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

Recent grad lands international teaching position in France

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:51:10 +0000

A recent graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been accepted into a prestigious international teaching program and will spend the next year gaining valuable professional experience teaching in France.�� Emily Fendley, a Monticello native, graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in May with a double major in French and anthropology and a minor in nonprofit leadership studies. After spending her senior year studying abroad at the Université d’Orléans in Orléans, France, Fendley decided to put her new language and cultural skills to work through the . Each year, more than 1,500 American citizens and permanent residents teach English to French students in elementary and secondary schools across France and the overseas departments of French such as Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. “I am looking forward to continuing living in France. I’ve never had an in-classroom experience teaching, but I was a conversation teacher at the university this past year,” she said. “It will be a learning and growing experience for me. I think of this as a challenge I want to step up to.” Fendley will spend Oct. 1, 2019, to April 30, 2020, teaching in Laval, a town in western France. Her duties will include serving as a resource person in conversation groups, providing small group tutorials, facilitating English-language clubs, and giving talks related to American studies. In return, Fendley will receive a stipend and health insurance, but she’s most excited about the opportunity to learn more about the French language and culture. “I’m excited to live in the north of France and learn about the region,” she said. “Even though France is smaller than Texas, you wouldn’t know it by how different the regions are.” Fendley’s love of the French language started in high school while taking a language class in the ninth grade. Her interest rekindled at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and grew into a second major. “I had to take a foreign language in high school, and the only choices were Spanish and French. I wanted to be different so I took French for one semester,” she said. “At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I decided to take French again, and I really enjoyed the classes and was picking up the language well. Eventually, the department asked me if I wanted to major in French as well, and the more I learned, the more I enjoyed the language.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Fendley was active in student life, serving as president of both the Anthropology Club and the Nonprofit Student Leadership Association. She credits her ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors for giving her invaluable advice and guidance for the future. “All of my professors were amazing,” she said. “You don’t know how many times I sat in their office and asked them for advice on my future and my degree program.” Professors like Dr. Zachary Hagins say that Fendley’s success is all down to her hard work and tenacious spirit. “Emily has taken advantage of the wealth of opportunities available for students studying French at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and she exemplifies the benefits of language immersion through study abroad,” Hagins said. “The first time I had Emily in class, she had just finished Intermediate French and was still like most students at that level: a bit timid in her speaking abilities. Then, she participated in our five-week, faculty-led Summer Language Program in France. Upon her return, her language skills had improved, but more importantly, her confidence in speaking French had skyrocketed. Given her summer experience in France, I was not surprised when she decided to return to France for a full academic year, taking advantage of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s consortium agreement with the Université d’Orléans. The reports we have received from her professors in France reflect what we already knew: Emily is hard-working, dynamic, and very motivated. I am certain that we will continue to hear about great achievements from her in the future!” As for her future after the completion of the teaching program, Fendley sees many possibilities. She wants to continue to travel and work internationally at nonprofit organizations and go to graduate school.�� “Since I studied three different areas at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, there are a lot of different graduate school programs I could go into. Choosing is the hardest part,” Fendley said. Alumni of the Teaching Assistant Program in France often pursue global careers in education, international business, public health, international policy and development, and arts and culture administration, as well as are regularly recruited by top graduate schools who value language proficiency and intercultural competency, according to the program’s website.��

Graduating student Janna Shepherd hones communication, leadership skills for reptile rescue

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 22:05:00 +0000

Janna Shepherd has run the only nonprofit reptile rescue center in the state of Arkansas since 2009.�� The, located just south of Little Rock, has a three-part mission: to rescue surrendered, injured, and abused reptiles; to rehabilitate rescued reptiles; and to educate the public about reptiles in captivity and in the wild. In 2010, Shepherd decided to finish her college education to learn more about the skills necessary to run a nonprofit organization. The Nonprofit Leadership Studies program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock initially attracted Shepherd to the university, since it was the only program in the state she could find that catered to the nonprofit management education she was looking for. While ultimately minoring in nonprofit leadership studies, Shepherd was inspired by a professor to complete a bachelor’s degree in speech communication as well. “When I took advanced public speaking with Dr. Kristen McIntyre, she told me that speech communication would be useful for every aspect of running my nonprofit,” Shepherd said. While at ��Vlog��ýLR, Shepherd learned the skills necessary to manage a nonprofit organization, including financial management, fundraising, and volunteer management, through the Nonprofit Leadership Studies program. In turn, through her speech communication coursework, she learned how valuable communication skills are in the day-to-day running of the Reptile Rescue Center. “It’s important to communicate effectively to manage volunteers and staff and to deal with the public as clients and in the education programs that we put on,” she said. Shepherd’s professor, Dr. McIntyre, associate professor of applied communication, described Shepherd as a model of professionalism, who was the first student to win the Department of Applied Communication’s Making a Difference Award in 2013. “I think when Janna decided to earn her college degree, that was it. She knew why she was in college and what she wanted to achieve,” McIntyre said. “She came to class on time and prepared. She turned in outstanding work. She supported her classmates, and she spoke passionately about the Reptile Rescue Center.”

Living a life dedicated to animals

Shepherd is no stranger to working with animals. The 32-year-old has previously worked as an assistant manager at Pet Country in Conway and as a volunteer docent and animal caretaker at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, the Museum of Discovery, and the Little Rock Zoo. She has also volunteered for many years at Hearts and Hooves in Sherwood, and more recently at Harmony in Hooves in Benton, where she led therapeutic riding lessons, cared for horses, and maintained rider, therapist, and volunteer safety. The former volunteer firefighter is also an accomplished equestrian and competes at shows with the Arkansas Hunter Jumper Association. �� Shepherd owns several rescue dogs, a cat, and a horse, but decided to turn her attention to a neglected area of animal rescue. “There are plenty of cat and dog rescues, but there were no reptile rescues in the state,” she said. “That’s where the need was, and I had the experience to do it.” The Reptile Rescue Center is now a sanctuary for more than 130 reptiles, representing 30 different species. In the upper right photo,��Janna Shepherd holds one a rescued albino burmese python that lives at the Reptile Rescue Center. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ýLR Communications.��

New campus director seeks to advance ��Vlog��ýLR’s Nonprofit Leadership Studies program

Jenny Lambert — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 15:48:02 +0000

Nichola Driver, campus director of the Nonprofit Leadership Studies program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has used her previous work experience to shape her role as an educator and leader at ��Vlog��ýLR. The Nonprofit Leadership Studies program is the only one of its kind in the state of Arkansas. It is a competency-based minor and national certificate program designed to prepare and certify students to work for nonprofit organizations after completing a bachelor’s degree. Driver, who has held multiple nonprofit and agency positions, is well equipped to handle the role as the program’s director. Her service learning approach and her dedication to make a difference in the community are just a few reasons why she decided to tackle this position. “I’m a lifetime learner,” Driver said. “I wanted to return to academia for the dynamic environment that it provides. As campus director of the Nonprofit Leadership Studies, I get to combine my interests, working with students and preparing them to work in agencies.” Driver, an Arkansas native, received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Central Arkansas, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and doctorate in sociology from the University of North Texas. While attending the University of North Texas, Driver was awarded the Thesis and Dissertation Fellowship for her study on “Dimensions of Acculturation and Sexual Health Among U.S. Hispanic Youth.” This prestigious award, received by very few students for achieved candidacy in the final year of thesis or dissertation, allowed Driver to focus solely on her studies. With a new found freedom, she and her husband were able to move back to Arkansas to be closer to family. Not long after settling in, Driver was back to work. She became an instructor and student coordinator of the Nonprofit Leadership Studies program at ��Vlog��ýLR, and a few months later progressed to visiting assistant professor and campus director of the Nonprofit Leadership Studies program. “This program is so important because we are training leaders for the future,” Driver said. “I’m so proud of the work that the students have already been able to accomplish.” The program requires students to take three mandatory courses, five hours of electives, complete an internship, participate in leadership and service-learning opportunities, and attend a conference. “There are so many components to this program, but that’s what makes it so rich,” Driver said. “These students are learning outside of the classroom. They’re doing instead of just observing.” Driver says that she hopes to spread the word about the program all over central Arkansas. She is seeking to revamp the program’s community advisory board, which consists of nonprofit professionals who are interested in and seek to partner with the program to benefit their organizations as well as the students. To promote the program on campus, Driver will host informational sessions and table events so that students are aware of what the program has to offer. For information about the Nonprofit Leadership Studies program, contact Driver at 501.683.7028 or��nddriver@ualr.edu or visit the website.

Mother and daughter graduate ��Vlog��ýLR together

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 16 May 2016 16:59:34 +0000

When Pamala Stanley graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on May 14, she didn’t have to look far to find the smiling face of a family member. Stanley’s 23-year-old daughter, Arial King, was up on stage with her, graduating with a degree in speech communication, while Stanley earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a certificate in nonprofit leadership studies. As a single mother raising two daughters, Stanley has always taught her children the value of education. “I wanted a better life for myself and my children,” said Stanley, research assistant for the College of Education and Health Professions at ��Vlog��ýLR. “I didn’t want them to just go out into the world. I wanted them to be prepared for the world with education.” Already a 1999 graduate of New Tyler Barber College, Stanley also earned an associate degree from Pulaski Technical College in 2004. The same year, Stanley had the opportunity to work in a temporary position at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences that she came to love. Without a bachelor’s degree, she could not be permanently hired for that position. That experience led to Stanley’s desire for a four-year��degree. Once she began working at the ��Vlog��ýLR Department of Psychology, Stanley enrolled as an undergraduate student in 2006. For the next 10 years, Stanley took a couple classes every semester, gradually earning her degree while working full time and raising two daughters. “I think it has been a long road,” Stanley said. “With God’s help and me stepping out on faith as far as raising my children and getting an education, I did it. I think it’s a big accomplishment.”

A family affair

While Stanley was attending ��Vlog��ýLR, her oldest daughter, Arial King, also started college after graduating No. 8 in her class at Hall High School in 2011. “My mom instilled the importance of education in me,” King said. “When I was in school, we had to have A’s. No C’s or D’s. That was not acceptable at all when I was in school. When I got my first B in high school, I cried because I thought I was going to be in trouble.” King didn’t need to worry. “My mom said it was OK,” King said. “She said you can make a B every once in a while, but no C’s.” After two years at Arkansas Tech University, King transferred to ��Vlog��ýLR in 2013. She graduated with a degree in speech communication in the same ceremony as her mother. “It’s different to graduate at the same time as my mom,” King said. “I guess I can share the shine, since a lot of people don’t get this opportunity.”

Post-graduation plans

King recently got engaged and moved to Atlanta to be with her fiancé. Like her mother, King wants to work for a nonprofit agency that helps children. Stanley dreams of one day starting her own nonprofit agency to help women reclaim their lives. “With me and my daughter graduating, I think it will be a big encouragement for other single parents to graduate,” Stanley said. “I encourage them not to give up. You have to be strong for you and your children.” In the upper right photo,��Arial King (left) hugs her mother, Pamala Stanley (right), during their graduation from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock May 14 at Jack Stephens Center.��

Graduating student finds inspiration through ��Vlog��ýLR

Taylor Aldana — Fri, 13 May 2016 18:19:26 +0000

One day, Talethe Collins hopes to return home to start a nonprofit organization in Marianna, Arkansas. Wanting to help young adults prepare for college, Collins plans to create an organization to create more job opportunities for her community. “My hometown is small, but there is a lot that can be done to make it better,” she said. Collins found inspiration through her work at ��Vlog��ýLR Children International. The goal of Children International is to empower children and families in their efforts to break through the barriers of poverty. Each year, this site sponsors over 3,200 children with the help of more than 10,000 individual sponsors from around the world. Collins graduated May 14 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in nonprofit leadership studies. She started as a volunteer at Children International her freshman year, helping children with homework at Bale Elementary. She soon became attached to the organization’s mission and returned the following year to intern and receive hands-on experience in the nonprofit sector. She continued her services with the organization throughout college. “I enjoyed it so much that it led me into minoring in nonprofit leadership studies at ��Vlog��ýLR,” said Collins. “So, I truly thank Chancellor’s Leadership Corps and ��Vlog��ýLR Children International for opening my eyes into the nonprofit field.” Collins has accepted a full-time position at the program after graduation. She will serve as the youth programs assistant working on pre-teen and teen youth programming services that fall in the areas of Youth Leadership, Youth Council, and Youth Health Corps. She hopes to bring positive energy services, she said. “When you love what you do, it’s not considered work,” said Collins. More than just a degree Collins chose a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in nonprofit leadership studies because she has always wanted a deeper understanding of how the government works in our society, she said. “I feel that with this field of study, I will be able to accomplish my career goals and personal goals,” said Collins. In addition to wanting to start a nonprofit, Collins is interested in running for mayor of her hometown after getting certified as a paralegal. Collins credits her mother, Pearlethe Collins, for inspiring her to achieve all her goals. Raising seven children on her own, Pearlethe went back to college after Collins graduated from high school. Pearlethe graduated from Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas with an associate’s degree in applied science in May 2015. “Truth be told, everything that I do is for my mother,” said Collins. “It brought tears of joy to my eyes to see her not give up on her goals, and it made me even more inspired to go after mine.” In addition to volunteering, Collins is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, African American Female Initiative, Epsilon Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, ��and served as vice president in the Nonprofit Leadership Student Association. After graduating, Collins will continue her education at ��Vlog��ýLR in the fall as a graduate student in the master of public administration program.

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

Recent grad lands international teaching position in France

Graduating student Janna Shepherd hones communication, leadership skills for reptile rescue

New campus director seeks to advance ����Vlog��ýLR’s Nonprofit Leadership Studies program

Mother and daughter graduate ����Vlog��ýLR together

Graduating student finds inspiration through ����Vlog��ýLR

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

New campus director seeks to advance ��Vlog��ýLR’s Nonprofit Leadership Studies program

Mother and daughter graduate ��Vlog��ýLR together

Graduating student finds inspiration through ��Vlog��ýLR