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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates Chatterjee, Williams, and Golzar as 2021 Distinguished Alumni

John Hill — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 14:25:41 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock honored three of its remarkable graduates during the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony on Nov. 4. Stuti Chatterjee, a May 2021 graduate, was honored with the Edward L. Whitbeck Memorial Award. Helaine Williams, Sunday Style editor at the , was awarded the Presidents Award. Dr. Jaafer Golzar, a cardiologist and chief medical officer for , received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. All three recipients were honored during a ceremony at the Clinton Presidential Center. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale said that the stories of the three honorees serve as a testament to the potential for every student that aspires to be more and entrusts ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to provide the right experience to reach their goals. “Each of these individuals, in their own way, exemplify our very highest aspirations as an institution and for the students we serve,” Chancellor Drale remarked. “It is our responsibility, as it has always been, to prepare the students of today with the skills for tomorrow. The alumni being honored today demonstrate exactly what that looks like.” The winner of the Whitbeck Memorial Award represents the top graduate of the year. During her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Chatterjee’s list of accomplishments include receiving three Signature Experience Awards and two Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship awards; and copy editing Dr. Michael Wilson’s book, “Behavioral Emergencies for the Healthcare Provider.” She also worked with Dr. Noureen Siraj, assistant professor of chemistry, to study the use of nanodrugs for effective cancer cell therapies, and was named the 2020 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Student for the Department of Chemistry. Dr. Simon Hawkins, director of the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program, recalled how Chatterjee’s tenacity and hard work should serve as an inspiration to us all. “It should come as no surprise that Stuti Chatterjee’s list of accomplishments is impressive indeed,” Hawkins said. “When she came to the university, Stuti struggled with her writing. English is not her first language. It’s not even her second language. Stuti doesn’t make excuses. She solves problems. She started writing her papers earlier. She brought her papers to her professors for advice. She went to her friends for peer reviews. She did whatever she could to improve. She laughs about her struggles and gives others the sense that they can make it too.” As a native of India who moved to the U.S. at age 10, Chatterjee said she tried many different activities and subjects in order to find her identity while in college. “Someone gave me the best advice I have ever received to this day. He said that if your heart doesn’t scream ‘I want to do it,’ don’t do it. Life is too short to settle for mediocracy,” she said. “With that suggestion in mind, I started narrowing down the options that I felt passionate about. Working in healthcare was always a dream of mine, but being able to interact with patients and the healthcare community only solidified what I wanted to do for a career. Being an undergraduate research assistant and being able to work on cancer therapy research allowed me to build skills that I will be utilizing far beyond my career. I feel fortunate to have been a part of a community where we took care of each other and guided each other as need be.” The second honoree, Williams, is a local icon in the journalism world with more than four decades of experience and is a 2021 inductee in the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame. Williams earned her bachelor’s degree in 2000, after taking what she calls a “14-year spring break” from college the first time around. “This is one of those honors you expect to be on the sidelines clapping as someone else gets it,” Williams said. “For me to be standing here having received this award myself is surreal. For years, I didn’t think I would be considered a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumni at all. Coming back to the university was truly an act of faith. I’m happy to represent an entity that has become much more than the sum of its parts. Our university is the present and the future for those who would seek an affordable, quality education that prepares them for the ever-changing career landscape we find ourselves in today.” The Presidents Award recognizes a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate who achieved success in their career, donated time and talents to their community, and remained in touch with their alma mater as a volunteer and resource person. Williams served on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2013-2019. This year, she participated in “Dancing With Our Stars” with Stephen Stone, associate professor of dance at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, to raise funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Williams is also the president of The Umoja Network and founder of its subsidiary, Make it Plain Ministries. Through these organizations, she is able to share her skills and knowledge with others by providing invaluable assistance to new writers and authors working to get published, public relations-related consultations with organizations seeking to make positive impressions with their audiences, and guiding the content creation process for print materials. As the recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus Award, Golzar, a 1995 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, is being recognized for his extraordinary distinction in his chosen field and special contributions to the community. Golzar is an interventional cardiologist with Advocate Medical Group, the director of Limb Salvage and Endovascular Intervention at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago, and a key opinion leader in the treatment of peripheral artery disease. He is also a leading educator on interventional techniques and technologies and the founder of the Chicago Endovascular Conference, the first large-scale medical educational conference in the Midwest. “As a physician, clinical thought leader, and innovator, Dr. Golzar has been a critical contributor to all of the advancements we have made at Avinger,” said Jeff Soinski, Avinger’s president and CEO. “More than that, in his leadership role as our chief medical officer, Dr. Golzar inspires each of us to do our best to achieve our mission of radically improving the way vascular disease is treated. A mission he personifies in the work he does every day.” Golzar’s close friend, Dr. Sara Tariq, an associate dean for student affairs in the College of Medicine at ��Vlog��ýMS, said he developed his passion for helping patients in medical school. “We were in high school together. We went to ��Vlog��ýLR in the Donaghey Scholars program together,” Tariq said. “Then in medical school is when I really saw him become so deeply excited about something, so deeply excited about patient care, so interested and driven about medicine.” Likewise, Golzar said his time in the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program was a pivotal moment that helped shape him as an individual. “I got into the Donaghey Scholars following Sara’s footsteps,” Golzar said. “That is when that change took place from me conforming to being an individual, to unlocking doors. Those were the most influential days of my life where I really learned how to be an individual and think for myself and ask questions, be curious, and to realize that not every question has to have a safe answer.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Hosto, Carter as Distinguished Business Alumni

John Hill — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:42:10 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has honored two business leaders in Arkansas as the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for the School of Business. Bryan Hosto, an attorney with Hosto & Buchan, has been named the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business, while Carl Carter, director of vendor integration for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, will receive the Dean’s Award for Excellence. They received their awards Oct. 29 during the School of Business Distinguished Alumni Luncheon at the Little Rock Marriott. The Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor granted by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business, is given to a graduate who has made a significant impact in business or a nonprofit organization and has served the Little Rock community and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Hosto is a 1985 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, where he served as commander of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He also earned a J.D. from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. After co-founding Intellinet, LLC, Arkansas’s first internet service provider, in 1994, Hosto was named to Arkansas Business’s “40 Under 40” list in 1995. He also co-founded Hosto & Buchan Law Firm, which grew to 150 employees with practices in six states. The firm has won many awards for performance including the National Creditors Bar Association Community Service Award in 2012 for the firm’s dedication to philanthropy and community involvement. As a business advisor, investor and board member, Hosto is a founder of the Arkansas Angel Alliance, which promotes angel capital startup Investing as a much-needed resource for creating jobs and growing new businesses in Arkansas. His service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock includes serving as president of the Alumni Association and serving as a member of the Foundation Fund Board. In 2001, Hosto was honored as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Presidents Award recipient. Throughout his career, Hosto has volunteered with worthy philanthropic organizations, including serving as president of the Arkansas Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund and the Arkansas Chairman of the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation. He also served as president of the Arkansas Board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he granted wishes of children with life threatening illnesses, and then served several years on the Make-A-Wish Mid-South Board, covering Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The Dean’s Award for Excellence is granted to a graduate of the past 10 years who has shown promise as a leader in business or nonprofit work and who is actively involved in serving Little Rock and the university. Carter is a two-time graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in 2011 and a Master of Business Administration in 2014. He also holds a Master of Public Service from the ��Vlog��ý-Clinton School of Public Service. Carter began his career at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 1998, providing a diverse career spanning from claims to strategic account management. Additionally, he is the founder of the Beverly Carter Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving agent safety. The nonprofit is named after Carter’s mother, Beverly Carter, who lost her life at the hands of two clients in 2014.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to honor Golzar, Williams as 2021 Distinguished Alumni

John Hill — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 13:28:27 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor outstanding graduates Dr. Jaafer Golzar and Helaine Williams with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Distinguished Alumni awards during a Nov. 4 ceremony at the Clinton Presidential Center. Dr. Jaafer Golzar, a cardiologist and chief medical officer for ., will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Helaine Williams, Sunday Style editor at the , will receive the Presidents Award. “Dr. Golzar and Mrs. Williams are examples of the very best of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Kristi Smith, senior director of alumni and development at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “He was a traditional student from the Historic Little Rock Central High School, educated at ��Vlog��ýMS, and has made an indelible mark in interventional cardiology, while she returned to complete her education while creating a name for herself in journalism. As a graduate of the university myself, it is my pleasure to showcase these outstanding alumni to Little Rock, the state, and beyond.” The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association annually awards the Distinguished Alumnus Award to a Little Rock Junior College, Little Rock University, or ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumnus. The award is reserved for individuals who have achieved extraordinary distinction in their chosen field and made special contributions to the community. “My experiences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and with the Donaghey Scholars program were paramount to the trajectory of my career, allowing me to succeed in my career,” Golzar said. “I am forever grateful for and will always treasure the relationships and opportunities this special place afforded me. I will continue to strive for excellence and to make a difference in the world, carrying this honor with me.” In addition to his position at Avinger, Golzar is an interventional cardiologist with Advocate Medical Group, the director of Limb Salvage and Endovascular Intervention at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago, and a key opinion leader in the treatment of peripheral artery disease. A native of India, Golzar moved to Little Rock with his family at age five. He is a 1991 graduate of Central High School, a 1995 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in biology, and a 1999 graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. An interventional cardiovascular specialist with 15 years of experience, Golzar is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology. He is also a leading educator on interventional techniques and technologies and the founder of the Chicago Endovascular Conference, the first large-scale medical educational conference in the Midwest. As a recognized leader in the endovascular community, Golzar has received multiple accolades including the prestigious Pioneers in Performance – North America Award in 2014. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. “As a physician, clinical thought leader, and innovator, Dr. Golzar has been a critical contributor to all of the advancements we have made at Avinger,” said Jeff Soinski, Avinger’s president and CEO. “More than that, in his leadership role as our chief medical officer, Dr. Golzar inspires each of us to do our best to achieve our mission of radically improving the way vascular disease is treated; a mission he personifies in the work he does every day.” Golzar has also spent time volunteering in acute medical disaster relief efforts around the world, including serving as a consultant for Nigeria’s efforts to reform the medical infrastructure of Ogun State. The Presidents Award was established to recognize ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduates who achieved success in their career, donated time and talents to their community, and remained in touch with their alma mater as a volunteer and resource person. Helaine Williams is an icon in the Little Rock journalism industry with more than four decades of experience. She started her career as a city desk news assistant at the Arkansas Democrat in 1981. Williams is a 1980 graduate of Wilbur D. Mills University Studies High and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2000. “I may be a so-called wordsmith. But to go from being a 1984 college dropout to finally finishing my degree in 2000 – and, 21 years after that, being chosen for the Presidents Award – evokes emotions I can’t adequately describe,” Williams said. “I can only hope that I inspire someone who thinks it’s too late for second chances, especially at a university I most heartily thank for giving me one.” In 1989, Williams became the principal writer of “Let’s Talk,” a column she has called her own for the last 32 years. She has also written for the Active Style, Family, High Profile, Weekend and Style sections of the Democrat-Gazette, drawing numerous honors along the way. Williams was inducted into the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame this year. She and her husband, Renarda “Dre” Williams, are 2019 recipients of a John H. Johnson Journalism & Media Award by the Arkansas-based Friends of John H. Johnson Museum. Williams has also received honors from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Central Arkansas Association of Black Journalists for advocating and elevating the work of Black journalists. In addition to her work with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Williams is the president of The Umoja Network and founder of its subsidiary, Make it Plain Ministries. Through these organizations, she is able to share her skills and knowledge with others by providing invaluable assistance to new writers and authors working to get published, public relations-related consultations with organizations seeking to make positive impressions with their audiences, and guiding the content creation process for print materials. An active member of the community, Williams is a lifetime member of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association and served on its Board of Directors from 2013-2019. She is a member of “That.Church” in Sherwood and a past chairwoman of the Board of Directors for United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas, where she currently serves as secretary. This year, Williams will participate in the “Dancing With Our Stars” event with Stephen Stone, associate professor of dance at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, to raise funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Golzar and Williams will be honored at the university’s annual Distinguished Alumni Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Clinton Presidential Center. For more information, contact Smith at klsmith4@ualr.edu.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business honors Kelley, Burgess as Distinguished Alumni

John Hill — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 16:38:17 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor two accomplished Little Rock business professionals at the School of Business Distinguished Alumni Luncheon on Oct. 16.�� Henry “Hank” Kelley Jr., CEO, partner, and executive broker of Kelley Commercial Partners, has been named the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. Whitney Burgess, vice president of client services and strategy at Team SI, will receive the Dean’s Award for Excellence. The School of Business Distinguished Alumni Luncheon will be held at the Little Rock Marriott, 3 Statehouse Plaza. Registration opens at 10:45 a.m. with lunch served at 11:30 a.m. Tickets to the event are $125 each and are available at .�� The Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor granted by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business, is given to a graduate who has made a significant impact in business or a nonprofit organization and has served the Little Rock community and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I’m honored to be the Distinguished Alumnus,” Kelley said. “I’m thrilled to have stayed connected with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and seen the changes in the institution since I graduated. I appreciate the efforts of the faculty and the administration to engage and stay connected to the business community. I believe promoting the university to central Arkansas residents is a very important thing for the community to do. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a research institution that creates lots of different opportunities for businesses in the community.”�� Kelley graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with an MBA in 1984, the same year he joined the company that is now Kelley Commercial Partners. He leads a team of 65 employees to deliver results to investors, developers, landlords, tenants, and prospects. The company manages approximately 7.4 million square feet of properties in Arkansas. Actively involved in the community, Kelley serves as president of Rotary 99. Kelley is involved with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Foundation, Baptist Health Foundation Board, Fifty for the Future, and the Board. Last year, Kelley and his wife, Stephanie, donated $37,000 to A.P. Vibhakar Endowed Scholarship at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Additionally, he previously served on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Business Advisory Council and as an adjunct instructor with the School of Business. “I would say the most important thing to focus on in a career is the Rotary theme of ‘Service Above Self,’” Kelley said. “Learning how to put the needs of others at the top of your to-do list as you go about your daily affairs. The process of getting an MBA at night taught me time management skills, and it also taught me that I needed to keep learning forever. I can never quit researching and reading and learning about what I do, because it changes so quickly.”

Dean’s Award for Excellence

Whitney Burgess, vice president of client services and strategy at Team SI, is the 2020 recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence. The award is granted to a graduate of the past 10 years who has shown promise as a leader in business or nonprofit work and who is actively involved in serving Little Rock and the university. “I’m surprised and appreciative of receiving this award,” she said. “I went to the Distinguished Alumni luncheon this past year, and I remember being in the audience and hearing about the wonderful recipients. I put it on my list of goals to receive this award one day, and now I have!” Burgess earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2013. “I really enjoyed my time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the support I received from the staff,” Burgess said. “When I was here, they brought back the Student Marketing Association, and I was president of that. We launched the Carnival of Clubs event for the first time, and we had such a good time that the College of Business had continued to have it. There were always people who were in my corner who served as my support team. I think that’s a really important part of what ��Vlog��ý Little Rock gives to their business students.” After graduation, Burgess began a career in digital marketing and later joined Team SI in 2015 in the automotive sector. She started as a senior account executive for a client in Minnesota whose company grew from 14 to 39 car dealerships in just one year. Since working in the automotive sector, she has become an award-winning strategist for her work with government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Her passion for marketing and new ideas transpires in her work and is supported with a talented team that continues to grow in size as well as continued business growth and client retention.�� Burgess is a member of Rotaract Little Rock and a volunteer for the Lonoke 2022 Initiative, which is an effort to bring more economic growth to Burgess’ hometown. Last year, she co-chaired the Go Red for Women’s luncheon in central Arkansas, which benefited the American Heart Association. She is a former social media volunteer for Riverfest and a graduate of the 33rd class of Leadership Greater Little Rock. Currently, Burgess works with Chambers of Commerce, small businesses, and nonprofits across the state to provide online marketing training. When asked to give one piece of advice for business students, Burgess advised them to find a great mentor, which she identifies as a key to her success. “I think mentorship is a big part of being successful. Having a mentor can really give you great perspective, help influence what organizations to be involved in, and give you a valuable sounding board,” Burgess said.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business to honor Guinn, Holbert as 2018 Distinguished Alumni

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 15:56:41 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor Marcus Guinn, executive vice president and loan manager at, as the College of Business Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. The university will also honor Drew Holbert, principal and vice president of brokerage at, as the Dean’s Award for Excellence winner at the 2018 College of Business Distinguished Alumni Luncheon on Oct. 17.�� The special award luncheon, presented by Arvest Bank, will be held at the Little Rock Marriott, 3 Statehouse Plaza. Registration opens at 10:45 a.m. with lunch served at 11:30 a.m. The highest honor granted by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business, the Distinguished Alumni award is given to a graduate who has made a significant impact in business or a nonprofit organization and who has served the community and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Guinn is a 1998 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree of finance. He is a seven-year veteran of Arvest Bank and has enjoyed a successful 33-year career in banking. In his current position, Guinn leads a team of 50 commercial bankers and is responsible for the overall growth and profitability of Arvest’s loan portfolios in central, southwest and northeast Arkansas, worth more than $1.5 billion. Guinn and his wife, Valencia, live in Little Rock. He is the father of one daughter, two sons, and one grandson. Guinn is an active alumnus of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock dedicated to the future success of College of Business students. He is a member of the College of Business Advisory Board. Through his work at Arvest, which often partners with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business, Guinn attends many College of Business events and fundraisers, advising business students, giving valuable advice as a guest speaker, and mentoring those who intern at Arvest. “The College of Business is pleased to honor Marcus Guinn as the Distinguished Alumnus for 2018,” said Dr. Jane Wayland, Stephen Harrow Smith Dean of Business. “Marcus has been a very active member of the College of Business Advisory Board and has taken time to talk to our students and tell his story. He represents everything we want for our students – achievement and leadership.” In his other volunteer roles, Guinn serves as president of the Central Arkansas Risk Management Association as well as a board member of Baptist Health Foundation, Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids (P.A.R.K), and TENDAJI Community Development Corporation. He is also a regular presenter at Money Matters, a financial literacy and education program at Saint Mark Baptist Church sponsored by Arvest. “I am very honored to be recognized,” Guinn said. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock will always be near and dear to my heart. I am really appreciative of the university education and what it has allowed me to do professionally. I think this award is a testament that I have done some positive things to make the university proud.”

Dean’s Award for Excellence

The Dean’s Award for Excellence is granted to a graduate of the past 10 years who has shown promise as a leader in business or nonprofit work, and who is actively involved in serving Little Rock and the university. Holbert received his Master of Business Administration from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2010. He is a member of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association and an active participant in the annual College of Business Golf Tournament. He started his career at Colliers International | Arkansas (then Dickson Flake Partners) in 2005 as an intern, was named a shareholder in 2013, and a principal in 2015. Since that time, Colliers Arkansas has grown from 50 employees and approximately 6 million managed square feet to 120 employees and over 18 million managed square feet. Colliers Arkansas was founded in 1971 as Barnes, Quinn, Flake and Anderson, and is the state’s largest commercial real estate, property management and development management firm. Holbert and his wife Lindsey live in Little Rock with their three children, Beau, Tess and Violet. “Drew has moved rapidly in his firm and proves that success can be achieved with a vision and a good work ethic,” Wayland said. “He has found time to serve his community and is an excellent role model for our students.” In 2017, Holbert was selected as one of Arkansas Business’ 40 Under 40. He was a founding member of Create Little Rock, a 2010 initiative of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce to retain, attract and develop young professional talent. He is also a board member and past president of the Downtown Little Rock Kiwanis Club, a member of the activities board of the Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp, and president of the Arkansas Chapter of the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute, which recognizes expertise in commercial and investment real estate. “I am so honored to receive this award,” Holbert said. “I wasn’t expecting it, and it’s such an honor for me to be chosen when so many talented people have come of out this university and the College of Business.” Tickets for the event are $100 and can be purchased online. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Dr. Wayland at 501-569-3356 or jpwayland@ualr.edu.

Lelia Rosenkrans named 2018 Whitbeck Award winner

Janea Snyder — Wed, 02 May 2018 17:45:39 +0000

Lelia Rosenkrans’ academic interests pull in seemingly opposite directions. She is passionate about dance and the artistry and self-expression that comes from the creative process. And she is equally in love with science and the possibilities of discovery through disciplined research.�� Both, she discovered, have the capacity to transform lives. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Rosenkrans didn’t have to choose between the two. On May 12, she will graduate with a BFA in Dance Performance with a minor in chemistry. She is this year’s recipient of the Alpha Kappa Psi Edward L. Whitbeck Memorial Award, a prestigious award given to one student chosen by the Faculty Senate Honors and Awards Committee who has demonstrated exceptional scholarship, leadership, character, and citizenship. The award comes with a $2,000 prize. “Lelia is that rare student whose talents truly transcend their major,” said Jessica Scott, assistant director of the Donaghey Scholars Program. “Even though she is a gifted dancer, she has the mind of a scientist.” Growing up in Springdale, Rosenkrans started dancing at age 4 at Rhythm and Shoes Dance Studio in Tontitown. “I fell in love with jazz,” she said. “I was a shy kid and jazz gave me the opportunity to be someone else, outgoing and spunky.” ��She started ballet at age 7 but didn’t become a serious ballet student until age 15. She comes from a family of educators: her father is a professor of animal physiology at the University of Arkansas, and her mother is the associate vice president of Learning and High School Relations at Northwest Arkansas Community College. When it came time to choose a college, she looked near and far. She auditioned for a few conservatory programs and was accepted to Wellesley College in Massachusetts as well as the University of Arkansas, which is close to her home in Northwest Arkansas. However, she was drawn to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, which offers the state’s only Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. “I knew I wanted to have the option to take both dance and pre-med classes,” Rosenkrans said. “I came to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a chemistry major and then decided to have a dance/chemistry double major. Eventually, I realized that I could major in dance and minor in chemistry, and still achieve my goal of being prepared for medical school.” What sealed the deal was a Donaghey Scholars Program scholarship, and with it the ability to study abroad and to graduate with no debt. During her first two summers, she worked as a medical intern in Sri Lanka and as an English teacher in Peru, both of which gave her invaluable perspectives on global policies. “In Sri Lanka, I saw a country striving to aid its people through free health care, yet patients were turned away simply due to a lack of time and space to treat everyone,” Rosenkrans said. “In Peru, I was inspired by the community’s connection to their Incan farming traditions. However, I saw a community whose grains were being purchased for pennies in comparison to the price they are sold for in grocery stores within the United States.” As part of the Whitbeck Award competition, Rosenkrans wrote an essay on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. “I find myself returning to the idea of acknowledging the humanity and needs of others,” she wrote. “This involves creating and fostering an environment with meaningful cross-cultural dialogue, striving for and supporting breakthroughs in science and technology that help humanity, and advocating for and preserving communal works of beauty.” With her eye on medical school, Rosenkrans completed the pre-medicine courses, taking as many as 23 credit hours per semester and finishing with a 4.0 grade-point average. Her friends joke that she never sleeps, and she admits that between dance rehearsals and lab work, she stays busy. As a junior, she received one of the state’s Student Undergraduate Research Fellowships to study the biological, psychological and social impacts of a modern dance class. Her research examined salivary biomarkers indicative of fitness training and stress in modern dancers and compared the biomarker levels to dancers’ self-reflection surveys. The results provided evidence in support of modern dance as a source of stress relief, and also served as a step toward developing more specialized nutritional and cross-training guidelines for modern dancers. “She took her two passions and combined them into a very novel research project,” said Dr. Brian Berry, chair and associate professor of chemistry. “I was impressed with the way she approached the idea and executed the work.” Rosenkrans also works as a research assistant for , where she completed an eight-week internship last summer. The scientists there liked her work so much that they asked her to continue working remotely. Her current work involves annotating behavior traits indicative of Parkinson’s disease. Outside of the lab, Rosenkrans spends much of her time in dance studios. As part of her BFA major, she created four original dance works. She has performed in the spring Bodyworks, the fall Dance Harvest, and with the Department of Theater Arts and Dance’s annual dance tour to high school and middle schools across the state. Yslan Hicks, senior faculty and chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, has watched Rosenkrans progress as a dancer, choreographer, scientist and scholar for four years. As a first-semester freshman, Rosenkrans replaced a senior dancer in a highly athletic piece. “I have known many first-semester freshman; I have seldom witnessed a comet on stage,” Hicks said. “Lelia was all light and speed and fire. Her broader academic and personal goals are often fixed on making things better for others. Even before her university experience she has given of herself with a global awareness.” Off campus, Rosenkrans has performed with the Arkansas Festival Ballet’s productions of “Alice in Wonderland,” “Peter Pan,” and “The Nutcracker.” She is a member of UnTapped, the state’s only professional dance company, and she teaches dance workshops for members of the UnTapped Youth Ensemble. “I love leading workshops in schools,” she said. “I have experienced the unity and joy created through free community dance workshops as children and adults alike find themselves possessing untapped capabilities within a body they have known for years. The discovery is truly empowering.” Despite a hectic academic schedule, Rosenkrans has mentored younger Donaghey Scholars and served as an ambassador for the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences and as a student leader in Chi Alpha Campus Ministry. She has volunteered more than 200 hours at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the 12th Street Health and Wellness Center, the VA Hospital and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock theatre box office. “Her work has benefitted the university and contributed to the central Arkansas community, and through it all, she has grown as a person, a dancer, a scholar, and friend,” Scott said. After commencement, Rosenkrans plans to take a year off – to travel, study, reflect, and focus on her future – before starting medical school in fall 2019. This summer, she heads to eastern Germany to study dance improvisation and then to India to become certified to teach yoga. “I find myself both forever grateful and inspired by the experience I have been afforded during my time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and I hope to continue my traditions of scholarship, leadership and character throughout the rest of my life,” she said.

Rhode receives Distinguished Alumni Award from School of Mass Communication

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 16:50:50 +0000

Patrick Rhode, U.S. vice president of corporate affairs for the global infrastructure firm, Cintra, returned to his alma mater with the idea of sharing lessons learned from his career, which spans the White House and high profile senior executive roles in government and private industry.�� He returned home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on April 12 to serve as the keynote speaker of the School of Mass Communication Awards Ceremony, but was surprised with the Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Mass Communication. Arkansas state officials also recognized Rhode with a Certificate of Recognition from Gov. Asa Hutchinson and a Capitol Citation from Secretary of State Mark Martin. His notable career has included positions as special assistant to President George W. Bush, chief of staff for two FEMA administrations within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, associate administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and senior advisor to NASA. During his visit to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, members of Dr. Iveta Imre’s Multimedia Reporting Class Nick Popowitch and Kamroon Woods interviewed Rhode for a feature that will appear on LR Angle. Rhode also spoke with students in Dr. Sonny Rhodes’ Careers in Mass Media class and did an interview with K��Vlog��ýR. Rhode credits ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as the place where he learned to take chances that led to unexpected opportunities. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is very special to me, because it is the place I really learned to get out of my comfort zone,” he said. “My story is not a very conventional one. I did not have it all figured out, far from it. I think it is okay not to know exactly what you want to do.” Early in his career, Rhode moved to Austin, Texas, to be with his fiancé. Since he was unable to immediately find a position in broadcast journalism, he became a spokesman for a state agency and soon met someone who would be instrumental in his career. “Within weeks of my new job, public confidence in that agency would be tested,” he said. “I would be introduced to members of the staff of a young Governor Bush. This is the time where I met people that I never expected to meet. This taught me to do the best in any situation that comes before you because you never know who may be there and who may be helpful to you in the future.” Despite initial personal thoughts that he was too young and inexperienced to take the job, Rhode served as deputy director of National Advance Operations for Bush’s successful presidential campaign in 2000, which led to several high-profile government positions. “Don’t limit yourself by how you see your capabilities, because there are people around you who may see more for you than you see for yourself,” he said. “That’s the lesson I learned when I was asked to help run operations for President Bush’s campaign.” On Sept. 11, 2001, Rhode’s life took on another drastic change. When the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, Rhode was named chief of staff for two FEMA administrations within the department responsible for more than 100 Presidential Disaster and Emergency Declarations over his years. The department assisted more than 1 million Americans during his tenure. “We looked out the window and saw smoke coming from the direction of the Pentagon,” Rhode said. “There is no question that moment changed my life. The country was forever changed that day. The lesson for me is that planning is important, but life doesn’t care about our perfect plans. Life will change in ways we have never expected.” When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Rhode learned that, sometimes, doing your job is all you can do in an impossible situation. “The early pictures of disaster victims in New Orleans seemingly forgotten by their country were all around. As chief of staff, part of my role is to encourage everyone to do their jobs and not let the outside pressure get to us. The criticism and struggle made much of the early headlines, but that was not the whole story,” he said. “The often untold story is what happened next when the country came together, resulting in the emergency evacuation of tens of thousands of people to safety in several states, something the likes of which had not been attempted much less accomplished at that time in the modern history of the country.” Throughout Rhode’s career, completing his bachelor’s degree in mass communication from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a goal he never forgot. He left ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1993, just three credit hours short of graduation, to pursue a career as a television reporter for the CBS affiliate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. With the help of mass communication faculty, Rhode proudly completed his degree in 2016. �� “I realized that so many of my stories were about ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” he said. “When she asked about my education, I had to explain to my daughter that I left college three credit hours short of a college degree. I was inspired to come back, and the university welcomed me back with open arms. The lesson I learned is to remember what is important and that you are never too old to come back.”

Patrick Rhode tapped as keynote speaker for Mass Communication Awards Ceremony

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:17:01 +0000

In 2016, Patrick Rhode fulfilled a long-held goal of graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a journey 25 years in the making.�� Rhode, U.S. vice president of corporate affairs for the global infrastructure firm, Cintra, will return to his alma mater as the keynote speaker of the School of Mass Communication Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 12, to share his journey from a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock college student to a career that would span the White House and high profile senior executive roles in government and private industry. The awards ceremony will take place from noon to 2 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall. Rhode’s notable career has taken him from Fortune 500 and 1000 companies to NASA as well as to the White House. After serving as the deputy director of National Advance Operations for George W. Bush’s successful presidential campaign in 2000, Rhode was sworn in by the Vice President in the East Room of the White House as a special assistant to to the President of the United States. �� When the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, Rhode was named chief of staff for two FEMA administrations within the department responsible for more than 100 Presidential Disaster and Emergency Declarations. The department assisted more than 1 million Americans during his tenure, during which time he was awarded high level national security clearances. He has also served as the associate administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and senior advisor to NASA.

From ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to the White House and beyond

After Rhode earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arkansas in 1991, he came to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in search of a new career path. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is special to me because it was the place where I first learned to leave my comfort zone and try something I had never tried before,” he said. “Something kept calling me to try broadcast journalism, and attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock gave me the chance to learn skills on campus as well as at a local television affiliate.” He credits ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with giving him the tools that led to early career roles ��as an award- winning ��television reporter with CBS and ABC television affiliates.

As a student at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Patrick Rhode interviews actor James Earl Jones.

“It was my time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that gave me the confidence to try a career path that led me in so many directions,” Rhode said. “I was encouraged by great professors and had a series of great formative experiences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, from interviewing the actor James Earl Jones for the student radio station news and getting him to say, ‘This is ��Vlog��ýLR,’ just the same way he once famously said, ‘This is CNN,” to helping then CBS anchor Paula Zahn climb a fence barricade around the crowd in downtown Little Rock on election night in 1992 to make a live report on time.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, he also interned at KARK, which later led him to his first job. “I only hope that longtime Arkansas journalist Steve Barnes and others at KARK Television in Little Rock don’t remember the kid intern that kept scotch-taping the wrong script order in the teleprompter,” he joked. �� Rhode left ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1993, just three credit hours short of graduation, to pursue a career as a television reporter for the CBS affiliate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. When he left that job, the mayor of Tuscaloosa presented Rhode with a proclamation declaring a day in June as Patrick Rhode Day in honor of his great news coverage of the city. “Truthfully, I think the recognition was for the notoriety of an April Fool’s story we did declaring that a late night city ordinance would forever remove the name of Bear Bryant from the University of Alabama football stadium,” he said. “The television audience did not wait to hear the city council say April Fool’s at the end of the piece before the phone lines at the station began to light up in protest.” Completing his bachelor’s degree in mass communication from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a goal he never forgot. “I had thought about finishing many times over the years but always had an excuse,” Rhode said. “I was having a conversation a few years ago about what influenced and motivated our early career decisions. Every example I spoke of was my time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. As I reflected, I thought to myself, ‘How could I not have a degree from the school that taught me so much?’” With the help of Dr. Olaf Hoerschelmann, interim associate dean of the School of Mass Communication, and Dr. Jeanne Rollberg, an associate professor of journalism from 1983 to 2016, he proudly completed his degree in 2016. �� “More than 20 years after leaving ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I sent a somewhat embarrassing note to Dr. Olaf Hoerschelmann explaining my situation and asked if there might be a way I could complete coursework. After so many years, I was not even sure records still existed of me, ha. Dr. Hoerschelmann and the entire university staff were so helpful in their direction of my coursework completion, and immediately welcomed me back home. It feels like a fitting end to a long journey that began at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” �� Rollberg recalled that Rhode was a “very bright and talented student,” but that she was somewhat surprised to see his email so many years later.

As a Special Assistant to the President of the United States, Patrick Rhode works with President George W. Bush.

“I confess to have given up on his ever graduating because the time lapse had been so long,” Rollberg said. “I was very glad and proud for him when he decided to finish.” The end of Rhode’s journey to getting a degree at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is just the beginning of his path to inspiring the next generation of aspiring mass communication professionals. His keynote speech, “Leaving the Zone,” will cover how continuously leaving his comfort zone led to incredible career opportunities and personal growth. “We all live in our comfort zones,” Rhode said. “But sometimes our personal and professional experiences of growth are informed most by leaving the zone. My path through several careers has been imperfect, but I don’t think we have to be perfect. Transitions are not easy.��There are failures.��There are self doubts.�� There all always critics and naysayers. ��But I believe we often find ourselves when we leave the zone. “It was my experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that first set me on a path of leaving my zone that resulted in experiences that I never would have imagined. I’m pretty sure while sitting in class that my dreams included a simple hope that my car would start back up again that afternoon near University Avenue, and I never would have believed that I would have the chance to help bring billion dollar infrastructure projects to market, or that Air Force One would one day have a seat reserved for me.”

Ward to receive 2017 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Presidents Award

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 10 May 2017 17:27:52 +0000

When Rebecca Ward discovered a need for social work student scholarships at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, she quickly jumped into action.�� Ward, a 1979 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a Master of Social Work degree, organized fellow social work alumni into a community advisory board with the goal of creating an endowed scholarship for social work students at the university. “I came to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and the first week it snowed and I fell on the ice,” Ward said. “It was an awful beginning, but turned out to be a life-affirming experience after I had just been divorced. The professors were great, and I felt like I got a great education. I wanted to give something back. If you love your university, it’s natural.” Ward’s philanthropic spirit and desire to help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students are among the reasons she was named the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association’s Presidents Award winner. The award is bestowed on individuals with career success and a profound dedication to the university. Ward will be honored during the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration, presented by Baptist Health, at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 12, in the Great Hall of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Her foray into fundraising was a learning process. The advisory committee’s first fundraiser in 2010 earned about $1,500. After six years, the group raised more than $100,000 for social work scholarships. Ward arrived at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1977 at a time of great transition. Having recently divorced, she was the quintessential nontraditional student out to earn an advanced degree and a better career to provide for her young son, Dan Smith. She had to leave her home in Arkadelphia at 5 a.m. to make it to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for 7 a.m. classes. Although he kept it a secret for many years, her son, who was 9 at the time, used to stand at the window to watch his mother leave for school and ask God to please bring his mother back to him. “When your mom is a single parent, your mother is your whole world,” said Smith, who is now a dermatologist in Little Rock. Originally, Ward thought she would become a language teacher. She earned bachelor’s degrees in English and French and completed the educational requirements for teaching certification from Ouachita Baptist University in 1964. After reading “What Do You Say After You Say Hello” by Eric Berne, she became interested in psychology and social work as a way to help people. She was also inspired by her aunt, Dr. Virginia Boyle, who worked as a clinical psychologist in North Carolina. Ward studied psychology at the University of Central Arkansas before completing a master’s degree in social agency counseling at Henderson State University in 1977. During her career, Ward worked at Arkansas Children’s Colony, Greater Little Rock Community Mental Health Center, Ouachita Regional Mental Health Center, and several private practices. She has been in private practice with her partner, Howard Turney, the past 10 years. The two think of each other as family and “try to out-nice each other.” After serving as chair of the School of Social Work Advisory Committee, Ward joined the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association board of directors as president from 2010 to 2014. Ward and her fellow board members help oversee hundreds of scholarships for potential and current ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. Additionally, Ward is a past chair of the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board, Arkansas Hospice, and Thea Foundation. She has also served on the Arkansas Association for Marital and Family Therapists. She spent 17 years as the therapist on the television show “Good Morning Arkansas,” is a contributor to AY Magazine, and is the author of the 2000 book “How to Stay Married Without Going Crazy.” Ward is currently writing a book for caregivers inspired by the person she admires most, her husband, Don, who had a stroke in 2015. “My husband has shown great dignity and perseverance. I look for people who persevere and show grace under pressure,” she said.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock honors Corby with Distinguished Alumni Award

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 10 May 2017 16:54:16 +0000

When Candice Hunter Corby was in her junior year at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, her successful internship at BKD CPAs and Advisors in Little Rock helped launch her financial career.�� Now the 1994 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate, named one of the top female CEOs in the country in 2016, is the recipient of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association’s highest honor. “I am certainly very honored and humbled by the recognition,” Corby said. “When I reflect on who has been honored in the past, I am pleased to be included with such accomplished individuals who truly represent the character and carry the foundation of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s mission in all that they do.” Corby will be recognized during the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration, presented by Baptist Health, at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 12, in the Great Hall of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Corby was named one of the Top 10 Female CEOs of 2016 by dotCEO. Additionally, the Austin Business Journal recognized her as a 2015 Profiles in Power – Women of Influence in Central Texas finalist.

Road to success

A native of Massachusetts, Corby found herself in Arkansas when a family member, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, was stationed in Little Rock. At first, she majored in education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. After doing incredibly well in some accounting classes, her career path changed. “The professor came up to me and asked me if I had ever thought of going into accounting,” Corby said. “He said I could do very well, and it would be a good base for a business career. It was literally my professor who steered me into business and accounting.” After completing an internship at BKD CPAs and Advisors during her junior year at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Corby began her career as a senior auditor at BKD. At 26, she then became the youngest chief financial officer of the Times Record News, an E.W. Scripps Company. After a transition to law firms, Corby served as chief financial officer of Godwin Gruber, LLP, chief operating officer of Baker & McKenzie, LLP, in Dallas, and chief operating officer of Mayer Brown in New York City. She is now the CEO, president, and one of two female board members of Cobra Legal Solutions, LLC. Based in Austin, Texas, with offices domestically and abroad, Corby leads an incredible staff of legal experts and technologists to help corporate legal departments and law firms manage their information management needs consistently and cost-effectively. When she became a CEO, Corby looked forward to emails she would receive from her father, Ralph Hunter, who passed away in 2012. He was so proud of his daughter that he took pleasure in writing emails with the subject line “Notes to the CEO.” “He would give me business advice, and I saved all his emails,” Corby said. “Last year when I ran my first marathon, I carried my father’s silver dollar in my pocket so we could run it together in a way.” In addition to her father, Corby’s husband has also been an incredible source of support and strength. “Throughout your life and career, there are many ups and downs,” she said. “Without the love and unwavering support of my husband, Ken Corby, I would not be where I am today. He is my rock.”

Accomplishments

Corby is a frequent speaker and mentor, having been interviewed by the Harvard Business School Executive MBA program on “How Key Women Succeed.” She also moderated panel discussions at The University of Texas McCombs Executive MBA Program on “Championing Women in the Workplace” and participated on a panel for the Four Seasons Hotel – Austin’s program on “Women in Leadership.” To be successful in today’s environment, Corby advises students to remain positive in a world that seems filled with negative attitudes. “My advice to students would be to persevere,” she said. “In this sort of turbulent environment, both politically, economically, and socially, stay with your beliefs and focus on them. Do not let them interfere with your ability to be a patriot and to move forward and be a positive beacon.” Corby is an advocate for many causes that are near to her heart, including the arts, health, women’s initiatives, diversity, and eradicating homelessness. She serves on the boards of Zach Theatre, Austin Opera, University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music Directors’ Council, and Ellevate Network. She was also co-chair of the 2016 “I Am Waters Supermodel Luncheon,” a national movement that provides water bottles and inspiration messages to the homeless. Corby is an avid runner who has recently started competing in marathons. She also enjoys travel, skiing, wine and cheese, and spending time with her husband, Ken, and “furry child,” Tiberius.

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