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

Grad Q&A: Science Scholar Jordan Thomas headed to grad school

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 17:24:36 +0000

Meet Jordan Thomas, a central Arkansas native who graduated May 2017 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in biology and minors in information technology and music. Tell me a little bit about yourself My hometown is Cabot, Arkansas. I graduated from Cabot High School in 2013 and began college at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that fall. I’m a biology major and minoring in information technology and music. I play the clarinet and have participated in multiple music ensembles at the university. I’m a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and I’m also very family oriented! I spend a lot of free time with my little brother, Dillon. Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for a few reasons. I had toured a few other universities, and none of them quite felt like the right fit. After touring ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and receiving an offer of a full scholarship, I was sold. As part of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps Scholars (CLC) and Science Scholars Program, I got the opportunity to meet people from the same programs. I’m also very family oriented and wanted to stay close to home, so the university ended up being the perfect choice for me. Was there anything that surprised you about the university? Yes, it’s not your typical college campus environment. It’s very diverse in a variety of demographic categories, and it was great to interact with all demographic types. Why did you select your major? I chose the biology major, because I knew that I always wanted to be in the medical field. I started out as a chemistry major and switched to biology toward the end of my freshman year. As for my minors, Thomas Wallace pitched the information technology minor program to my CLC class one day, so I selected this as my minor to diversify my skillset. I also had enough hours of music ensemble work to easily pursue a music minor as well. Are you going to graduate school? Yes, I’ve been accepted to the Doctor of Audiology program at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and will begin course work there in the fall. I like the biological and technical aspects of audiology. Due to my passion for music, I understand how devastating hearing loss can be. What were your favorite study conditions? Upper classes provided the most ideal conditions for me because of the smaller class settings. That’s part of the reason I didn’t go to a larger school. And I would not have survived without flash cards! I even have my brother using flash cards now. Who were your mentors? Dr. Jim Winter (Science Scholars) and Nick Steele (CLC) were key mentors within my scholarship programs. They aided me greatly in aspects of advising, as well as helping students within the program build their leadership skills and relationships with peers. Jenny Dodson, director of campus life, was also a great mentor, and Dr. Darin Jones (Organic Chemistry II) was a great teacher. He genuinely cared about his students’ confidence in the coursework and as people. He constantly referred to us as “superstars!” Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? Yes, I play clarinet in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Wind Ensemble, the ��Vlog��ý Clarinet Ensemble, and I am a member of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Trojan Pep Band. I am a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society, Kappa Delta Sorority, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. How has Greek life helped you? Kappa Delta provided the opportunity to meet new people since most of my high school friends went to other schools. The negative perception of Greek life is definitely not what I experienced here. It’s a great platform for networking before you get a job and provided me an immense amount of leadership training. Overall, the program instilled a greater confidence in me. These women care about and support each other. What was your biggest challenge? One of my biggest challenges was being away from my family and creating a new life. I was a straight A student in high school, and I was blessed with an encouraging support system, so the move to college was like starting from scratch. But, joining campus organizations helped a lot, if not the most, in overcoming these obstacles. Any advice to future students? My advice to future students would be to get involved on your campus! Join campus organizations, attend school sponsored events, whether you want to or not. The support system you will build will help you in numerous ways throughout your college career.

— Compiled by Toni Boyer Stewart/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications

May grad Neden Yacine sets sights on med school

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:53:36 +0000

Neden Yacine is a Science Scholar who graduated May 2017 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a minor in biology. After taking a gap year, she plans to attend medical school. Tell us a little about yourself I’m from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and took college classes while I was still in high school. That’s why I was able to graduate in three years. I love to travel and have been to countries such as Canada, Belize, Morocco, Algeria, and Italy. I lived on campus the first year, but now I live off campus because I have a Havanese (Bichon breed type) dog. Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? Well, I was pretty set on going to (University of Arkansas Fort Smith) because it’s my hometown. I applied for several scholarships and got into the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC) at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. It’s a great program, and I got a full ride with no college debt. What surprised you about our campus? The dorms are the best. You get your own bedroom and share a full bathroom with a couple of other people. I wish there were more things to do at the student center (i.e. Xboxes, game rooms) so people would want to stick around campus. How do you like living in Little Rock? It’s great to be in a metropolitan environment. The sunsets here are amazing. Emerald Park, Pinnacle Mountain, and the Big Dam Bridge have beautiful views. I’d go to one of these places after a stressful test. And it’s exciting to drive by the Capitol at night. Plus, I’ve made some amazing friends here. Why did you major in chemistry? I originally majored in biology, but to me it just required a lot of memorization. I switched to chemistry because it came naturally to me. If you understand the concepts, you can apply them to solve problems. How would professors describe you? Talkative and motivated. I’m not afraid to speak up in class, and like to be silly to break the stress. I’m the class clown. Did you have any mentors? Dr. Wei Zhao (Department of Chemistry) asked me to work on a research grant from the . I got to spend five days in Cleveland, see Oberlin College, and get paid for it. (I even brought my longboard with me.) This is where I became interested in analytical-based research. What were your favorite subjects? Besides chemistry, I took an elective called Psychosexual Behavior, which explored different sexual disorders. For instance, I learned that I-40 is a major human trafficking route. That really stuck with me and sparked my interest in shelters. Are you going to graduate school? I plan on going to medical school, but during college I became interested in lab work and would like to explore research jobs that involve analytical chemistry. The doctors I shadowed encouraged me to slow down and take a gap year prior to going to school. They said I have plenty of time. What are you going to specialize in? Either family practice or geriatrics. I’ve volunteered at hospices and retirement homes and would love to volunteer at the Veteran’s Administration in North Little Rock. You can see the whole city from their view. What were some of your extracurricular activities? As a member of the (Little Rock’s organization dedicated to promoting school pride), I got to help plan homecoming festivities such as the golf cart parade. I’m the recruitment chair for sorority. Sororities typically get a bad rap, but Greek life is different here. It was great to make new friends with the same interests – we all love to eat! Promoting Greek life is a great recruiting tool for the school. Plus, it provides networking opportunities after graduation. For instance, you can send your resume to all Chi Omegas to find out about employment opportunities. How has college contributed to your career goals? I had to learn how to juggle my social life, be active in organizations, and get good grades. That’s hard. After college, I’ll be able to focus on one thing. How bad can that be? Any advice for new college students? Get your homework done so you can go out with your friends. Don’t procrastinate. Explore your options, and follow your own path. And do some volunteer work. I volunteered at the animal shelter, and being around puppies and kittens was a great way to reduce stress.

— Compiled by Toni Boyer Stewart, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications

Quadriplegic single mother graduates Bowen law school

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 24 May 2017 13:05:02 +0000

In 2008, Jennifer Goodwin seemed to have it all. After two years on the road working in pharmaceutical sales, the then-25-year-old had recently been promoted to her “dream job” of drug representative, moved back to her hometown of Benton, and bought her first home. Her life changed dramatically when Goodwin suffered a spinal cord injury while boating on Lake Hamilton with a neighbor. After overcoming enormous obstacles, Goodwin, 34, graduated May 13 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. After her injury, Goodwin still had feeling in her limbs, meaning that the spinal cord was not severed and she could regain some movement. She began an intense campaign to regain what she had lost, with the ultimate goal of walking again. During the first year after her injury, she spent two months in the hospital and another four months in in-patient rehabilitation. “Initially, my goal was to get my hand high enough to scratch my nose,” she said. “I had to relearn how to feed myself and brush my teeth. I couldn’t do any of that in the beginning.” In 2010, Goodwin joined an intensive, six-month rehabilitative therapy trial in Atlanta. “I got to the point where I could walk down and back on a basketball court, but it took a walker, two assistants, and electronic stimulation,” she said. “When I got done with that therapy program, I realized I wasn’t going to walk, short of a miracle. I was able to learn to let go of walking and learn to live.” Focused on rebuilding her life, Goodwin bought a new home and learned to live independently. After deciding that she is not the type of person to sit home all day, Goodwin thought about what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Her thoughts landed on an old dream of going to law school. Goodwin bought a book and studied for the LSATs, the entrance exam needed to enter law school. She did so well that she received a full scholarship to Bowen School of Law. In August 2013, Goodwin met her fellow law school students at what turned out to be a highly memorable mixer in the basement of the Flying Saucer. An unknown thief stole the keys to the elevator, leaving Goodwin trapped in the basement. “The Little Rock Fire Department had to haul me and my 400-pound chair from the basement,” Goodwin said. “I think everyone from my class remembers that night. I made a lot of really good friends. None of my classmates left until I got to leave that night. I thought that was nice.” Goodwin’s fellow classmates became a great source of support. Because of her injury, Goodwin is slow at taking notes and typing. Her classmates shared copies of their class notes and study guides. She was also inspired by two professors.

Bowen Professor Ranko Shiraki Oliver and Jennifer Goodwin

“Professor Michael Flannery and Professor Ranko Shiraki Oliver both went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and do anything I needed,” Goodwin said. “They were very supportive and helpful.” In 2014, she interned with the nonprofit organization, Disability Rights Arkansas, where she worked with lawyers to provide pro bono legal assistance to people with disabilities in Arkansas. While in law school, Goodwin decided to tackle another lifelong dream — becoming a mother. She had considered adoption, but knew agencies would not be lining up to give a baby to a single, quadriplegic woman. “I decided I wanted to be a mom more than I could breathe,” she said. “I was 31 and knew the clock was ticking. With my doctor’s and family’s support, I picked an anonymous donor and did artificial insemination. Beckham Goodwin arrived in June 2015. He was named after Goodwin’s maternal grandparents, who had the last name of Beck. Goodwin’s grandparents both died while she was pregnant and never had the chance to meet their great-grandson and namesake. “I took the fall 2015 semester off to figure out how to be a mom, because there are so many more challenges when you are quadriplegic also,” Goodwin said. “I went back to school part time, and it certainly has its challenges, but I had lots of family support. My parents and aunt all stepped up to help babysit when I had late night reading sessions.” Now that she has graduated, Goodwin will spend the summer preparing for the bar exam. Once she passes, Goodwin will begin a two-year fellowship at Arkansas Children’s Hospital through Equal Justice Works, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that focuses on careers in public service for lawyers. A professor, Dr. Amy Pritchard, suggested she apply. “Since I have a spinal cord injury, I want to work with patients in the disabled population,” Goodwin said. “I want to give back to all the people that have poured into my life when I had the spinal cord injury nine years ago.” As Goodwin reflects on the obstacles she overcame, she is glad she had the strength to live her life to the fullest. “I’ve learned to go after my dreams and that nothing is impossible,” she said. “I’ve also learned to be willing to ask for help and that there are lots of great people in this world. I am a firm believer that the right doors open at the right time. With God, anything is possible.” In the upper right photo, Jennifer Goodwin celebrates her graduation from Bowen School of Law with her parents, Robby and Tracy Goodwin, and son, Beckham.

Cambodian American student is first in her family to earn college degree

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 23 May 2017 17:22:49 +0000

Melissa Sample is the first in her family to earn a college degree. Her mother’s family fled from Cambodia through landmine-infested land to Thailand, where they later immigrated to the United States. Growing up in San Jose, California, Sample and her mother and younger brother never owned a home. They rented rooms from other families until Sample was 12. Eventually, her grandmother bought a home that housed three generations, but Sample still shared a room with her mother and brother. Sample graduated May 13, earning an associate’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “I am excited to graduate,” she said. “I am doing this for my mom, to make a better life for her, and to show my son that there is no reason not to go to college.” Knowing that her family could not afford to pay for college, Sample joined the U.S. Navy at 18. She was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, aboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier. She worked as a damage controlman, similar to a firefighter. In 2010, she met her future husband, Aaron, who is also in the Navy. They started dating in January 2012, and their romance blossomed into marriage by October 2012. In 2014, Sample was honorably discharged from the Navy when she had her son, Maverick, who is now 3 years old. The couple decided to return to Aaron’s hometown of Benton, Arkansas. Living in Arkansas was quite an adjustment for Sample. The only people she knew in the state were her husband and his family. She started taking classes at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Benton Center, where she also worked as a computer lab assistant. “The Benton campus is an exciting place to gain knowledge, and the professors are helpful as well as interesting,” Sample said. “I met a classmate on this campus for which we became great friends, and she is like the sister I never had. Graduating with an associate degree is a step closer to securing a home of my very own.” Earning an associate degree is only one step toward her education plan. In the fall, Sample will begin taking classes on ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s main campus, majoring in communication sciences and disorders. After earning a bachelor’s degree, she plans to complete a doctorate in audiology. She wants to work at a Veterans Affairs office, so she can help veterans who experienced hearing loss because of active duty. Sample hopes to one day earn enough money to buy her own house, one where her mother can live with her. She wants to provide for her mother as her mother provided for her through the tough times. “My mom is a very strong person,” Sample said. “She had to work to support my younger brother and I as a single parent. I wanted to get an education so I could get a house. We never had a house of our own to call home. I want my mom to live with me, so that I could be there for her as she was for me.”

Computer sciences grad creates one-stop-shop health care app

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 22 May 2017 16:58:46 +0000

Jyothsna Lankireddy wants to make health care more accessible and easier to understand. She is creating an easy-to-use app, “Digital Hospital and Medical Application,” that will allow users to input medical problems, find a diagnosis, and get medical advice. The app also will locate the nearest and best medical facilities, give first aid tips, and exercise and nutrition advice. The health app is Lankireddy’s final project for her master’s degree in computer science. She graduated May 13 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. When Lankireddy was searching for a master’s program in the United States, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock came up as one of the top choices in her search. Coming to Little Rock was a welcome change after spending a week in Dallas when she first arrived in the country from India. “I was very shocked about the crowds and traffic in Dallas,” she said. “When I came to Little Rock, it was very pleasant, quiet, and cool. I enjoyed the greenery and parks.” Her first foray in the American workforce was Starbucks, where she learned how to make a lot of coffee, handle American currency, and better understand American accents. “At first, it was difficult, but I enjoyed working there,” she said. “American accents were very different, but now I understand how people speak.” Through a career fair at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Lankireddy found an internship at Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. She also worked as a technical assistant at Ottenheimer Library and as a research graduate assistant in Health Services. Working under Employee Wellness Coordinator Karl Lenser, Lankireddy was instrumental in supporting employee wellness efforts at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Jo Lankireddy and Karl Lenser

“Her technical skills, work ethic and engaging personality have made her an exemplary contributor to the wellness program,” Lenser said. “Her motivation to succeed in both school work and as my GA has been impressive, and I use her as an example for my children when they begin to complain about work/school issues.” Her work in Health Services inspired her to create an app for her master’s degree project that would help people become healthier. “It’s a one-stop shop for health and wellness,” Lankireddy said. The app received second place during the Engineering and Information Technology Open House. Lankireddy has recommended ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s computer science program to many of her friends in India. She was especially inspired by Dr. Mariofanna Milanova. “As a professor, Dr. Milanova teaches everything,” she said. “She doesn’t just explain the theory. She explains how the information is used in reality, what research is going on, and what competitions are going on in the field. She gives many opportunities to the students.” Now that she has graduated, Lankireddy hopes to find a computer science job in Little Rock, so she can stay in the city she has grown to love. “I don’t want to leave Little Rock,” she said. In the upper right photo, Jo Lankireddy graduates from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock May 13 at the Jack Stephens Center.

Mayflower tornado led grad Tori Main to choose veterinarian career path

Jenny Lambert — Fri, 12 May 2017 16:54:31 +0000

At the age of 13, Tori Main began volunteering to help animals and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. After her University of Arkansas at Little Rock commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13, she will be one step closer to that dream. Main, a Mayflower, Arkansas, resident and Bertram, Texas, native, will graduate with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and nonprofit leadership studies. As a student, a science scholar, and a Chi Omega leader, Main sometimes neglected sleep to get everything done. “The hardest part of my journey was the process of figuring out when to say yes or no,” Main said. “There was a time period where I was struggling with so many obligations, I had to eliminate some stuff.” Through managing her time and prioritizing, Main was able to use more of her energy to do something she loves: volunteering. After a 2014 tornado struck Mayflower and damaged much of the city, Main stepped in to help care for animals in the community. She soon became an animal control officer, working with foster animals and potential adopters, all while taking more than 15 credits at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Because she loved the animal control work she did, Main became president of the nonprofit Paws and Whiskers Society. She now helps raise money to assist with the animal control’s finances. With so many tasks on her daily to-do list, Main worked to find ways to tie some of her responsibilities together. In an attempt to get people involved with her sorority’s annual fundraising event, Main suggested the chapter host a new event that would take its philanthropic efforts to the next level. In 2013, the chapter hosted its first Rent-A-Puppy fundraiser, which has people make donations to spend time with animals from local shelters. “It’s one of my favorite moments every year because everyone just brightens up when they see dogs and puppies,” Main said. Last year, Chi Omega raised more than $800 from Rent-A-Puppy to benefit the . This summer, Main will intern for Utah’s Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building no-kill animal shelter programs and partnerships. Following her internship, Main is set to begin veterinary school in August at , where she received a full ride. Once she becomes a certified vet, Main plans to begin the process of starting her own nonprofit clinic. “I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian since I start volunteering with animals,” Main said. “I want to start my own clinic and incorporate the ideals of a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. I’ll provide vaccines and spay and neutering surgeries that a lot of people can’t afford.” In expanding her efforts to assist animals and the community, Main plans to continue her work with animal rescues wherever she resides.

Math struggles turn to triumph for former chef Franklin Bick

Shanna Fitzgerald — Fri, 12 May 2017 16:25:04 +0000

For Franklin Bick, a college degree seemed out of reach. Everywhere he turned, a nemesis blocked his path. He couldn’t pass algebra. At least that’s what Bick thought until he enrolled in a 2013 summer class at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Not only did Bick excel in that algebra course, but this month the 37-year-old North Little Rock resident will graduate with bachelor’s degrees in economics and finance and a minor in math. “It does blow my mind,” said Bick, as he looked back on his undergraduate experience. He now will pursue a master’s degree at the University of North Texas. Bick graduates the same year his 18-year-old son Tyler finishes high school. “(Tyler) said, ‘Dad, are you going to come to my graduation?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, are you coming to mine?’” Bick said with a laugh. Tyler plans to attend the University of Missouri to pursue a career in sports journalism. When he was a teenager, Bick didn’t enjoy school and didn’t see the value of education. In Bick’s view, his family was surviving just fine even though his dad dropped out of high school and his mother had a GED. While Bick had no love for school, cooking had long been a passion. Since his first fast food job at the age of 16, Bick prepared food in just about every restaurant environment imaginable. He was working as a cook in Little Rock when his job was eliminated, and he decided to, once again, go back to school.

Facing the challenge

Bick had a previous stint at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and also was enrolled in culinary school — each time, algebra seemed an insurmountable obstacle, and he withdrew from classes. In total, he took algebra four times. After his job was eliminated, Bick enrolled in a summer 2013 algebra class taught by Ida Umphers, senior instructor in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Mathematics and Statistics Department. “She had a big role in helping me,” Bick said. Bick wasn’t accustomed to seeking assistance, but this time he was engaged from the beginning. He showed up to class, did his homework, and asked plenty of questions. “He’s incredibly sharp, and he didn’t take anything for granted,” Umphers said. “His struggle was not evident in class. He did a super job.” Bick was adept at leading or working in groups, Umphers said. “Franklin is just one of those folks who has the old-fashioned politeness,” Umphers said. “It’s a really nice thing to encounter,” Seeing students who previously struggled with math start to shine is one of the joys of teaching for Umphers. “We’re going to hear great things from him down the road,” Umphers said. “He is going to be a success in whatever he decides to do in economics.”

Charting a new course

When Bick decided to enroll at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2013, he wasn’t sure about his major, but he had a good idea about which general direction his studies would take. “I knew it was going to be business,” Bick said. “It’s always been business for me.” As he explored his options, he found a fit with economics. He was particularly intrigued by math models that described economic behavior. “This stuff is amazing,” Bick said. “I just got engulfed.” Dr. Sarah Quintanar in the Department of Economics and Finance introduced him to research. She also “taught me to think about why economic relationships matter, which will motivate my study and help frame and answer questions,” Bick said. “She has been an amazing mentor throughout this process. He now envisions a career as a research economist. After he finishes his master’s degree, Bick plans to pursue a Ph.D.

A helping hand

In addition to the guidance Umphers and Quintanar provided, Bick is thankful for the assistance he got from TRIO Student Support Services and the McNair Scholars Program. “The TRIO program has helped prepare me for graduate school,” Bick said. “It’s a very stressful process, and they’ve been there.” Julie Shelby, a Student Support Services adviser, called Bick an “awesome, committed student.” There is a downside, however, to Bick’s success, Umphers said. “The world lost a great chef,” she said. Bick still prepares meals at home and is enjoying the creative freedom cooking on his own provides. He also made sure that Tyler knew his way around a kitchen before he heads off to college. While Bick considered not participating in the Saturday, May 13, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduation ceremony, he wants to set an example, to show how important education has become to him. “I’m doing this so my son sees this,” Bick said.

Grad Q&A with Donaghey scholar Jeannie Kuang-Nguyen

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 12 May 2017 16:09:53 +0000

Meet Jeannie Kuang-Nguyen, Donaghey scholar and science scholar who’s a pre-med student set to graduate with a degree in chemistry. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will celebrate the graduation of Kuang-Nguyen and hundreds of other students during commencement ceremonies Saturday, May, 13, at the Jack Stephens Center. Tell us a little bit about yourself I went Wilbur D. Mills High School in Little Rock and was the valedictorian of my class. My parents live in Sherwood, Arkansas. I lived on the ��Vlog��ý Little campus all four years because I did not want to commute. Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I originally wanted to go out of state, but when I received a full scholarship from the Donaghey Scholars program, it solidified my decision to stay in state. My friends told me I could have gone to school anywhere, but I think it’s what you make of the opportunity. My experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock exceeded my expectations. How did you become a Donaghey scholar? My AP literature teacher at Mills was a former Donaghey scholar and recommended I apply for the program. I was looking for in-state options with a full scholarship. I turned in my essays the day they were due. I got a call, then an interview. On a Thursday after a soccer game, I got an email from Pomona College that said I was accepted. Then I found out I got accepted into the Donaghey scholar program! Why did you major in chemistry? My eighth-grade science teacher suggested I take AP chemistry in high school prior to taking biology. The exam for AP chemistry is one of the hardest. I enjoy chemistry because it involves mathematics and logic. It requires critical thinking skills because you have to take steps to get to the right answer. How would your professors describe you? Most would say that I’m a good student who likes to help in the office. I’m involved in a lot of clubs, and I’m the president of the Chemistry Club. Under what conditions do you study best? I can study in a noisy Starbucks or a quiet environment. However, If the environment is not clean, I’ll start cleaning it. When I was growing up, I studied at the dining room table and could hear food being prepared in the kitchen. That’s how I learned how to drown out noise and focus. What were your favorite subjects? I enjoyed chemistry and biology. Physics, not so much. Organic chemistry requires you to think. You can’t just memorize – you have to figure out how to solve a puzzle. With each step, a reaction occurs. You can apply different steps to get a different reaction. Who were some of your mentors? Dr. Tito Viswanathan (Dr. Tito) opened my eyes to research and showed me how organic chemistry works. Dr. Brian Berry (Organic 2 Chemistry lab) was always available. The Donaghey Scholars faculty and staff (Dr. Simon Hawkins, Dr. Jessica Scott, and Jennifer Knight) were always there if you needed to vent. Also Dr. Janet Lanza and Dr. Jim Winter helped me get through tough courses and reminded me of my abilities. How did your major influence your career interests? I’ve always known I wanted to go to medical school. Organic chemistry helped me develop critical-thinking skills which doctors need to make diagnoses. What kind of medicine do you want to practice? Either pediatrics or ob-gyn. I got interested in surgery because of the medical reality TV shows. What was your biggest challenge in college? Managing my time wisely. My third year of college was the hardest. I was on the student committee for the Donaghey Scholars program, participating in intramural sports (soccer, volleyball), and taking science classes. I was studying more than 40 hours a week, and even while I was eating out with my friends. How do you relieve stress? I do a lot of things to relieve stress such as run and lift weights with my friends. I like hiking Pinnacle Mountain and exploring the River Market in Little Rock. What was the toughest decision you had to make? The toughest decision was to take a break before going to med school. I just got a temporary job at Loreal as a chemist and will spend my free time studying for the MCAT. I’m going to Oaxaca, Mexico, for three weeks this summer to improve my Spanish. What would you have done differently in college? I would have pursued a Spanish major. I studied abroad for five weeks in Salamanca, Spain, and loved it. What advice would you give to upcoming students? Keep trying and don’t give up. Remember to have fun, but not too much fun. Do what you love, and don’t choose something just for the money. — Compiled by Toni Boyer Stewart

Grad finds promising career and future at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 12 May 2017 13:30:27 +0000

For A.J. Walker-Carter, finding the right college, the right major, and the right career seemed like a journey that would never end. After graduating from Bryant High School in 2009, where she loved working on the school newspaper, she attended Lyon College, the University of Central Arkansas, and beauty school. “I was an art major, an English major, and a business major, but I wasn’t really happy,” said Walker-Carter, 26, of Alexander. “I was always searching for something to do with my life.” Walker-Carter began taking classes part time at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2013. Her father, Dr. Jeff Walker, was previously the chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Walker knew the value of higher education and encouraged his daughter to stay in college. She finally found the right fit with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Rhetoric and Writing. On Saturday she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in professional and technical writing and a full-time job as a technical writer at Hewlett Packard in Conway. “I am really thankful for my department,” Walker-Carter said. “I didn’t really have my life on track, and something about the rhetoric and writing department changed that.” In 2014, two major events occurred in Walker-Carter’s life. First, she met her future wife, Hayley. Second, on her father’s advice, she met with Dr. George Jensen, who was the chair of the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. “He told me all the different things I could do with a technical writing degree and all the different classes I could take,” she said. “After that meeting, I took Dr. Sally Crisp’s Introduction to Rhetoric class. That was the first semester I got all As and Bs. Each semester I got a little better” As her college career advanced, Walker-Carter took classes she enjoyed, and her grades improved. She credits her turnaround to supportive professors like Crisp, Dr. Heidi Harris, and Dr. Karen Kuralt. “I had really awesome professors who understood more of my background and were really supportive of me,” she said. “They took really good care of me since I was working full time and married. I am a transitional student, and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is really good for transitional students.” After previously only having experience working as a waitress, Walker-Carter gained professional experience through two internships at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture and the Clinton Foundation. In February, she attended a career fair and met with Hewlett Packard. After completing a series of interviews, she started working there May 1. After celebrating her birthday May 8, Walker-Carter is looking forward to graduating and starting the next phase in her life. “I found the job that I really wanted 15 days before I graduate, so that is really awesome,” she said. “I am really looking forward to getting into my career. My wife and I are fostering animals, and we would like to foster children in Arkansas.”

Graduating student Nicole Paladino: ‘Education was my ticket’

Jenny Lambert — Thu, 11 May 2017 19:44:39 +0000

At the age of 17, Nicole Paladino knew her only way to a better life was through education. Paladino, a North Little Rock native and University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law student, had a far from average childhood. She said after years of living in an unstable home, she was forced to mature quickly. Before she began her freshman year of high school, Paladino’s parents separated and her mother remarried. Paladino had a choice to make: Living with her older brother and father, who she said was suffering from a gambling addiction, or moving with her mother and stepfather, a man she barely knew. For the next three years, Paladino lived in Pearland, Texas with her mother and stepfather. Although she resided in a home with two adults, Paladino’s mother worked as a flight attendant, leaving Paladino to live as she pleased. Instead of giving in to her circumstances, Paladino chose to surround herself with positive friends and mentors. “I had incredible mentors who loved me, taught me things, and cared about me,” she said. “That made a huge difference to have a good example to help me figure out the right things to do.” Paladino’s dissatisfaction with her home environment and determination to live a better life, led her to make decisions that seemed unorthodox for a teenager. “I wasn’t happy where I was,” she said. “I knew I wanted to go to college and I knew the lottery scholarship had passed. To qualify, you have to graduate from an Arkansas school, so I told my mom I was moving back to Arkansas to compete for the scholarship.” Paladino finished her senior year at North Little Rock High School, while living with roommates and working at Sears. She decided she had no time to participate in high school activities. “My entire life, since age 12, was about getting to independence,” she said. “I just got lucky enough, I guess, to realize my environment was not normal, and if I wanted to do something different, education was my ticket.” Before graduating high school, Paladino applied to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and filled out numerous scholarship applications. She was awarded a $32,000 scholarship from the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, in addition to the $2,500 Arkansas Lottery scholarship. Excited to have achieved her goal of a full ride to the university, Paladino wasted no time in setting her sights on something else. “There’s no ultimate end to a goal,” she said. “Once you reach one, you have to set another.” Once she was settled into the university, Paladino chose a criminal justice major. She knew she would soon go to law school to pursue a career as a prosecutor. “Growing up, I had a lot of people who spoke for me when I needed it,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be in court as a trial lawyer to help people find their voice like people helped me to find mine.” One person in particular who helped Paladino and her brother in their time of need was their grandmother, for whom Paladino helps provide care. “She never made excuses for my parents and always took our side,” Paladino said. “When you’re a kid, you think, ‘Is it me?’ She was always very clear that it wasn’t us and that meant so much to me.” Taking the strength she gained from her grandmother and others, Paladino worked to accomplish her goals. After her undergraduate years at the university, Paladino graduated summa cum laude and won Undergraduate of the Year from her department. Her accomplishment was due, in part, to her work on a Bureau of Justice grant with , where she and Dr. David Montague partnered to evaluate re-entry services from inmates upon release. Together, they published various government reports. After graduating from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bowen law school, Paladino plans to take the bar exam and work in the Little Rock community. The Spring 2017 Commencement will be Saturday, May 13, at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock .

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