires how everyone is before starting his day,” Merrill “Beth” Wells, administrative specialist, wrote in her nomination letter. “He works with excellence and is tirelessly pushing himself to learn new things to help benefit the radio station. Whenever someone needs help, he stops what he is doing and goes to help.” Mary Ellen Kubit, partner manager of Arkansas Public Media, notes that Wagner’s dedication to keeping the radio stations running smoothly is unbeatable. Wagner frequently visits the station after hours to make sure that programming is up and running and has given Kubit and her husband training sessions on audio and recording equipment and programs. “William is not only hard working, but he is one of the kindest, most thoughtful people to work with. Many good people work daily to insure the quality and function of K��Vlog��ýR/KLRE, but William is the heart of the station,” Kubit said. “His genuine kindness, love for public radio, and work ethic are apparent in everything he does,” said Jennifer Goss, finance director. “His service to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and specifically to KLRE/K��Vlog��ýR is undeniable.”

Tiffani McAdoo

McAdoo is the recipient of the Community Service Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership and tireless efforts in addressing and raising awareness about hunger, homelessness, and drug prevention in the community. In 2016, McAdoo launched her nonprofit organization, Hands that H.O.P.E, and partnered with community leaders and local businesses to help community members who are homeless or low income. In 2018, nearly half of the Pulaski County residents who received food from her nonprofit were children while 15 percent were elderly. “For many recipients, every month can bring with it challenging decisions about whether to pay the rent or seek needed medical care, to put gas in the car or healthy food on the table, to purchase warm gloves or school supplies for a child,” Derrick Newby, a trainer at MidSOUTH and volunteer at Hands that H.O.P.E., wrote in his nomination letter. “But what is also staggering is how the efforts of one person can truly make a difference in addressing this problem. Tiffani McAdoo has volunteered her time and her efforts in 33 various communities and has completed over 800 hours of volunteer service,” Newby said. “In her efforts to help the homeless, Tiffani has provided support in multiple ways, from sorting and repacking donations and preparing hot meals to making deliveries, distributing prevention literature, and even recruiting other volunteers to assist.”

Pamala Stanley

Pamala Stanley is congratulated after winning the Staff Achievement Award for Personal Growth. Photo by Ben Krain.

Stanley began her career as an administrative assistant in the Department of Psychology in 2004 and has also worked as a research assistant, student services coordinator, and administrative assistant to Dean Ann Bain in the College of Education and Health Professions. She joined the Department of Systems Engineering in 2017, where her coworkers describe her as “excellent in doing her job,” an “effective contributor to our department’s success,” a “great person to work with,” “We would be lost without her,” and “one of the best admins this department has employed.” “In a very short period of time, she earned the respect and appreciation of our faculty members and students through her relentless dedication and hard work,” Dr. Ibrahim Nisanci, chair of the Department of Systems Engineering, wrote in Stanley’s nomination. “I am truly amazed by her responsiveness, efficiency, and her conduct. She truly cares about our students. She takes pride in her work. She takes all initiatives by herself to make our department, college, and university look better and attract more students.” In the upper right photo, from left to right, Pamala Stanley, winner of Personal Growth Award, Celeste Watson, Crittenden Book Scholarship recipient, Tierra Hutley, Staff Senate Scholarship winner, and William Wagner, winner of Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Award. Photo by Ben Krain.

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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock instructor leads project to develop STEM education tool

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 23:22:48 +0000

Ben Rainwater, instructor of systems engineering with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will lead a project at Brown Engineers to create a water engineering computer simulation for students in grades six through 12.�� , an electrical engineering consulting firm in Little Rock, was awarded a $225,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation. The simulation will be used to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education across the state. “We envision students would go through a guided simulation and then a game where the students are asked to solve a problem or respond to a crisis,” Rainwater said. “For example, the students could be asked to bring a central water line to a town. They would use math, science, and engineering principles to build a functioning water plant. It would be a rich environment to teach the students.” Rainwater, electrical design engineer at Brown Engineers, will serve as the project’s principal investigator, while his co-worker, Sam Vandiver, lead technologist, will be the lead technical advisor. “The project is intended to teach students about water engineering and career education,” Rainwater said. “We want to translate engineering practice to engineering education to teach students how to apply the concepts they are learning in the classroom.” The simulation will educate students about the water purification process, engineering skills needed to create infrastructure, water conservation, and careers in the water treatment industry. “We think that it is valuable to train students on pathways to water-related jobs and to tackle challenges related to our shared and most valuable resource,” he said. The encourages small businesses to engage in research and development that has the potential for commercialization. The one-year Phase 1 grant will cover market research costs like conducting interviews with educators and curriculum developers to understand the STEM education market. Brown Engineers will apply for a Phase II grant, which supports the development of the product, by the end of the year, Rainwater said. Rainwater completed his Master of Science degree and Ph.D. in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His Ph.D. research includes new materials development for emerging energy technologies with support from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. Rainwater has worked at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock since 2016 and teaches Introduction to Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Materials classes. “It’s a great opportunity to teach engineering materials to students,” he said. “Dr. Andrew Wright, Dr. Ibrahim Nisanci, and Dr. Alex Biris have been great mentors in the Systems Engineering department, and I’m lucky to get to teach my favorite subject.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock team attends Clinton Global Initiative University

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:17:26 +0000

Three University of Arkansas at Little Rock students attended the Clinton Global Initiative University Oct. 13-15 at Northeastern University in Boston to discuss their design of a water pump to provide clean drinking water to a rural village in Haiti.�� This is the second year ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has participated in the (CGI U) Network, a growing consortium of colleges and universities that support, mentor, and provide seed funding to student leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are developing solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Team members include Lottie Richardson, a fall 2017 systems engineering graduate, Tanner Harris, and Samuel Shelton, both spring 2017 graduates of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Andrew Wright, associate professor of systems engineering, also attended the event as the faculty liaison. “We would like to see the students learn how to take their ideas to implementation,” Wright said. “Part of implementation is developing funding and partnerships. Interacting with other like-minded students will help them build their partnerships, develop their ideas, and develop ways to get funding for their projects.” The team attending CGI U is working with a nonprofit organization that introduces clean water solutions to redesign and build a water pump that will provide access to clean drinking water in a rural village in Haiti. “Students our age are going above and beyond for people in this country and others,” Richardson said. “It’s humbling. It makes you feel like there are still good people on this Earth.” CGI U was founded in 2007 by former President Bill Clinton after the success of the Clinton Global Initiative, through which global leaders convene to implement plans to combat global challenges. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of Community and Career Engagement has sponsored the CGI U efforts at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Graduating student finds bright future at ��’��é��

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:23:40 +0000

Lottie Richardson had a plan to graduate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, go to medical school, and become a doctor.�� “I grew up with this university being in my backyard all of my life,” she said. “I witnessed campus life and how you do outreach in the community. I was convinced by mom, Letha Walker Richardson, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree here, that you can be the face of the city and encourage other young people to make a difference in the city. The college is the city, and we are afforded the opportunity to have the city and the college, so that was a win win for me.” While she will proudly graduate Dec. 16 from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering and minor in mathematics, an unexpected opportunity at has changed her career plans. Richardson developed an interest in the manufacturing industry while taking an operations course. She spoke with Jeff Jones, a fellow systems engineering graduate who works at ��’��é�� who invited her to learn more about the company. “They called me for an interview, and the rest is history,” Richardson said. “I immediately fell in love with ��’��é�� and said I needed to be here. They are the No. 1 cosmetics company. It’s one of the greatest companies to work for. They provide you with the tools to be successful. With me having zero experience walking in the door, they saw something in me and provided me with all the tools I need to be successful.” Richardson works 20 hours a week as a project manager in the Flows Department, which supports the production of ��’��é�� products. She is also working on integrating the company’s labeling and management systems into one automated system that would lay the groundwork for automated guided vehicles (AVGs), portable robots that follow markers or wires in the floor or uses vision, magnets, or lasers for navigation. The AVGs could be used to easier make materials easier to move in the facility. Richardson’s supervisor, Tyler Kent, flows project engineer, described Richardson as a good employee who knows how to get projects done. “Lottie has a very good work ethic,” Kent said. “She has taken the projects assigned to her and pushed through roadblocks to make sure they get done. She asks the right questions and has been very good at reaching out to other departments when she needs help. I am glad to have had her in our department as she has done an excellent job and made a good impression on our staff here.” Richardson has been an active member of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community, serving as president of the Society of Women Engineers and treasurer of the National Society of Black Engineers. A member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, she has gained valuable experience as a student ambassador for the College of Engineering and Information Technology, a data verification intern at in Little Rock, and a student researcher for the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences. Another great accomplishment at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has been a trip to the Clinton Global Initiative University Oct. 13-15 at Northeastern University in Boston. Her team was selected to attend the conference for their senior design project. They worked with a nonprofit organization that introduces clean water solutions, to redesign and build a water pump that will provide access to clean drinking water in a rural village in Haiti. “Students our age are going above and beyond for people in this country and others,” Richardson said. “It’s humbling. It makes you feel like there are still good people on this earth.” Dr. Andrew Wright, professor of systems engineering, and Dr. Lakeshia Jones, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics, have served as her mentors at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “They were some of the first faces I saw my freshman year, and they made an impression on me,” Richardson said. “They helped me transition from high school to an adult. I want to be just as successful as they are.” In July, Richardson got engaged to fellow ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student Corwin Briton, a criminal justice major, whom she met during her cousin’s graduation from eStem High School. To Richardson, the future is clear. She will begin the new year with a full-time position at ��’��é�� and marry her fiancé in 2019. She is also looking forward to attending a mission trip with her church, Saint Mark Baptist Church. After a year, she plans to begin the Master of Business Administration program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

��Vlog��ýLR Systems Engineering Department offers two new degrees

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:56:40 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Systems Engineering will offer two new degree programs in the spring 2017 semester.�� The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the addition of the Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical systems engineering and electrical and computer systems engineering to ��Vlog��ýLR’s curriculum on Oct. 28. The new degrees reflect the department’s efforts to align its programs with the needs and the expectations of its stakeholders, said Dr. Andrew Wright, an associate professor of systems engineering. “These new curricula concentrate more heavily on disciplinary content, which will enhance graduates’ ability to achieve under the revised guidelines, while maintaining the systems concepts that have been the foundation of the curriculum since 1999,” Wright said. The new degrees also align with the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology mission to prepare career-ready students who can address the evolving needs of employers, said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the college. “These two new degree programs address industry needs incorporating the disciplines of mechanical and electrical and computer engineering while maintaining the interdisciplinary nature of a systems approach to engineering. These type of engineers are in demand today and fit the kind of engineers needed in the 21st century,” Whitman said. The bachelor’s degree in systems engineering was the first ��Vlog��ýLR engineering degree to be accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the recognized global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. The new programs have been designed for ABET approval, and the department plans to begin the evaluation process in January 2017.

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

Watching the atmosphere

����Vlog��ý Little Rock professors named ‘Visionary Arkansans’

Two ����Vlog��ý Little Rock programs earn accreditation

����Vlog��ý Little Rock students compete in university’s first human powered vehicle challenge

����Vlog��ý Little Rock honors Wagner, McAdoo, and Stanley as Staff Achievement Award winners