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

Lee, Khodakovskaya, and Mitchell named Faculty Excellence Award winners

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

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

Faculty Excellence in Teaching

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

Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors

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

Faculty Excellence in Public Service

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

Longtime ��Vlog��ý Little Rock supporter Ted Bailey passes away

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 16:34:14 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community is mourning the loss of Dr. Howard Ashley Ted Bailey Jr., longtime supporter of higher education and pioneering physician, who passed away Jan. 21 in Little Rock at the age of 94.�� A reception in his honor will be held at the Country Club of Little Rock, 4200 Country Club Blvd., from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. ��A private burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock. “Dr. Bailey was a great man to whom we owe so much. His support lifted us to reach our full potential in so many places,” said ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson. “His belief in the university still inspires our work to be world-class.” �� Dr. Bailey was one of the university’s earliest supporters, having founded the Society of Philanthropy, a precursor to the current. The Bailey Family also facilitated the establishment of the Faculty Excellence Awards in 1988, an awards ceremony that recognizes the contributions of outstanding faculty members in teaching, research, and public service. The family also helped initiate the university’s Foundation Fund Board. In 2002, a generous gift from the Bailey Family Foundation began the construction of the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center, named after Dr. Bailey and Virginia, his wife of nearly 58 years who passed away in 2003. The Bailey family is a strong supporter of student scholarships, having created multiple endowed scholarships across disciplines and departments. In 2015, the Bailey Family Foundation made a direct gift of $2 million to support student scholarships. Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor of University Advancement, expressed the university’s love and support to Dr. Bailey’s wife, Sharon; his five children, Mary Maude Shafer, Ted Bailey III, Jo Bailey McCray, John Bailey, and Amy Madeline Bailey; 23 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. “In a special tribute to Dr. Bailey and his wife Sharon, we honored them at the 2017 Taste of Little Rock event for their enduring support,” O’Neal said. “The Bailey family legacy continues to serve the university, with Sharon serving on the ALL IN Campaign Steering Committee; son John Bailey as a member of the Board of Visitors; and son Ted Bailey III through his support of Trojan Athletics.” Dr. Bailey was born in Little Rock in 1924 to parents H.A. Ted Bailey Sr. and Madeline S. Bailey. He graduated from Little Rock High School and received his M.D. degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. He served as a medical officer during the Korean War. He began his private practice in otolaryngology but primarily practiced otology in Little Rock for more than 40 years, being the first physician in Arkansas to limit his practice to otology. His excellence as an ear surgeon was widely recognized, as were his many accomplishments in the medical field. He was the first physician to open an outpatient surgery center in the state. He was a pioneer in stapedectomy surgery, with one of the largest series in the United States, and developed new instruments and techniques for the procedure. He was also the first ear surgeon in Arkansas to perform cochlear implant surgery. Dr. Bailey was a clinical professor of otolaryngology at ��Vlog��ýMS throughout his career, head of the Division of Otolaryngology for a decade, and chief of staff at Baptist Hospital. He founded the Ear & Nose-Throat Clinic in Little Rock, now the Arkansas Otolaryngology Center, and served as its president and physician administrator until his retirement. Dr. Bailey was a man of many accomplishments who was deeply devoted to public service. He served on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Foundation Fund Board and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors in addition to numerous other organizations, including the Little Rock Rotary Club, Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Union National Bank in Little Rock, Worthen Bank in Little Rock, United Way, YMCA, Little Rock Boys Club, Arkansas Arts Center Foundation, and Baptist Health Foundation. Memorials may be made to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bailey Scholarship Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of.

Foster, Glazier, and Anderson named Faculty Excellence Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 14:58:55 +0000

Lynn Foster, Rebecca Glazier, and Glenn Anderson have been selected as the 2018 winners of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Faculty Excellence ��ɲ��.�� Each of the three professors will receive a $5,000 award as winners of the Faculty Excellence Awards in the categories of teaching, research and creative endeavors, and public service. “The amount of resolve, persistence, and pride our faculty exhibit in their scholarly work on campus and in the greater community is a testament to the vision of our university,” said Dr. Velmer Burton, executive vice chancellor and provost. “Faculty like the ones we honored during this ceremony mold our students into earnest creators, leaders, and change agents.” The winners were honored during an April 12 awards ceremony at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology Auditorium. Fourteen additional faculty members who earned Faculty Excellence awards at the college level also were honored, and they will each receive $1,000. The 15 members of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors reviewed the achievements and selected the winners. Since 1989, when the first award was given, the event has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Bailey Foundation, Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle. More about the winners:

Faculty Excellence in Teaching

Lynn Foster is the Arkansas Bar Foundation professor of law at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law. In the classroom, Foster utilizes a team-based learning method focused on problem solving and skills assignments to maximize comprehension. In 2014 and 2015, she revised the Property I and II courses to include team-based learning and assessment by creating class structures with clear expectations and manageable assessment tools. After assessing her curriculum revision, Foster discovered that students perform better when there is more team-based learning and assessment built into the course. “I feel very grateful, and I am grateful for all my great students over the years,” Foster said. “It’s a complicated course, but I have seen team-based learning increase what our students have learned.” A decade ago, Foster started the Arkansas Real Estate Review, an Arkansas Bar Foundation publication that summarizes Arkansas’s appellate real estate decisions with commentary provided by real estate attorneys. Foster’s students gain property law experience by working with attorneys to write abstracts for the publication. She is the recipient of the Charles W. Goldner Teaching Award, two William H. Bowen School of Law Faculty Excellence awards for Public Service, the first Law School Outstanding Service award, and the Arkansas Bar Association Golden Gavel, Continuing Legal Education, and Presidential Excellence awards.

Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors

Dr. Rebecca Glazier is an associate professor of public affairs and advisor to the Model Arab League. Her research centers on religion and politics, framing and foreign policy, and pedagogy. Glazier’s work on religion and politics has included a focus on providential beliefs, religious peacemaking, and the impact of religious organizations on congregants’ political and community attitudes and behaviors. Her articles on providential religious beliefs have influenced the work of other scholars of political science. She has worked closely with organizations from around the world to collect survey data from over 160 peacemakers. “I feel very surprised and humbled by this award,” Glazier said. “The other researchers are doing incredible work. I try to do work that brings real change to the world, and I appreciate the university and the College of Social Sciences and Communication for supporting that.” She recently submitted a grant through Notre Dame’s Global Religious Research Initiative to support the project’s next phase involving fieldwork in Sri Lanka, Israel, and Palestine. Glazier was a principal investigator on the Little Rock Congregations Study. The study began in 2012 with a survey of five Little Rock congregations during the 2012 presidential election. In 2016, she partnered with the Clinton School of Public Service, where students collected surveys from more than 1,500 respondents at 17 congregations around Little Rock. “A big part of my research is the Little Rock Congregations Study, work that wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful places of worship in Little Rock that open up their hearts and their sacred spaces for this research,” Glazier said. “It is also such a joy to get to work with students on research. Over 60 students were part of the 2016 Little Rock Congregations Study. They are a huge part of the work that I do and make it so much more rewarding.” Glazier has written 12 peer-reviewed articles, four book chapters in edited volumes, and received numerous grants from internal and external sources leading to numerous citations. She has won best paper awards at several conferences including those of the Arkansas Political Science Association, the American Political Science Association, and the Midwest International Studies Association.

Faculty Excellence in Public Service

Dr. Glenn Anderson is an associate professor in the School of Counseling, Rehabilitation and Adult Education who has received national attention for his contributions to the field of interpreter education. “This award is not something that I was expecting, and I really appreciate the recognition from the scholarship committee and from the university,” Anderson said. “There are four deaf faculty members working in the College of Education and Health Professions, so it’s nice when a deaf faculty member can be recognized for their work.” Anderson’s significant contributions to the black deaf community are undeniable. He often guest lectures, makes presentations, and writes journal articles on black deaf history and linguistic variations among black American Sign Language users. From 1982 to 2008, he served as director of training at the University of Arkansas Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. He currently serves on the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education, the national accrediting board for interpreter education programs and is a past member of the National Council on Disability and Board of Directors for National Black Deaf Advocates. In 2010, Anderson was one of 20 national advocates for individuals with disabilities interviewed by the Federal Communications Commission and featured in the documentary, “Celebration Progress: Americans with Disabilities Act’s 20th Anniversary.” Anderson received the National Black Deaf Advocates Lifetime Achievement Award at its 30th anniversary gala in 2012. In addition to the award, the board of directors voted to establish a scholarship in Anderson’s honor to provide financial support for deaf African American students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate postsecondary education programs. In 2017, Anderson participated in a federal think tank administered by the Center for Advanced Training in Interpreter Education at St. Catherine University. The project focused on incorporating learning principles into interpreter education training practices from the 2014 book “Make It Stick.” Anderson also lays claim to several pioneering roles. He is the first deaf person hired by Michigan Rehabilitation Services to work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor (1970), the first African-American alumnus of Gallaudet to earn a doctoral degree (New York University, 1982), and the first African-American deaf person to be appointed as a Gallaudet trustee (1989) and to serve as chair of the Board of Trustees (1994 to 2005). In the upper right photos, the winners of the 2018 Faculty Excellence Awards are Lynn Foster (left), Rebecca Glazier (middle), and Glenn Anderson (right). Photos by Ben Krain.

College of Arts, Letters and Sciences announces Faculty Excellence Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 14:14:51 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Arts, Letters and Sciences has selected Darin Jones, Rolf Groesbeck, and Rosalie Cheatham as the winners of the college’s Faculty Excellence ��ɲ��.�� “All the nominees were exceptional, and I am thrilled for them all,” said Tom Clifton, interim dean of the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences. “They’ve all done tremendous work in their disciplines, with scholarship, service and teaching, and it’s wonderful that they are being recognized by their colleagues and the university.” Jones, graduate coordinator and associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, is the winner of the Excellence in Research Activities award. The general focus of Jones’ research is stimulating biological processes against diseases using innovatively designed chemicals. His research has resulted in over 40 publications, consisting of 23 peer-reviewed articles, three book chapters, and 18 patents or patent applications. Jones has been successful in obtaining external funding, predominantly from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institute of Health, to support his research program. He has been a principal investigator on grant awards totaling over $16 million and is the first researcher at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to receive an R01 grant from the. Rolf Groesbeck, professor of music history and director of the Indian Percussion Ensemble, won the Excellence in Teaching award. Groesbeck is as an ethnomusicologist and performer who plays the piano, synthesizer, and percussion instruments from Asia and the Middle East. His research has focused on the temple drumming of Kerala, India, where he conducted fieldwork between 1988 and 1990, 2000, and 2006, receiving a grant from the American Institute of Indian Studies. As a scholar, teacher, and performer, Groesbeck bridges classic and contemporary modes of musical inquiry better than most ethnomusicologists. His journal articles and contributions to edited volumes have consistently pushed the boundaries of the discipline without abandoning methodological approaches and theoretical issues that have nourished the field since the 1960s. Rosalie Cheatham, assistant professor of French, is the recipient of the Excellence in Public Service award. Cheatham annually receives the highest ratings for teaching and research within the Department of International and Second Language Studies. Her work has impacted teaching communities at the local, regional, and national levels consistently over her more than 40 years at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Cheatham was a founding member of the Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association over 35 years ago and has served the organization in some capacity throughout its life. For years, she ran the state’s World Language contest for K-12 students, bringing more than 1,000 students to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. For more than a decade, Cheatham and colleagues have offered professional development workshops to local and area teachers, bringing cadres of 30 or so world language teachers to the campus once a month during the school year. Cheatham served as the principal grant writer for the support of these grants from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education with awards totaling more than half a million dollars over the years. Jones, Groesbeck, and Cheatham will compete for the university-wide Faculty Excellence Awards, which will be announced Thursday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m. in the College of Engineering and Information Technology Auditorium.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock announces college-level Faculty Excellence Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 14:31:58 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor 14 of its top faculty members during the Faculty Excellence Awards Thursday, April 13.�� “Faculty excellence winners underscore ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s commitment to quality instruction, innovative research, and service to the community. Our faculty’s dedication to these fundamental principles continue to be the bedrock of our institution,” said Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Deborah Baldwin. A panel of external judges will review the achievements of the college-level winners and select the university-wide winners in the categories of teaching, research, and public service. The three university-wide winners, who will each receive a cash prize of $5,000, will be announced during the Faculty Excellence Awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. April 13 in the Engineering and Information Technology Building Auditorium on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. A reception will follow in the Engineering and Information Technology Building lobby. Since 1989, when the first award was given, the event has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle.�� The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of the Provost at 501.569.3204. The following is a list of college-level winners:

��Public Service

��Allison Holland, director of the University Writing Center and senior instructor of rhetoric and writing, College of Social Sciences and Communications
��Cynthia Johnson, advanced instructor of accounting, College of Business
��Laura Barrio-Vilar, assistant professor of English, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
��Michael DeAngelis, assistant professor of earth sciences, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
��Suzanne Penn, associate professor of clinical law, William H. Bowen School of Law

Research/Creative Endeavors

��Mengjun Xie, associate professor of computer science, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
��Michael Flannery, professor of law, William H. Bowen School of Law
��Tansel Karabacak, associate professor of physics and astronomy, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences

Teaching

��J. Lyn Entrikin, professor of law, William H. Bowen School of Law
��John Talburt, professor of information science and Acxiom Chair of Information Quality, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
��Kathryn King, assistant professor of anthropology, College of Communication and Social Sciences
��Linda Holzer, professor of music, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
��Linda Stauffer, associate professor of interpreter education and program coordinator of the Interpreter Education Program, College of Education and Health Professions
��Otmar Varela, associate professor of management, College of Business

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host best teachers panel discussion

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 15:45:46 +0000

Five of the best instructors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will share their secrets for successful teaching during a panel discussion on Thursday, March 9.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Academy for Learning and Teaching Excellence��will host the Best Teachers at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock panel discussion March 9 in Donaghey Student Center Room 205D. The event will feature ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty members who were recognized with the college-level 2016 Faculty Excellence Awards in teaching.�� Panel members include Kelly Terry, professor of law; Gary Geissler, professor of marketing and advertising; Kristen McIntyre, associate professor of applied communication; Jess Porter, chair of the Department of History; and Ann Robinson, professor of gifted and talented education. Fill out this to register for the event. For more information, visit the Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence website.

��Vlog��ýLR Top Faculty share stories of success

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 16:00:05 +0000

In 2002, Gary Geissler joined the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as an assistant professor of marketing and advertising. After 14 years of a remarkable teaching career, Geissler was named one of the top ��Vlog��ýLR faculty members during the 2016 Faculty Excellence Awards Ceremony April 14 at the ��Vlog��ýLR George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. “It’s quite an honor, and it’s quite humbling, because there are a lot of deserving people at the university,” he said. Geissler, the recipient of the Bailey Teaching Award, will receive $10,000 from the Bailey Foundation. Since higher education has greatly enriched Geissler’s life, he said it’s only fair to put that money back into higher education by investing it in college funds for his 10- and 13-year-old sons. As a professor, Geissler institutes what he describes as “high-involvement learning” in the classroom. His teaching style emphasizes high amounts of student involvement through client-based class projects. He has directed more than 150 of these semester-long projects, greatly benefitting thousands of students and well over 100 businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. “I think the best thing we can teach our students is how to be adaptable. Everything changes quickly, and adaptability is something employers really look for. I want my students to be able to hit the ground running when they get hired,” Geissler said. Adjoa A. Aiyetoro From an early age, Adjoa Aiyetoro learned the virtues of helping others. “I was raised by parents who believed strongly in public service,” said Aiyetoro, a ��Vlog��ýLR professor of law. “My whole life my father said the purpose of life was to serve. It’s in my nature.” Aiyetoro has been a leading voice in ending racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Her public service focuses on researching and resolving racism and its effects in the United States, with a particular focus on the need for racial justice. Ever since joining ��Vlog��ýLR in 2004, Aiyetoro has continued her lifetime of public service, which was recognized when she received the 2016 award for Faculty Excellence in Public Service and a $5,000 prize. She said serving as the director of the Racial Disparities in the Arkansas Criminal Justice System Research Project was one of her greatest accomplishments. Aiyetoro developed a team and began researching records of hundreds of Arkansas prisoners to determine the reasons for significant racial disparities within the state’s criminal justice system. Their findings concluded blacks were more likely to receive capital murder charges than whites and were more likely to receive more severe punishment, especially the death penalty, even for the same type of conviction. Aiyetoro’s  work on this project resulted in a conference in August 2015 sponsored by  the Racial Disparities Project’s Steering Committee and has contributed to legislation to obtain support for racial impact. She has also worked as a board member of the Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and served as the inaugural director of ��Vlog��ýLR’s Institute on Race and Ethnicity. “I think that public service is one of the purposes of our lives, and we have to provide community service on any of the issues that we are passionate about,” she said. “I think public service is important to create a viable and healthy society.” Shucheng Yu Shucheng Yu, an assistant professor of computer science, said he was quite surprised to be named one of the top faculty members at ��Vlog��ýLR. He received the Faculty Excellence in Research award and a $5,000 prize. “I am a very lucky person among the excellent faculty members at ��Vlog��ýLR, and it is my great honor to win this award.” Yu’s main research areas include data security, privacy in cloud computing, applied cryptography, and wireless network security. Since arriving at ��Vlog��ýLR in 2010, Yu has also been awarded six grants, three from the National Science Foundation, that total more than $1 million. In his project, “MRI: Acquisition of a Cloud Computing Infrastructure for Research and Education,” Yu successfully built the first private cloud in the state  of Arkansas. �� “Good research should have impact, help the community, and advance an area in technology,” Yu said. “It should also benefit the general public, and it should provide good opportunities for the next generation of young researchers.” Yu has provided many opportunities for his graduate students. Together, he and his graduate students have published 37 research articles the past five years. “I am grateful to have a good team of graduate students to work with. Without them, the research cannot happen,” he said. Since 1988, the Faculty Excellence Awards have provided a way to recognize outstanding ��Vlog��ýLR faculty. The awards program is made possible through the contributions of the Bailey Foundation, Pepsi Beverages Co., and the ��Vlog��ýLR Chancellor’s Circle.

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

Lee, Khodakovskaya, and Mitchell named Faculty Excellence Award winners

Longtime ����Vlog��ý Little Rock supporter Ted Bailey passes away