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

Seven ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Students Selected for Acxiom Diversity Scholarship Program

John Hill — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 12:58:45 +0000

Seven students from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock have been selected for this year’s Acxiom Diversity Scholarship program. , the customer intelligence company whose data-driven solutions create business growth by enabling better customer experiences, annually selects 10 college students for the program. The initiative offers $5,000 scholarships to full-time students from diverse backgrounds majoring in computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, information quality, information systems, engineering, mathematics, and statistics or related areas of study. “Acxiom is committed to providing an avenue for students from all backgrounds to pursue their dreams through computer science and information technology careers,” said Mary Ward, chief people officer at Acxiom. “In our increasingly global economy, building a diverse workforce leads to better innovation, culture, and outcomes for everyone.” This year’s Acxiom Diversity Scholarship recipients from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and their majors include Oluwaseyi Adeliyi, information science; Abiola Sylvester Akinnubi, information science; Dayo Banjo, computer science; Mayor Gurung, information science; John Intifunie Nsaman, business information systems and analytics; Sodiq Oyedotun, business information systems and analytics; and Connice Trimmingham, computer science. “We are very thankful to the opportunities provided to our students by the Acxiom Diversity Scholarship,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “This program not only helps to increase the diversity in the IT profession, it also helps to recruit and retain the next generation of talented, hard-working individuals who we’ll be counting on to solve critical data challenges.” Mayor Gurung, a graduate student from Kathmandu, Nepal, said she felt honored to be a recipient of the 2022 Acxiom Diversity Scholarship. “It’s an encouragement to do even better as it will finance my educational needs and fund my future research project,” Gurung said. “More importantly, it will push me as well as women in my community to dream big, we just have to take the initiative. I want to thank Acxiom for promoting diversity and making a difference.” Through this scholarship, Acxiom aims to create a more inclusive pipeline of future technology talent and help close the equity gap by providing access to education for individuals underrepresented in the field. Abiola Sylvester Akinnubi, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in computer and information science, said this experience will help him with his plans to mentor and help underprivileged and underrepresented students after he graduates. “I also believe this will motivate me to provide a leadership voice to people and help others continuously,” Akinnubi said. “As I return to the industry, I will be able to contribute using the knowledge and experience from my Ph.D. program in contributing to various technology roles that I find myself in the future. I am sure Acxiom will find me a worthy ambassador now and in the end.” With five of the Acxiom Diversity Scholarship recipients being members of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center, Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy chair and distinguished professor of information science and the founding director of COSMOS, expressed pride for his students’ accomplishments. “I am extremely proud of our students for receiving this honor!,” Agarwal said. “The Acxiom Diversity Scholarship program provides unique opportunities for our students to become next-generation leaders in developing data-driven solutions to challenging technical and societal issues.” The Acxiom Diversity Scholarship Program, now in its 10th year, also offers summer internships to willing recipients. Scholarship winners are selected based on their ability to demonstrate academic achievement, field of study, and professional interest related to Acxiom’s business needs. “Supporting the education of the next leaders in our industry is the most direct way we can effect change and encourage diversity within the computer science and information technology fields,” said Chad Engelgau, CEO of Acxiom. “We congratulate this year’s group of exceptional scholarship recipients and look forward to their educational achievements and career contributions in the years ahead.” Sodiq Oyedotun, a native of the Kwara state in Nigeria, said news of the program couldn’t have come at a better time. “It will help me pay my tuition, buy books, and certainly, I get to intern with Acxiom and have the opportunity to hone my skills,” Oyedotun said. “This will go a long way to shape my future career.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Online Graduate Programs Listed Among Nation’s Best by U.S. News and World Report For Third Year in a Row

John Hill — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:24:05 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as having some of the best online programs in computer information technology in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 19th in its 2022 ranking of “.” This ranking assesses online master’s degree programs in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, and information technology. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also earned the 19th spot in the 2020 and 2021 lists for U.S. News & World Report. “We are really gratified to make the list for the third year in a row. We know we need to keep improving every year to maintain our position on this very competitive list,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science, which houses both programs. “We take very seriously our ongoing efforts with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate School, our program faculty, students, and alumni to find ways to make the educational experience associated with our programs as attractive, affordable, and high quality as possible.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, the U.S. News ranking covers the online Master of Science in information quality and Master of Science in information science programs. Both degrees serve as a stepping stone for other advanced graduate degrees, such as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Ph.D. in computer and information science. The online master’s degree in information science is a 33-hour program designed to familiarize individuals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies for working with large amounts of complex data. Students learn how to compete in an industry with an ever-present demand for new innovations in data science and analytics, advanced information systems design and development, and emerging information technologies. “Enrollment in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Master of Science in information science has been increasing as recognition of our program grows,” said Dr. Daniel Berleant, professor of information science and coordinator of the graduate program. “We are grateful to the many people here who have been so helpful. This includes staff members as well as other academic departments and their faculty who teach the great courses that many of our students have been taking as electives. We plan to continue building on our success at bringing in new students and gaining recognition for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock locally, nationally through the distance education option, and internationally.” The online master’s degree in information quality is a 33-hour program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to prepare students for industry and government careers as well as advanced doctoral studies. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program, the curriculum balances information quality theory with industry best practices using state-of-the-art technology. Dr. John Talburt, professor of information science and advisor of the Master of Science in information quality program, said that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is seeing record enrollment in its information quality degree programs. He credits this success to quality online instruction, career preparation, and student diversity. “Both the information quality and information science programs offer students from diverse educational backgrounds a gateway into successful careers in data science, data analytics, and data management,” Talburt said. “Many entering students with non-technical undergraduate degrees come because they have had on-the-job experience with data and technology and want to be a part of the data revolution. No specific undergraduate degree is required for admission. The program also embraces cultural and gender diversity. While this has been a problem for many computer science and engineering programs, nearly one third of our student body are women and more than half are international students.” For the 2022 rankings edition, U.S. News evaluated schools on five categories, including engagement (25 percent), faculty credentials and training (25 percent), expert opinion (25 percent), service and technologies (12.5 percent), and student excellence (12.5 percent). A program’s score for each ranking indicator is calculated using data that the program reported to U.S. News in a statistical survey.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science

John Hill — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 15:31:06 +0000

In celebration of , ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has highlighted some of the women in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, their amazing research, and their journeys to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

Dr. Beth McMillan, Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences

I am a geologist who studies landscapes — their forms and the processes that shape them. I grew up in Neosho, MO, and attended Colorado College, earning a bachelor’s in Geology. I also attended Colorado School of Mines for a master’s in Environmental Science and Engineering. Finally, I graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Ph.D. in Geology.�� My husband and I have two children, both will be freshman in the fall 2021. My son will be attending Colorado College, and my daughter will be a freshman at Little Rock Central High School. My hobbies are mostly outdoor related. I love to hike, camp, ride my bike, and travel.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� I am the chairperson of the Department of Earth Sciences, a position that I aspired to from the earliest days of my career and one that I am very proud to have attained. My role is to help remove obstacles and provide opportunities for our students and our faculty, ultimately in order to better understand how the Earth works and how we can live sustainably with our environment. As a female geoscientist, I want to demonstrate how women can be successful in balancing work and family even when pursuing careers that often take them to distant and remote field areas. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career?

Dr. Beth McMillan

I was drawn to science and math from an early age. I collected rocks as a very young child just because I liked their shapes. I never knew that you could pursue a career in studying how they formed and why they had those shapes. I was very fortunate to have parents who supported my interests and to have had teachers in middle school and high school who also fully encouraged my interests in the natural world.�� When I was a freshman in college, I took an Introductory Geology course. Other students told me it was a great field-trip class. That really appealed to me — to be able to go out to see and touch the things that were usually only seen as pictures in textbooks. My academic advisors were also very supportive of me, even when I had my first child during my Ph.D. studies. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Diversity is of the utmost importance in STEM. We are all motivated by the accumulated experiences of our backgrounds. These experiences guide us to ask questions that are relevant to us as people. For me, I care very much about women’s health, my children’s future, and how the health of the Earth will impact these issues. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? First of all, there is a place for you in STEM.�� Second, work with those people who see you and value you for who you are and who you want to be.

Sandra Leiterman, Managing Director of the Cyber Gym

Sandra Leiterman

I am originally from Wisconsin, but I moved to Little Rock in 2006. I attended ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and received my bachelor’s in Middle School Education (Math-Science) in 2010. I have a graduate certificate in Gifted and Talented Education also from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and a master’s degree in Digital Teaching and Online Learning from Kansas State. I am currently working on my Ph.D. in Urban Education with a specialization in Math Education.�� I have been married for 24 years. I have one son who will graduate in May from Oklahoma State University, and I have a dog named Humphrey. When I am not at work or working on schoolwork, you can find me at CycleBar, or on a run with my dog at one of the bridge parks such as the Two Rivers or Big Dam Bridge. I also find sewing very therapeutic and mind-calming.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� I am currently the Managing Director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Gym. The Cyber Gym provides massively scalable cloud-based cybersecurity workouts (problems and threat exercises) appropriate for every level of the cybersecurity workforce pipeline. We provide realistic, hands-on activities in a variety of cybersecurity subject areas to reinforce security learning objectives and develop the skills needed to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure. I work with recruitment and outreach to bring people, especially women and other typically underrepresented students, to our program via workshops, summer camps, and, ultimately, our degree programs.�� I am also on the steering committee for the Annual I have hosted several women/girls in STEM workshops in the past five years, both on and off campus. Most recently was the Women in Cyber Security Summit on International Day of the Girl 2020.��

The Just a Prototype robotics team members include: Back row (L-R) Jamie Burrows, Rachel Smith, Shala Nail, and Donetha Groover. Front row (L-R) David Shurley , FLN the robot, and Faculty Advisor Sandra Leiterman.

What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? I have always enjoyed math and science. However, I did not enjoy the way it was taught. I became a STEM educator to have an impact on building competence and confidence for students in the math and science fields. In my first year teaching, I saw how inequitable opportunities were for the girls in my class, mostly because they had no one to encourage or believe in them. I began to encourage all of my girls to participate in extracurricular activities such as robotics, science fairs, and the science olympiad. I coached the first all-girls robotics team in the state of Arkansas.�� Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? I think everyone has something to offer as far as creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving. Far too often, we see women’s ideas and approaches being dismissed or diminished. If women are not invited to participate, then the STEM fields are missing out on talent.�� What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? One of my favorite quotes is from : “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”�� Have the confidence in yourself to believe you belong there.

Khristina Huff, Junior Biology and Chemistry Student��

I was raised in the small, rural town of Cleveland, Arkansas by my parents Cary Huff and Carin Knopfer. It was a quiet area to say the least, but nonetheless taught me many valuable life lessons that I will always hold dear. I found a wide range of hobbies to keep me busy in such a small area, including martial arts, art classes, piano, video games, and poetry.

Khristina Huff

The area provided opportunities that others my age may not have been able to experience.�� My neighbors have a farm and for seven years, I worked as a farmhand and farmer’s market helper. The summer after my freshman year in college, I worked at the farm and interned at the local hospital to aid in my aspirations as a future orthopedic surgeon. It was here that I shadowed a variety of careers including orthopedics, wound care, radiology, emergency medicine, rehab and more. The summer after this, my study abroad trip was canceled due to COVID-19. I decided to pursue experience in home health and became a personal care aide to help patients in daily routines at their homes. What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� After graduating from Clinton High School and being accepted into the Donaghey Scholars Program, I began my journey at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on a pre-med track to gain my bachelor’s in biology and in chemistry. Since attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I have found some really amazing opportunities. I joined the VEX Robotics team during my freshman year and later shadowed research within our Nanotech department. In my second semester of freshman year, I was selected to be a learning assistant, leading a weekly chemistry workshop each semester. This semester, I have begun to work behind the scenes with the university’s Learning Assistant program, studying the impact of this program on increasing the success of diverse students, especially those from marginalized groups. Additionally, this semester I was selected to begin biomedical research at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, beginning in the next few weeks.�� What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? The many exciting experiences that I have had the chance to participate in all prepare me for my future career as a healthcare provider. I grew up with two disabled veterans as parents, and as someone who has witnessed their hardships, it has created a passion within me to care for patients like them. Watching members of underserved groups struggle for quality healthcare is heartbreaking to me.�� Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? With the increasing diversity of patients within medicine, it is imperative that providers are able to understand their concerns. The same goes for those working in STEM fields. By introducing this kind of diversity into the workplace, we are repaid with understanding, brilliant, and beyond capable physicians, engineers, teachers, and more.�� What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? By bringing diversity such as this into the workplace, young women are fully able to pursue any career that they desire. It is these women that will bring equity as well as equality to our society. It is these women that will open doors never seen before to those before them. It is these women who are the future of our ever-changing world. The first step for these girls is to see their potential and know that no career goal is ever too big for them to achieve. The second is to show others that they can do the same. With a mindset such as this, these young women will pave the way for others such as themselves, creating a future in which little girls can pursue their goals without a shadow of doubt.

Dr. Noureen Siraj, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry

Dr. Noureen Siraj

Born and raised in a middle class family, I started tutoring science and mathematics to my junior students when I was only in eighth grade. Since then, I have considered myself a part of the academic world and found a natural teacher inside me.�� I was raised in a family and a part of the world where girls do not get equal opportunities of higher and quality education compared to boys. My admission to university had several hurdles, including cultural resistance and financial expenses. However, I was able to overcome all these barriers with my severe persistence and father’s assistance. I am the first one in my family who was admitted to a university for higher education. Because of me, my younger sister found it easier to follow my route and complete her master’s in Chemistry. I graduated from the university as a top rank student not only in my class but also in the chemistry department. I was awarded with four gold medals at the same university where I was admitted on probation. After completing my master’s degree in chemistry, I started teaching in college and then joined the university as an instructor. I received a fully funded scholarship for my Ph.D. in Austria. This was the first time in my life to travel abroad, and it was a life changing experience for me. During my stay in Austria, I met and made friends from different countries, cultures, religions, and language. I learned a lot from my friends and class fellows of diverse backgrounds. I travelled to many European countries (Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherland, Slovakia, Slovenia, etc.) My hobby was to explore different places, cultures, and languages, as well as visit churches and mosques. This exposure made me flexible, adaptable, and respectful to people of different ethnicities and languages and enabled me to appreciate the importance of diversity. I came to the U.S. as a postdoctoral scholar in the Warner Research group at Louisiana State University. The research group was also very diverse. The contribution of Dr. Warner for African American students was tremendous. My goal is to develop a very strong research group of diverse people who thrive in research and innovation.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� I am the only female research professor in the department. At present, I am running the largest research group in the department as well. Currently, there are six female graduate and seven undergraduate research students working in my laboratory. My research group includes first-generation college students, African American students, women, international students, and white students. These numbers corroborate that women can be good researchers and excel in STEM fields. My current research focuses on exploring the application of ionic nanomaterials in the arena of health, environment, and energy. I have published 18 manuscripts since joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Research grants are critical to develop a strong and successful research group. In the last 4 years, I have secured funding from federal agencies (NSF and NASA), state (Arkansas Division of Higher Education, INBRE) and local grants (college and signature awards). I travelled to the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) with my graduate student via a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to perform superior research with well-known scientists. Learning there helped me to enhance the scope of research projects in my lab.�� My students have presented research in different conferences including ACS national and regional meetings, IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) conferences, at the Arkansas State Capitol, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock EXPO, and more. Many of my undergraduate and graduate students have received awards for their research oral and poster presentations. Last year, my undergraduate students received first position at an INBRE conference and first and third place at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Expo.

Dr. Noureen Siraj works in her chemistry lab. Photo by Ben Krain.

I mentor three to five K-12 school students every year who present their scientific findings and learnings in their school, regional, state, and international science fairs. Many high school students from my lab have received distinctions and cash prizes at regional, state and international competitions. In 2018, Meghana Bollimpali, a junior high school student who worked under me, won the 2nd place grand award of $50K at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). No other student from Arkansas has ever achieved such distinction. In 2019, another student from my lab, Amna Khan, won third place in the chemistry category at Intel ISEF. In 2020, two high school students secured first place in the regional science fair and were selected to participate at ISEF.�� I serve on many committees within the university that work to improve the diversity in STEM. I provide volunteer service to various journals. I serve on the review panel for proposals as a member of the editorial board and reviewer committee. I am also a member of the Donaghey Scholars Program Policy Council. I serve as a judge for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Poster Expo. I am also a member of the Mock PreMed Interview Committee. In the department, I am a chair of the Safety Committee, member of the Assessment Committee, and a part of the Awards and Recognition Committee. I am a Chemistry Olympiad Exam coordinator for the Central Arkansas region. I am also a member of the scientific review committee of ISEF. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? I am a chemist today because a chemistry teacher in my undergrad inspired me to the extent that I fell in love with this subject and chose to become a researcher as well as a teacher in this amazing field. It is my turn now to inspire the next generation to do wonders and serve humanity by making new discoveries and inventions in this field.�� Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Innovation in STEM comes from out-of-the-box thinking. People think differently because of their different backgrounds, experiences in their lives, and values. Diverse students in STEM innovate solutions that were not possible with people of the same experiences and backgrounds. Diversity allows students to share their unique experiences with the group and their unique approach to solving the problems. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? Girls, you can excel in STEM fields. Initially, things look difficult but a little patience, hard work and perseverance make things easier. Once you develop interest, you will start enjoying it. Hands-on experience in the lab helps to develop interest and understand difficult concepts in classes.

Dr. Laura S. Ruhl-Whittle, Associate Professor in the Earth Science Department

Dr. Laura Ruhl-Whittle

I’m from Ft. Myers, FL, although I spent some of my childhood in Monroe, LA. I went to the University of Florida for my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Although I began as a pre-med major, I found that I really enjoyed learning about the Earth processes and majored in Geology. I’ve combined my interest in Health with Geology and do research in the field of Medical Geology, specifically looking at the formation and mineralogy of kidney stones. I got my Ph.D. at Duke University in Earth and Ocean Sciences.�� In my spare time I enjoy reading, running, hiking with my family, playing with my 3-year -old, and baking.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� I am a woman scientist at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in the Department of Earth Sciences. I teach many classes from introductory Physical Geology and Earth and the Environment to upper levels such as environmental geology, hydrogeology, Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas, and Geochemistry. My research consists of understanding the behavior of contaminants in the environment from mining activities, urban activities, and energy uses and resources. As I mentioned above, I am also pursuing research in the field of Medical Geology, looking at the impact of geological materials on human health (urban road dust or coal ash that one may breathe in) to how geological materials form in the human body (kidney stones).�� What inspired you to pursue a STEM career?��

Dr. Laura Ruhl-Whittle

I’ve always had an interest in science (biology, pre-med, etc). One of my favorite places in the world is the beach, so naturally geology was a good fit for me. I didn’t know about geology when I began my undergrad, but after taking one class I was hooked. I loved the way that science explained the happenings in the world around me from why we have mountains and volcanoes where we do to the reason we have ocean basins.�� Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Diversity is essential in STEM fields. I’ve found that many scientists use their backgrounds and experiences to approach problems, therefore having a diverse STEM population brings many new and great ideas to STEM. I also think it is important to have diversity to show that anyone who wants to can be a scientist, engineer, or mathematician. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? You can do it! If you have an interest in science, engineering, or math, check out the possibilities for careers. There are so many more than I ever thought possible, and you can have it all — a career in science, a life, and a family.

Iris Denmark, Ph.D. student in Applied Sciences specializing in Chemistry

I am from Jacksonville, Fl. I’m the youngest girl of five and the daughter of a nurse and a teacher. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in chemistry by day and work full-time as a supervisor at a local Marriott by night. My favorite pastimes are confiding in my siblings and making and selling personal care products for my Etsy business. Family is my priority and the main motivation for everything I do.

Iris Denmark

Being a woman in science has incited many opportunities for me such as having my undergraduate education funded by NASA, governmental and international research opportunities, jobs, and graduate education. I highly recommend it, and think others should definitely try it.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I am currently a third-year Applied Sciences Ph.D. student in the applied chemistry graduate program. My current research is in the sector of electrochemistry, in which I make and characterize supercapacitor materials from bioavailable resources under the mentorship of Dr. Noureen Siraj. During my time in the lab, I also serve as a mentor to undergraduates and high school students who have taken interest in electrochemistry and applications for renewable energy. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? My father teaches math and science. Also, I attended high school at an engineering magnet academy in Florida, so my exposure to STEM has always been there, as well as my encouragement to pursue an education and career in STEM. I initially wanted to be a biomedical engineer, but my academic journey and experiences solidified my interests in analytical chemistry instead. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? I can attest firsthand that diversity in the STEM field is especially important. It is imperative to demonstrate to those from all walks of life that they can be successful in every endeavor, including STEM, despite their background, or circumstances. Michelle Obama says that if you are committed to doing what it takes, anything is possible. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? I would say to them that there will absolutely be times of adversity and discomfort for women pursuing careers in STEM, a male-dominated field. The key to overcoming this adversity is to remain focused and humble and let your work speak for itself.

Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Information Science

Dr. Elizabeth Pierce

I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, PA. I was very fortunate to grow up in a community that employed a lot of engineers, teachers, scientists, and professional people who really valued hard work and education. I attended Penn State where I discovered the field of Management Science (an early version of the Management Information Systems).

This choice of major led me to a job as a Programmer Analyst at IBM where I later picked up a master’s in Computer Science. I then decided I would really like to teach at a university so I got my Ph.D. in Statistics and Management Science from the University of Michigan. This really helped me to achieve my career goal of becoming faculty, first at one of the state schools in Pennsylvania and then at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? My role is to provide educational services in information systems, technologies, and data sciences to undergraduate and graduate students. My research interests include data governance, data quality, and data analytics. Our department is now home to one of the top online Information Science and Information Quality graduate programs in the country. Plus, we have a very successful track record of training and placing our undergraduates in tech jobs in Arkansas and surrounding states. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? I liked working with data and trying to figure out what you can do with data. There are lots of neat things you can do with data such as using it to describe the world around us, help diagnose issues, make predictions, and help us figure out the best course of action to take. But to make this happen, you need to have the systems and technologies in place to collect, store, manage, use, and protect the data as well as ensuring the quality of the data. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Diversity brings thinking from lots of different perspectives. We need lots of different viewpoints to help make sure that our information systems, technologies, products and services help all people. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? You can do this. You can make a difference. There are lots of different types of jobs in the IT Industry and lots of organizations that need people who can help them manage, protect, and make the most use of their data for solving tough problems and for helping to serve their customers better.

Julia Green, Senior Computer Science Major

Julia Green

I’m from Maumelle, AR, and I am a senior here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. Outside of school and work, you can often find me reading, drawing, or playing video games. After I finish my bachelor’s, I plan on pursuing a master’s and eventually a Ph.D. in Computer Science. I really enjoy research and want to pursue a full-time career in it. I am really curious about the applications of computer science in meteorology and would love to work for the National Weather Service one day! What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� My role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock currently consists of several endeavors. I have been working as an undergraduate research assistant in the Emerging Analytics Center since October 2019. I really enjoy getting to put my art and programming skills to the test on the various AR/VR research projects I work on.�� I also enjoy getting to help tutor other students in computer science courses through my position as a CSTEM Ambassador. In addition to my jobs, I am the president of the eSports Club as well as the treasurer and webmaster of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock ACM Student Chapter. Through my participation in these organizations, I get to work on many different projects that I am passionate about, further improve my abilities as a Computer Scientist, and (most importantly) have fun. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? Several things inspired my pursuit of a STEM career, with the primary factor being my love for computers. I have loved working with computers since I was very young and have known that I wanted to work with them for much of my life. Another thing that inspired me was the abundance of need for people in Computer Science and STEM as a whole. This abundance of need, I hope, will provide job stability for me and many others in the future. The last thing that inspired me to join STEM is my own desire to provide for myself. I have always been a very independent individual and desired to be my own breadwinner from a young age. I felt that a STEM career was one of my best chances to achieve this. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Diversity is an invaluable resource in any field as it provides different viewpoints and ways of thinking. STEM fields are notorious for being male-dominated. As their diversity increases, these different viewpoints and ways of thinking will allow for creativity and innovation to flourish even more so than is currently. This will lead to more creations and discoveries which, in turn, will be more inclusive of the population as a whole. Since STEM fields are what drive a lot of our development as a species, it is good that they are more representative of the population as a whole.�� What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? My first piece of advice I have for young girls wanting to pursue a career in STEM is to advocate for yourself. Your thoughts and ideas are important, but it is up to you to make sure they are heard. You can’t always depend on others, sadly, so don’t be afraid to speak your mind or stand up for yourself. My second piece of advice is to not be afraid of STEM just because of its notoriety for a lack of diversity. Despite this lack of diversity, I have met many good people and made many close friendships with my STEM colleagues. Moreover, STEM’s lack of diversity won’t be mended unless more people from different backgrounds decide to pursue a career in it. I am excited for more young girls to join STEM and see what all we are able to accomplish together in the future.

Mujeebat Bashiru, Doctorate Student in Applied Chemistry

Mujeebat Bashiru

I am Mujeebat Bashiru, a third-year student currently pursuing her Doctorate Degree in Applied Chemistry at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. As an international student who hailed from Nigeria, I am delighted to be among this great diverse community. I obtained my bachelor’s degree from University of Ilorin, Nigeria, but was passionate to seek more knowledge from a totally different environment abroad in a more diverse community with people from various backgrounds and cultures.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I currently work as a teaching assistant in the department to impact knowledge to students. The Chemistry Department is a community of good people. To the best of my knowledge, they are willing to support and help achieve my career goal. As a researcher undergoing the learning process, meeting people, learning new ideas, sharing ideas, impacting lives, proffering solutions to problems, and sharing time with my family and friends are my interests. The department is occupied with various active research groups. Joining one of them known as the Siraj’s Lab (Analytical/Physical/Material Chemistry Laboratory) is indeed priceless with similar career goals and objectives. Briefly, Siraj’s lab is composed of 95% female chemists! Under the supervision of a female mentor, the group focuses on solving problems facing health, energy, and environment with the use of inexpensive materials that are environmentally friendly to greatly improve the living quality and prosperity of people. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? Since I was little, I was faced with the thought of being a problem solver. And the various potentials of chemistry in terms of its versatility to almost all aspects that one can ever think of inspired me. With this, I must say it is a great field. Obtaining a doctorate degree in chemistry will develop me to conduct independent research at the highest academic level. With this, I can achieve my dream. Life will not only be impacted but it will also make me fulfilled. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Since the STEM field is very broad, diversity is of great importance due to the unity involved. There is much more quality in coming together of great minds with a similar vision and mission. This will really help in achieving goals that seem impossible and�� should be encouraged.

Tina Hesabizadeh, Doctoral Student in Applied Biosciences

Tina Hesabizadeh

My name is Tina. I graduated with my B.S. in Biology in December 2020, and I am currently a Ph.D. student in the Applied Biosciences program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� I am Persian, originally from Iran, but I have called Little Rock my home for the past 12 years! I enjoy being outdoors, and I love looking at a clear sky at night and travel among the stars in my mind! I am very honored to be in the STEM field and to be able to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science!�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I am currently conducting research with the Department of Physics and Astronomy, as well as the Biology department. I started my research when I joined the McNair Scholars Program as an undergraduate, and I have been working on Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles using Laser Ablation. I love teaching and informing others about my research, and I have hope to inspire other women to pursue their dreams in the STEM field.�� What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? From the first moment I was introduced to the laser lab by my mentor and advisor��Dr. Guisbiers, I knew that I was going to enjoy and love working in the lab, and I have always had hope that my research can one day leave an impact or change lives for the better. When I am working in the lab, I only think about the future of humankind and the positive impact our research can have. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Each person brings a unique character and skill to the field. If we are not diverse, our research will be very limited, and our results and discoveries will decrease as the result of that. Diversity is the key importance for our future innovations, discoveries, and achievements.�� What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? I would advise any young girl to know that you are the future, and you can change the world with your dedication and hard work. Remember that our future depends on you, so never give up on your dreams of changing our world for better because I know you can! Keep on inspiring!�� “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie

Ruby Trotter, Chemistry and Spanish Major

I am a premedical student majoring in Chemistry and Spanish, with a minor in Biology. My career aspirations are to become a physician (likely a pediatrician, internal medicine physician, or family physician) while also dipping my toes into public health so that I can address health disparities in the Black and Latino communities, as well as health policy.

I was born and raised in Arkansas, but went to high school in Houston, Texas, before making my way back to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in the Donaghey Scholars Program. Here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I’ve been blessed with countless opportunities to learn more about where I want to be in the near and distant future! Some hobbies include playing the violin, learning the guitar, visiting local coffee shops, and hiking Arkansas.

What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?

At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I have been blessed to have many opportunities to explore the sciences. I am involved in research at the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences where I have been studying bone tissue regeneration technologies since Fall 2019 and will be starting a final project for the Donaghey Scholars Program surrounding how certain cells in our body interact with a material that we have functionalized in lab which supports bone growth. I have secured a Signature Experience Grant for this research project and am very excited about it!

Ruby Trotter

I have been a Learning Assistant in the Fundamental Chemistry classroom for three semesters, and plan to start again in the Fall 2021 semester. In this role, I have helped to lead students to understanding more about Chemistry through interactive workshop sessions. This experience has given me so much confidence in my ability to potentially teach others in the future (maybe I’ll come back and teach medical school after a few decades in the profession).

I am also a Chemistry Education Researcher on campus, where I am studying how students perceive Active Learning strategies employed in our Chemistry classrooms and how that impacts final course outcomes. I was rewarded a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grant from ADHE for this research in Spring 2020. This research has opened my eyes and confirmed my interest in health disparities with the parallels that I have seen in education opportunities.

During the summer after my freshman year, I secured an internship at the Arkansas Department of Health, where I was able to do research surrounding the state’s hospitals and their efficiency in minimizing Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). I began networking in the healthcare field, and learned so many skills in research, Excel, presentations, and a new knowledge of what all goes into caring for a patient. It was amazing to get this other perspective of it all.

The summer after my sophomore year, I was accepted into the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) – a highly selective program for aspiring medical, dental, and nursing professionals at universities around the country. Through the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, I learned a lot about different specialties in medicine, made incredible connections, and participated in a research project with a group of fellow scholars. At the end of the summer, we had developed a project proposal to address health disparities (specifically rate of prenatal care and preterm labor/maternal mortality rates) among African American women in Arkansas entitled, “The Prenatal Promise: Addressing Prenatal Care Disparities in Arkansas.” This experience was really exciting as I was able to introduce my group to an issue we had back here at home, and they latched onto it and helped me brainstorm ways to address it.

I have volunteered at Harmony Health Clinic and 12th Street Health & Wellness Center here in Little Rock, which were both recommended to me by former scholars.

I am also in the Louis Stokes’ Alliance for Minority Participation – an organization which desires to increase minority participation in the STEM majors and the field itself. Dr. Lakeshia Jones has encouraged me to attend several conferences to present my research and has found countless internships and opportunities for us to apply to.

What inspired you to pursue a STEM career?

I can’t say that there was ever one defining moment that made me want to go into medicine. I have always been interested in the world around me, how science affects it, and how cool the human body is (come on, it heals itself). I do think that I had very supportive parents who inspired me to pursue this career. My dad always encouraged me to learn more about what I was passionate about, and my mom being in public health herself and sharing her knowledge with me along the way.

Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields?

My Donaghey Scholars admission essay was actually about this exact topic. Diversity is incredibly important in general and especially in the STEM fields. As a Chemistry Education Researcher, I know that many students can feel uninspired or incapable of making it in a field where they are consistently told and shown that the best scientists do not look like them. They think, “Is this the field for me if I am not even represented in it?”

Not only that, but there are also perspectives that people of different races, genders, ages, and other backgrounds can bring to a problem in STEM that others may not have thought of. Certain barriers make it such that our nation is missing out on some of the brightest and most innovative minds in STEM. It is vital that we increase diversity in these disciplines to give hope to the next generation of STEM professionals, and to show them that they do belong in this field – no matter what they are hearing otherwise.

What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM?

The advice that I would give to a young girl pursuing a career is: Listen to your heart telling you what you are passionate about, the way in which you think you can make the most difference in this world, or even just what you are super drawn towards. You don’t have to know exactly what that is right now. But when you hear that voice in your head telling you that this seems exciting and you really want this, don’t let any barrier or any person tell you that you can’t. It will be incredibly difficult to make it all the way, but also incredibly rewarding.

As a piece of tangible advice: Take every advantage that you can of having a mentor figure in your life. There’s no way I would be where I am right now without mentors that I have made along the way who have believed in me and directed me to the right resources to find the opportunities that I have, and I am forever grateful for them.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock online graduate programs listed among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report

John Hill — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 22:37:00 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as having some of the best online programs in computer information technology in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 19th in its 2021 ranking of “Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs.”�� “Our university continuously encourages innovative academic programming to help students and faculty achieve academic success,” said Dr. David Montague, executive director of online learning and faculty mentoring. “This significant accomplishment in these prestigious academic rankings demonstrates commitment to academic excellence, optimal functionality, accessibility, innovation, universal inclusion, and user-friendly education.” This ranking assesses online master’s degree programs in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, and information technology. For ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, this ranking includes the online Master of Science in information quality and Master of Science in information science programs. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also ranked 19th in the 2020 U.S. News list. “We are really gratified to make the list again this year. The online degree market has become very competitive,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science, which houses both programs. “There are a lot of good schools offering good web-based degrees so we need to keep improving what we offer each year in order to stay a competitor.” The online master’s degree in information quality is a 33-hour program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to prepare students for industry and government careers as well as advanced doctoral studies. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program, the curriculum balances information quality theory with industry best practices using state-of-the-art technology. “The Information Quality Graduate Program was launched in 2006, and it’s the only graduate program in the U.S. devoted to the study of data governance and data quality management issues,” Pierce said. “The program is attracting a lot of attention from the chief data officers community due to the strong synergy between this program’s curriculum and the need for chief data officers to ensure their organization has trusted data that is available when needed.” The online master’s degree in information science is a 33-hour program designed to familiarize individuals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies for working with large amounts of complex data. Students learn how to compete in an industry with an ever-present demand for new innovations in data science and analytics, advanced information systems design and development, and emerging information technologies. Both degrees serve as a stepping stone for other advanced graduate degrees, such as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Ph.D. in computer and information science. For the 2021 rankings edition, U.S. News evaluated schools on five categories, including engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion, service and technologies, and student excellence. Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and distinguished professor of information science who teaches online courses in the graduate programs, said the professors work hard to meet the challenges of online students.�� “Online students face a variety of challenges,” Agarwal said. “Aside from technological challenges, online students�� miss peer-experience, engagement and participation during asynchronous classes, instant access to instructors and on-campus resources. We recognize these limitations of online education and make a concerted effort to improve students’ learning experience.”�� Pierce said that the success of the online programs is driven by several factors, including the use of innovative online technologies to deliver a live classroom webcast from video classrooms in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, skilled instructors, and support from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “In our programs, we have worked hard to improve the delivery of the online learning experience,” Pierce said. “We encourage students as much as possible to take their classes synchronously online to get as much interactive engagement with their instructors as if they were physically on campus. In addition though, we do offer students the flexibility to view the recorded sessions anytime their schedules do not permit them to join the live session at the given time. The other part of the equation is the quality of the program’s instructors and course content. In addition to our regular graduate faculty, we recruit highly qualified individuals from industry to teach specialized content so that our students can get the best combination of real world experiences coupled with sound academic principles.” Two of the information science professors who teach for the graduate programs, Dr. John Talburt and Dr. Richard Wang, were recently named to Chief Data Officer Magazine’s 2021 .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock remembers Professor Emeritus Rolf Wigand

John Hill — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:05:46 +0000

Dr. Rolf Wigand, professor emeritus of information science, business information systems, and management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, passed away Sept. 25. “I am greatly saddened to learn of his passing,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science. “In addition to being a tremendously productive scholar in the field of information science, Dr. Wigand was a great teacher and mentor to his students. He contributed generously to our discipline through his conference, editorial, and review work. He was a kind, soft spoken, and considerate colleague that will be missed by all who knew him.” Wigand was born in Altkirch, Germany, and grew up in Mayen, Germany. He earned a B.B.A. in marketing and advertising in 1970 and a master’s degree in mass communication in 1972 from Texas Tech University. In 1975, he earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in organizational communication. Wigand spent four decades as an active and productive professor and researcher. He began his career in academia in 1975 as an assistant professor of communication at Arizona State University. By 1983, he was promoted to a professor of communication and public administration at ASU. He served as a professor of information studies at Syracuse University School of Information Studies and a senior research fellow with the Maxwell School at SU from 1991 to 2002. He was the past director of the graduate program in information management and founding director of the Center for Digital Commerce, both at Syracuse University. In 2002, Wigand joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as the Maulden-Entergy Chair and Distinguished Professor of Information Science and Management, retiring in 2015. His research interests lie at the intersection of information and communication technology and business and societal issues, the role of newer information technologies and their impact on organizations and society, as well as their strategic alignment within business and industry. “Rolf touched numerous lives, and I was fortunate to be among them,” said Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Information Science. “He was an incredible mentor, friend, and colleague. We spent hours almost daily discussing about research, current affairs, and life in general. We were still actively working on research projects together. May he rest in peace.” In 2019, Wigand received the Distinguished Member Cum Laude award from the Association for Information Systems, a nonprofit professional association for the advancement, promotion, and study of information systems. The award honors his research achievements and his commitment to the international information systems community. Wigand, a founding and charter member, received the award “for supporting the association by maintaining continuous membership, for sharing your skills and talents by serving in leadership roles within the association, and for advancing the field of information systems research through AIS and AIS-affiliated journals in various editorial positions,” said Dr. Helle Zinner Henriksen, AIS vice president of membership and professor of digitization at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. Wigand’s active research agenda yielded 21 books and more than 500 articles, chapters, and monographs. His 1997 book, “Information, Organization and Management: Expanding Markets and Corporate Boundaries” with Wiley & Sons, is listed among the “75 Best Management Books of All Time” in the Handelsblatt Management Bibliothek rankings. His research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the German National Science Foundation, the Volkswagen Foundation, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Berlin, the European Union, the International Science Council in Paris, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and other funding agencies. Since 2015, he has been affiliated with the Emeritus College at ASU. During his academic career, he held numerous administrative positions as well as served as a visiting professor at universities located in Mexico City, Munich, Bayreuth, Manheim, Stuttgart, Helsinki, Sydney, and Hong Kong. He consulted with a variety of national and international business organizations. The Bled eConference community, of which Wigand was a founding member, remembered Wigand as their “esteemed colleague and deal friend.” “We will always remember Rolf as a truly inspiring professor, colleague, and above all as a great man whose words would always encourage everyone around him to give and achieve their best,” the statement said. Wigand was preceded in death by his son, Andreas, and is survived by his wife, Dianne, and his brother, Rainer. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in Wigand’s name.

Computer Science, Information Science programs earn continued ABET accreditation at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 16:01:21 +0000

Two undergraduate programs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics earned reaccreditation this fall. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Bachelor of Science degree programs in computer science and information science received reaccreditation from the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, the recognized global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. The reaccreditation status is good through Sept. 30, 2026. “Accreditation is an external evaluation of the quality of our programs,” said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. “The process by ABET is rigorous, and I am thankful for the hard work put in by the chairs, faculty, and students to ensure the continuous improvement and quality in the curricula, resulting in the successful reaccreditation of the two programs.” Reaccreditation 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 Department of Computer Science initially accredited in 1990 and the first Computer Science program accredited in the state, houses seven faculty members, 216 undergraduate students, and 23 graduate students. Additionally, the department offers a master’s degree in computer science and a Ph.D. in computer and information science. “Accreditation of undergraduate degree programs by ABET reinforces the confidence prospective, current, and graduating students can have in the B.S. in Computer Science program,” said Dr. Albert Baker, interim chair of the Department of Computer Science. “The department’s areas of opportunity for our students enable undergraduate students to participate in projects outside the classroom. These areas include cybersecurity, virtual and augmented reality, data visualization, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and mobile, smart systems, and software for IoT (Internet of Things). These opportunities in an ABET-accredited degree program make ��Vlog��ý Little Rock an outstanding place to study computer science.” The Department of Information Science has 13 faculty members, 145 undergraduate students, and 178 graduate students. Additionally, the department offers a bachelor’s degree in web design and development, an information technology minor, and graduate certificates in information quality and data science, as well as a master’s degree and doctorate in bioinformatics, information quality, and information science. “We are committed to keeping our curriculum academically solid and current with today’s computing careers,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science. “Since the web has become the major platform for how people and organizations work with their data, we have constructed our degree plan around what we see as the three main interacting themes that characterize the information science field: its interdisciplinary nature, the information systems, and cloud technologies that support the information life cycle, and how to better serve the people and organizations that need to derive insights from their data.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate programs listed among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report

John Hill — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 17:20:11 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as having some of the best online programs in computer information technology in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 19th in its 2020 list of the “Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs.” “Our university continuously seeks innovative and resourceful strategies to help students and faculty achieve academic success,” said Dr. David Montague, director of online learning and faculty mentoring. “This significant accomplishment in these prestigious academic rankings demonstrates commitment to academic excellence, optimal functionality, accessibility, innovation, universal inclusion, and user-friendly education.” This category ranked online master’s degree programs in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, and information technology. For ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, this ranking includes the online Master of Science in information quality and Master of Science in information science programs. The online master’s degree in information quality is a 33-hour program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to prepare students for industry and government careers as well as advanced doctoral studies. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program, the curriculum balances information quality theory with industry best practices using state-of-the-art technology. “The Information Quality Graduate Program was launched in 2006, and it’s the only graduate program in the U.S. devoted to the study of data governance and data quality management issues,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science, which houses both programs. “The program is attracting a lot of attention from the chief data officers community due to the strong synergy between this program’s curriculum and the need for chief data officers to ensure their organization has trusted data that is available when needed.” The online master’s degree in information science is a 33-hour program designed to familiarize individuals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies for working with large amounts of complex data. Students learn how to compete in an industry with an ever-present demand for new innovations in data science and analytics, advanced information systems design and development, and emerging information technologies. Both degrees serve as a stepping stone for other advanced graduate degrees, such as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Ph.D. in computer and information science.�� U.S. News ranked programs based on engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion, services and technology, and student excellence. Programs ranked high on the list demonstrated quality online instruction that promotes participation in courses, accessible and responsive instructors with strong academic credentials, diverse online learning technologies, and strong student accomplishments. Pierce said that the success of the online programs is driven by several factors, including the use of innovative online technologies to deliver a live classroom webcast from video classrooms in the College of Engineering and Information Technology, skilled instructors, and support from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock “We are very picky about who teaches in our program,” Pierce said. “For our technical classes, we use faculty who are extremely knowledgeable in their field of expertise. For our more techno-professional classes, we recruit experts from the community to ensure our students are getting real-world instruction, such as Dr. Eric Nelson from Acxiom, Dr. Jennifer Davis, chief privacy officer for the state of Arkansas, and Dr. Timothy Holthoff, chief technology officer at Arkansas Court Information Systems. This would not be possible without the support of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock administration in helping us to find the dollars and resources to improve our teaching facilities and to hire top talent to teach in our programs.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock ranked among colleges with best online computer IT programs

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:06:51 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has once again been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as having some of the in the country.�� Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence, with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock being selected as 15th on the list, up from 27th in 2018. This ranking assesses online master’s degrees in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, and information technology. For ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, this consists of the Master of Science in Information Science and the Master of Science in Information Quality online degree programs. “As we provide a mix of delivery modes to meet student needs, our online offerings grow,” said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, chair of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. “Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Information Science Department, has done an excellent job of implementing technology in a manner that is most effective for student learning. This ranking is the fruit of her and many others’ efforts to implement state-of-the-art technology in student learning.” Both programs offer night courses that are convenient for working professionals. All courses in the online program are tied to a live class, so online students get much of the same educational experience as on-campus students. “The students really like our format, which is different from many schools,” said Dr. John Talburt, coordinator of the information quality graduate programs. “We don’t use the old correspondence-style course. Every online class is anchored to an on-campus class. All students get their assignments and take their exams at the same time. Online students can participate during a live class or watch the recorded lectures when it is convenient for them.” The Master of Science in Information Science is a 33-credit-hour program designed to familiarize individuals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies for working with large amounts of complex data. This degree also serves as a stepping stone toward pursuing other graduate degrees, such as the Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science. The online master’s program began in 2007 and currently has 17 students with 23 more students in the doctoral program. Graduates often work in data quality management and in data governance. The information science discipline is expanding rapidly thanks to an ever-present demand for new innovations in information retrieval, storage, processing, and analysis tools and techniques. “There is a huge emphasis on data quality, data governance, data science and how to get more value out of information. We were one of the first universities to offer graduate degrees in information quality,” Talburt said. “A lot of our online students are already working professionals, so having an online program in their area is very attractive.” The Master of Science in Information Quality��is a career-oriented program focusing on practice, skills, and theory. The 33-hour program, which began in 2017 and can be completed in 18 months, is designed to prepare students for careers in industry and government as well as advanced graduate studies. The curriculum balances information quality theory with industry best practices using state-of-the-art tools and technology. The course content has been developed with the support of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program and with additional help from leading practitioners and researchers within the information quality community. “Our intention is for the program to be challenging to people who do have a computing background, while being an option for more mature students who want to get into the computing field without having an undergraduate computing degree,” said Dr. Daniel Berleant, professor of information science and advisor for the graduate program. “Graduates are prepared for new jobs in data analysis and data manipulation, or to advance in their present jobs. The program electives help tailor the student to the type of position they want to get.” For the 2019 rankings edition, U.S. News evaluated schools on five general categories, including engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion, services and technologies, and student excellence.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock grad is taking the Information Technology world by storm

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:10:58 +0000

As a sophomore information science major at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2010, Karen Watts of Bryant faced a difficult choice.�� Watts is a single mother of two children with special needs, and the youngest, Gabe, now 11, was in and out of the hospital with health issues. “I wanted to stay in school, but I couldn’t do both,” Watts said. “I had to leave after my first year at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I got my cosmetology license, so I could work around my boys’ appointments and schedules.” Inspired to help other families, Watts opened Artistik Salon, which catered toward children and adults with special needs. The business was even recognized by local broadcast station with a Pay It Forward Award. “I had people travel from all over the state because they couldn’t go anywhere else to have their children’s hair cut,” Watts said. “A lot of the children have sensory issues, so it could easily be too loud or crowded, so I catered to each child that came in. It was really hard to close in 2017, but I really wanted to finish my degree. It was a really hard decision since I helped a lot of kids.” Watts returned to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2016 and was accepted into the Accelerated BS to MS program, enabling her to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. In addition, Watts took four graduate classes as a senior. When she graduates from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on Dec. 15, she will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Science as well as a Graduate Certificate in Data Science. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, an ambassador for the College of Engineering and Information Technology, and a research assistant with the Collaboratorium of Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), a research group led by Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and distinguished professor in the Department of Information Science. She credits Agarwal, Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science, and all the information science professors with helping her succeed. “Dr. Elizabeth Pierce and Dr. Nitin Agarwal are my mentors, but every professor I’ve had in information science has been wonderful and supportive. Dr. Pierce supported me going to different hackathons to gain skills and network. It’s been great to continue my research with Dr. Agarwal at COSMOS. It’s a big change from working at a salon.” As part of her burgeoning hackathon career, Watts and her teammate, Michael DiCicco, beat out 28 other teams as the first place winner of CrimsonHacks in April for their multicurrency cryptocoin wallet called “Tweety Wallet.” The prototype app retrieves tweets from Twitter with hashtags that correspond to cryptocurrency. The app then runs a sentiment analysis to determine if current views of the digital currency are positive or negative. This information helps users determine if they should buy, sell, or hang on to their digital currency. In October, she also won the J.B. Hunt Use Case Award at the ��Vlog��ý Blockchain Hackathon along with DiCicco and Brenda Nyangweso. Watts and her team, sudoIntellectual, created an electronic bill of lading system for J.B. Hunt that they named “Truck Hunt.” That led the team to travel to J.B. Hunt’s corporate headquarters in Lowell, Arkansas, where they made a presentation to the company’s executives. Watts has received a promising job offer from the company, which would allow her to work with emerging technologies. “I stay busy, and I don’t sleep a lot,” Watts said of her hectic schedule. “It’s very important for my kids, Blakely, 12, and Gabe, 11. They are my life. Everything I have done is for them. I always knew I wanted to come back and finish my degree. The time came, and I was able to, and I hit the ground running. I’m the first woman in my family to get a college degree.” Watts has also interned at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service for over a year, where she has completed some innovative information technology projects. She collaborated with her boss, Amy Cole, to develop the Arkansas Extension chatbot platform, VeggieBot, which is likely the first extension chatbot developed in the U.S. A chatbot is a computer program designed to simulate conversation with people. In the case of VeggieBot, the chatbot will answer basic questions about gardening, which will free up time for the employees and provide a self-service channel that can respond at any time. Additionally, Watts created a new internal employee website. She also assisted in developing a new web app, replacing an outdated system, that assists Arkansas rice producers in managing their rice crops for a senior capstone project. She presented this project at the College of Engineering and Information Technology Open House in April and received the Mainstream Technologies Professional Presentation Award. After completing her master’s degree in December 2019, Watts plans to earn a Ph.D. in computer and information science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, where she will research strategies to fight disinformation campaigns online using blockchain technology with COSMOS. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has given me opportunities to be involved in a research group that opened a whole lot of new doors and helped me decide on my master’s degree,” she said. “The hackathons were another opportunity I wouldn’t have had outside ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I don’t know of any other schools that offer the 4+1 program where I could earn my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years and work on my graduate certificate during my senior year. The professors here are incredible and full of knowledge.”

Pierce to be inducted into Arkansas Academy of Computing

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:50:16 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor will be inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Computing for her career contributions to computing in Arkansas.�� Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the departments of information science and computer science, will be inducted Friday, Oct. 27. The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. at the Pleasant Valley Country Club. for $50. The Arkansas Academy of Computing recognizes significant contributions to the computing profession in Arkansas and supports computing and information technology education through scholarships. A free will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 28, in the Engineering and Information Technology Building Auditorium on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. “I feel tremendously honored to be inducted,” Pierce said. “I feel very gratified that my work to advance computing education opportunities for students in Arkansas has been recognized. “In addition, I feel very inspired to continue advancing computing education opportunities to give our students quality, state-of-the-art training in the computing and information sciences and to make sure that Arkansas attracts employers from across the globe thanks to the presence of a diverse, competitive, and highly skilled computing workforce,” she said. Since taking her first job out of college with IBM, Pierce has been fascinated with how information is collected and used for insights in making decisions. “This field continues to excite me because every day new information technologies are coming forward that are making possible new sources of data and new ways to work with data,” she said. “We are coming into an information age that will transform everything – from the way we work, the way we learn, the way we govern, and the way we interact with others.” Pierce started at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as associate professor of information science in 2006. She is most proud of the expansion of educational opportunities in her field. The Information Science department is now home to three bachelor’s degree programs as well as graduate programs in information quality and information/data sciences and a joint graduate program in bioinformatics with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Through her leadership, the information quality graduate program has been webcast to remote students since the fall of 2007 making the program available to students across the United States and overseas as far as China and South Africa. Since its inception in 2006, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock IQ program has produced more than 250 graduates who now hold key positions in industry and academia. “My accomplishments are really the result of team effort, and I want to acknowledge that a lot of what was accomplished is thanks to the talents, work, and cooperation I have received from others at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and our partner institutions.” Pierce is most thankful to Dr. John Talburt, professor of information science, Dr. Mary Good, founding dean of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology, and Dr. Richard Wang, executive director of the Institute for Chief Data Officers, for their past efforts to convince Pierce to join ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

David Montague and Raye Montague

“It has been a tremendous journey of professional growth for me, and I hope to keep on growing,” she said. In addition to Pierce, Raye Jean Montague, the mother of Dr. David Montague, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock director of eLearning, also will be inducted into the Arkansas Academy for Computing on Oct. 27. Montague is an internationally registered professional engineer with the U.S. Navy credited with creating the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship. She accomplished the task in fewer than 19 hours, when the process had previously taken two years.

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