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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Wins $4,500 on Wheel of Fortune

John Hill — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 13:41:34 +0000

A ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student won $4,500 after fulfilling her childhood dream of competing on “Wheel of Fortune.” Alyssa Fawbush, a senior double majoring in psychology and nursing, appeared during iconic College Week, which brings together college students from across the country to participate in a week of episodes honoring higher education. The Sherwood native watched the show air on Thanksgiving night at a watch party in her grandmother’s home in Sherwood where she was surrounded by her family, friends, and fiancé. “It was a lot of fun,” she said. “I never thought I would end up being on the show. I remember my grandma always talked about Vanna White’s dresses. Whenever Vanna would walk back and forth on stage, I remember thinking that she had flowers on her dress and that my grandma would love that. I don’t remember every detail about the game, but I do remember what Vanna’s dress looked like.” Fawbush came in second place and took home a total of $4,500 after solving two puzzles. She hit some tough competition in the form of fellow contestant Noah Stockwell, a student at the University of Pittsburgh who competed in the final round. “I did the best I could given my circumstances,” she said. “Noah was a sweetheart and a very hard player. I had some really bad luck because I hit bankrupt twice, and that didn’t happen to anyone else. It was about my gameplay, and I did well with what I was able to do.” Fawbush received an overwhelming amount of support from a community of people who shared in the excitement of her game show appearance. “All of my friends and family were super excited,” she said. “My entire high school knew about ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and said they were going to watch. After my episode aired, I got so many messages from people. When I went Black Friday shopping the next day, I got so many weird looks. I was wearing my college sweatshirt, and people would come up to me and tell me they saw me on TV last night.” Fawbush filmed the episode in August during the first week of classes at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. On the way home from Los Angeles, Fawbush and her family made a stop in Las Vegas, where her boyfriend, Layne Sikes, a 2020 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, proposed at Bellagio Hotel and Casino. She will graduate from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in December 2023. Afterwards, she plans to complete her master’s degree and work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Fawbush is encouraging other students who dream of being on “Wheel of Fortune” to submit their applications soon for consideration to be on the next College Week, which will air in March 2023. “They are actually looking for contestants to compete in College Week Spring Break,” Fawbush said. “What they look for is people that are going to have fun, be a good sport, and make an experience out of it.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student to Compete During Wheel of Fortune’s College Week on Thanksgiving

John Hill — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:15:45 +0000

The first week of school for Alyssa Fawbush, a senior double majoring in psychology and nursing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has turned into the most eventful week of the college student’s life. The Sherwood native not only got the chance to fulfill her childhood dream of competing on “,” but she also got engaged on the trip home. You can watch Fawbush represent ��Vlog��ý Little Rock at 6:30 p.m. on KATV Channel 7 on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24! “I used to watch it with my grandpa growing up, and we would always try to figure out the puzzles,” she said. “I always wanted to be on ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ but I didn’t think it would happen.” Her journey to the wheel started in January after she submitted an online application with the encouragement of a supporter. “I used to work in senior care. A lot of our older clients would watch ‘Wheel of Fortune’ at home, and I had a lady tell me that I should be on the show,” Fawbush said. “I sent in a picture and a video explaining why I thought I should be on the show. I didn’t hear anything for months. The same week I started a new job in Sherwood as a preschool therapist, I heard that I got to move to an audition.” Fawbush participated in an online audition in May and was selected to participate during iconic College Week, which brings together college students from across the country to participate in a week of episodes honoring higher education. “I filmed the episode during my first week of classes at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in August, so I was doing my first week of classes virtually from Los Angeles,” she said. “We got to see the set of ‘Jeopardy’ while they did our makeup and we rehearsed. The whole experience was really fun. I can say it’s a lot different when you are up there versus watching from home. The wheel is very heavy. It takes a lot of strength to spin.” While preparation for the show took hours, Fawbush said the taping of the episode was less than half an hour. “It was the fastest 20 minutes of our lives!” she said. “When I wasn’t playing, I was in the audience. We taped about six shows that day, and I got to watch all the other College Week shows being filmed. College Week is super cool. I got to know a handful of college students from around the country and play with them.” On the way home from Los Angeles, Fawbush and her family made a stop in Las Vegas, where her boyfriend, Layne Sikes, a 2020 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, proposed at Bellagio Hotel and Casino. “It was an eventful trip!” Fawbush said. “Layne was pretty relaxed about it. I knew he was thinking about proposing, but I had no idea he had taken a ring with us on this trip.” Overall, she is thankful to the crew at Sony Pictures Entertainment for giving her the experience of a lifetime! “This was the most fun I’ve ever had and absolutely a dream come true!” Fawbush said. “Vanna White and Pat Sajak are sweethearts and are both really nice. The whole crew at Sony Pictures is really awesome, and I loved getting to meet them. They also let us keep our name badges, which was cool.” In the upper photo, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student Alyssa Fawbush competes on “Wheel of Fortune.” Photo credit: Carol Kaelson/Wheel of Fortune®/© 2022 Califon Productions, Inc. ARR.

New Birthing Manikin Provides Lifelike Training for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Nursing Students

John Hill — Thu, 26 May 2022 17:27:26 +0000

The addition of a new birthing manikin simulator to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is ensuring that nursing students are getting the hands-on experience they need to care for patients in Arkansas. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Nursing is now home to the Lucina AR Childbirth Simulator, which provides simulation experiences for all stages of delivery and rare emergency scenarios with incorporation of augmented and virtual reality components. Lucina is funded in part by a grant from the . “She is the most state-of-the-art birthing manikin in the world,” said Joanna Hall, director of the Center for Simulation Innovation. “Lucina feels and looks more real and helps increase the realness of the simulations for our students. She also comes with virtual and augmented reality features that bring more learning capabilities to our training simulations.” Lucina gives birth to her baby multiple times a day to give nursing students a first-hand look at deliveries and the emergency situations that can arise, such as preeclampsia-induced seizures, a breech birth, and fetal shoulder dystocia. In addition, Lucina’s baby can also be used in training scenarios involving newborns to six-month-old babies. “We work hard to prepare our students for the workforce from the jump,” Hall said. “We put out exceptionally qualified nursing students who are prepared to pass their licensure exams and be safe, skilled nurses who can take care of the people in our community.” Johni Beth Teague, an assistant professor of nursing and simulation faculty member, said the addition of Lucina has moved the simulation experience to the next level for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock nursing students. “This manikin is the highest fidelity manikin on the market. We utilize her for four different simulations throughout the day,” Teague said. “She not only provides a realistic birth experience, but she also can provide realistic complications from labor and the prepartum and postpartum period. The ability for her to also offer virtual and augmented reality takes the student’s experience down to the pathophysiological level to help them understand what is going on from a cellular level. Lucina functions on her own server, which allows for uninterrupted simulations due to technology glitches or server overload while other scenarios are running.” Students can get an inside look at the health situation using Lucina’s virtual and augmented reality features, which provides a 360-degree, holographic view of labor. Students can put on glasses that will allow them to see what contractions look like as they are happening in real time. In addition to seeing what is happening inside of the manikin, the virtual reality feature allows students to experience completely immersive virtual simulations. “The virtual reality component has a lot of potential in training simulations,” Hall said. “Once you put the goggles on, the experience is completely virtual. You feel like you can touch it, but it’s all playing out like a virtual reality game right in front of you. We can take those goggles anywhere, so there is a lot of potential going forward to help prepare our nursing students and to educate people working in the healthcare industry.” Sylvia Shaw, a nursing student from Oklahoma City, said the realistic simulation is something she’s never experienced prior to using Lucina. “This simulation helps prepare you for your nursing career because it gives you the most realistic version of what happens to the body in certain situations,” Shaw said. “It also is able to explain things in detail and show specific organs associated with the disease process. Being able to experience that enhances your understanding and knowledge beyond what can be comprehended from reading a textbook. That kind of experience is something you could never get with just a regular sim manikin.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is home to the second largest associate degree program in nursing in the state. Approximately 300 new students begin every summer, and every one of them learns necessary skills for transition to nursing practice in the Center for Simulation Innovation. “We have a fully functioning simulation hospital in the Pat Walker Center for Nursing Education Building,” Hall said. “We run simulations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week in order to get all of our students through their simulations and get the hands-on experiences they need to learn new skills and graduate.” The Center for Simulation Innovation also provides a reliable alternative for nursing students who need to complete their training when clinical spots are not available. “During COVID, a lot of healthcare facilities closed their doors to students to protect their patients,” Hall said. “There were a lot of clinical practice gaps, and we did a lot of virtual clinics and simulations to get our students prepared for the workforce. That is one of the many benefits to a program like ours. While we have great relationships with hospitals and healthcare facilities in central Arkansas, we still plan to use more simulations and implement more simulation experiences for our nursing students going forward.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Nursing Graduate Chika Okoli Finds New Career and Life in U.S.

John Hill — Fri, 06 May 2022 13:34:22 +0000

In 2016, Chika Okoli moved to the United States from Nigeria, hoping to start a new career and a new life with his wife and three sons. This new chapter in life started off with a major obstacle. His wife’s VISA was delayed, so Okoli traveled to the U.S. with his two oldest sons while his wife, who was then pregnant with his youngest son, remained in Nigeria. The family would stay separated for more than two years while they waited for Mrs. Okoli’s VISA to be approved. “My dad went to college here in Little Rock back in the day and got a master’s degree from Texas. When I was planning to come over here to get my education, I decided to come here,” Okoli said. “I wanted to come with my family, but I couldn’t do that at the moment because of limitations on immigration. I had to come without my wife because our sons’ VISAs could expire if we waited. While I was in school here, I was a single dad with my two boys. It took almost three years before my wife and youngest son could come over.” While he had a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Nigeria, Okoli planned to combine his love of computers, which his close friends referred to him as “Cyborg,” with the healthcare industry by pursuing a master’s degree in nurse informatics, which requires an undergraduate degree in nursing. After joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Okoli was pleasantly surprised by how well he took to nursing. “I didn’t know that medicine would be this awesome,” Okoli said. “Nursing has gotten my attention.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate Chika Okoli became a U.S. citizen on March 17.

After graduating with his associate of applied science in nursing in May 2021, Okoli began working as a nurse at a mental health facility with the Arkansas Department of Human Services. He also joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s online Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and will graduate this summer. Once he finishes up at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Okoli is looking forward to the first break he’s had from school since 2017. However, it won’t be a long break. He is working to earn enough clinical hours so he can apply to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at ��Vlog��ýMS with a specialty in psychiatry, a program he hopes to begin in August 2023. “One thing that worked for me is that I thrive pretty well under pressure,” Okoli said. “I am doing this for a purpose. That pressure is what drives me and gets me to do well. If you are coming into nursing, the first thing you learn is to be strong. I persevered even though it was difficult. With the solid background we had at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, you can compete with anybody anywhere.” Okoli also has another milestone to celebrate this spring. In addition to completing his education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Okoli also became a U.S. citizen March 17. His family was there to help him celebrate, which now includes a daughter who was born in Arkansas in 2019. “My full name, Chikaodinaka and abbreviated as Chika, means in God’s hands, and I trust God,” Okoli said. “I’ve aspired to live here for the rest of my life. That is why I applied for citizenship. Having citizenship status is breathtaking. That is how I understood that I’m meant to be here with my family for the rest of my life.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Nursing Professor Honored for Excellence in Teaching and Research

John Hill — Fri, 06 May 2022 13:00:31 +0000

Dr. Josy Nduku, an assistant professor of nursing at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has been honored for outstanding teaching and research skills this spring. In her first award, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services awarded Nduku the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching. Nduku serves as the RN-BSN online program coordinator, where she helps hundreds of working registered nurses complete their bachelor’s degrees. Colleagues describe Nduku’s leadership and teaching style as empowering and supportive. She inspires others to reach their full potential through setting clear goals and expectations. Aaron Baxter, a 2021 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, said that Nduku exemplified superior leadership and professionalism in and out of the classroom. “Whether it was behind the podium or at the bedside, she invited her students to engage in the process of learning; promoting and encouraging critical-thinking skills that would later be the fundamental principle which separates good nurses from exceptional ones,” Baxter said. “As her student, I could always count on Dr. Nduku to maintain high expectations of her students, understanding that we would one day require high expectations of ourselves to provide the safest and best of care for our patients.” Nduku believes that her passion to impart knowledge to students is what makes her a good teacher. “I want to produce students who are better than me and can practice at a higher level,” she said. “I want to inspire them to be their best selves. I also have to take into accounts the standards of practice and make sure that my teaching aligns with those in accordance with my philosophy for education.” In her second award of the spring, Nduku received the Outstanding Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Research Award for her presentation at the 2022 Arkansas Nursing Research Conference held at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (��Vlog��ýMS). Her presentation was on the “Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Course Performance of Registered Nurses Enrolled in an Online RN-BSN Program at a Metropolitan University” with collaborators Carolyn Hunter Layne and Dr. Lakeisha Falls. The research project investigated the challenges online nursing students faced while completing their bachelor’s degrees during the pandemic. “I wanted to understand how the pandemic impacted our nursing students and what else we needed to do to help our students,” Nduku said. “We found that students were having a hard time implementing projects at a place of employment because they had so many COVID restrictions in the hospitals. Students also found it difficult to meet in person and implement the projects.” A native of Cameroon, Africa, Nduku received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Central Arkansas.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Grad Fulfills Dream of Becoming a Nurse

John Hill — Thu, 05 May 2022 15:39:04 +0000

Lauren Klempel, of Austin, Arkansas, has dreamed of becoming a nurse ever since she was a little girl. The mother of three is now getting the chance to work her dream career after graduating this month with an associate degree in nursing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “I believe my peers would agree that we are taking so much more from nursing school than a degree in nursing,” Klempel said. “Even through the struggles and tears, I will forever cherish the experiences I was blessed with.” As a child, Klempel became such a natural caretaker that her family “referred to me as a little mom.” “I was very independent in taking care of myself and taking care of others was very important to me,” she said. “I always knew I wanted to take care of people. I jumped from wanting to be a doctor, then a pediatrician, and then a nurse.” After being diagnosed with asthma as a young child, Klempel learned just how important nurses can be in lifting the spirits of patients. “I spent more time in hospitals than any child should. I didn’t spend a Christmas at home until I was 5,” Klempel said. “I remember those nurses who would make everything okay. As a kid, you don’t understand why you are in the hospital and why you can’t do all the things that other kids are doing. Those men and women treated me like I was a superstar. I’ve had those standout people who have made such a difference in my life. If I can be that for one person, it will make all the tears and the struggle to get here worth it in the end.” After finishing high school at 17, Klempel moved out of her parents’ home and started college. But the cost of living on her own and going to college quickly added up, and Klempel decided to take time off from school to save money. “Needless to say, here I am quite a few years later,” Klempel said. “I met my husband when I was 20, and the next thing we knew we got married and had a baby on the way, and he joined the Air Force. College became a dream, and I thought that’s all it would ever be.” Since she got married in 2010, Klempel and her husband and three children have lived all around the country – Texas, Florida, and Virginia. In 2017, the family was supposed to move to South Korea. Just two weeks before her husband was deployed, word came that Klempel and her children couldn’t move to South Korea after all. The family instead moved to Austin, just north of Little Rock Air Force Base, where Zach Klempel was assigned when he returned to the United States. As a military spouse, Klempel was an active volunteer and healthcare advocate for military families. After her son was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease at 18 months, Klempel volunteered extensively with the Kawasaki Disease Foundation. “I was blessed with amazing opportunities to speak,” she said. “I actually sat on a board that spoke with President Trump about the challenges faced by military families. I’d thrown myself into that role. I am all about standing up for what I believe in. I think one voice can make a difference.” Her efforts were recognized in the 2018 Military Spouse of the Year competition, where she was named one of the top three military spouses of the year for the U.S. Air Force. In May 2020, Klempel joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Nursing to finish her long-held goal of becoming a nurse. “Throughout this process, I may or may not have had more mentor meetings than any of my peers, given my incredible self-doubt,” she said. “I have spent most of my life thinking that I was not good enough or that I would never be able to do anything that would allow me to stand on my own two feet. Here I am today a better person, all thanks to not only my family and friends that have supported this journey, but because of the amazing instructors and peers that have helped me along the way.” After graduation, Klempel and her family will move back to Texas, where she will be working as a nurse in the emergency department in Medical City North Hills Hospital, just outside of Dallas. “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to go into a field I love,” she said. “I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate Gets Second Chance at Nursing Career

John Hill — Wed, 04 May 2022 13:34:00 +0000

Brittney Harding has wanted to become a nurse ever since she was a little girl. She grew up watching her mother become a nurse and even attended some of her classes as a child. “The moment when my mother passed her final exam, I had this sense of wanting to be like my mom when I grew up,” Harding said. “I remember the rewards she got from being a nurse, and that was an inspiration as well as my mom’s stepmom, who was also a nurse. Having that foundation of nurses in my family secured my desire to be a nurse when I was a little girl.” Harding, a native of Warren who now lives in Little Rock, will graduate May 14 with her associate degree in nursing. The unusual part of Harding’s journey to become a nurse is that she already has several college degrees in education. She first took a stab at nursing school right after high school, but that didn’t work out. “When I attempted nursing school before, I was not focused,” Harding said. “I didn’t know how to study. It wasn’t God’s time for me to obtain that part of my education. It made me shy away from nursing, so I ended up going and getting my education degrees.” Harding earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in physical education and coaching from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Later on, she even went back to earn a second master’s degree in teaching. She spent five years working as a secondary education teacher, which she greatly enjoyed, but she never gave up on her dream of becoming a nurse. “My students really helped give me that last nudge to get back to my goals,” she said. “For five years, I told my students to go after your dreams. After telling them this, I felt like a hypocrite because I wanted to be a nurse. How can I be a good example for them when I am not living what I tell them?” In 2021, Harding finally entered ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s nursing program, a long-held goal that she put on a vision board she created in 2020 when she was seriously considering going back to school.

Brittney Harding’s vision board

“That is one of the universities I’ve always wanted to attend even before I graduated from high school,” Harding said. “Once I finished my education at ��Vlog��ýM, I did my research on nursing programs. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock stood out to me because of their simulation lab. It’s basically state of the art compared to any other school or university. I even put it on my vision board to go to the RN program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I knew I already loved ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. It felt like home. It’s been a rewarding experience even though it’s been challenging. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even compared to grad school, this is the hardest program I’ve ever done. They really challenge you to get you prepared for nursing.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Harding is thankful that a majority of her associate degree was paid for through the Willard and Pat Walker Scholarship from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, the Faith A. Fields Scholarship from the Arkansas Board of Nursing, and a one-time Sigma Chi Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. scholarship. Harding said graduating with her nursing degree has given her a sense of redemption. “I failed out of nursing school before, so I felt the weight of completing this degree,” she said. “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. Compared to any other degree I’ve obtained, this is the most significant degree I’ll ever receive.” After graduation, Harding will prepare to take her exam to become a registered nurse over the summer. She’ll also begin ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in the fall and start work as a registered nurse at Baptist Health Medical Center. Eventually, Harding would like to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice and specialize in psychiatric nursing. “Other than God, my parents have been my greatest support system,” Harding said. “I can’t thank my parents enough for their sacrifices for me to better myself and get where I need to be.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Nursing Graduate Plans to Start Business to Provide At-Home Medical Care for Homebound Patients

John Hill — Tue, 03 May 2022 13:28:03 +0000

As a private duty nurse, Shannon Marlar has a very special role providing healthcare to those who can’t leave their home. Marlar, a single mother of two from Sparkman, Arkansas, serves many important roles – a healthcare provider, a caregiver, and a shoulder to cry on for family members. Marlar has overcome incredible odds to fulfill her dream of earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She will graduate May 14 at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Jack Stephens Center. She is going to use her expertise to open up a new business that will provide at-home medical care for people who are homebound. “There are a lot of people who can’t get out of their homes to go get the healthcare they need,” Marlar said. “They would see a doctor if they came to their home. I wanted people to get the specialty care they need. Telehealth medicine is good, but one of the main problems is that you are not face to face with the patient, and you can’t double check their symptoms in person.” Marlar encountered many obstacles on her road to becoming a nurse. She became pregnant with her first child while she was a senior in high school but was determined to continue her education to be a good role model for her son. While navigating work, school, and motherhood, Marlar said she had to leave college for a whole year while she left an abusive marriage. Marlar persisted in her education and eventually earned an associate degree in professional studies and became a certified nursing assistant through Southern Arkansas University Tech. She continued her education by earning an associate degree in nursing in 2016 while working as a licensed practical nurse. Tragedy struck Marlar’s life once more when she was involved in a serious car accident in February 2017, just one month before she was scheduled to take her exam to become a registered nurse and six months before she was supposed to start the online RN to BSN program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I spent 11 days in ��Vlog��ýMS,” Marlar said. “I can’t bend my knee. I can’t run anymore. I can’t work in a hospital. I can’t work 12-hour shifts, all because a woman dropped her cell phone on the floorboard of her truck and bent down to pick it up. She hit me head on.” The doctors told Marlar that it would be at least one year before she would be able to walk again and possibly return to work. With two young children to support, Marlar beat all the doctors’ expectations by getting back to work in just eight months. Still determined to complete her education, Marlar made it to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2021 with the goals of finishing her bachelor’s degree and starting her own business. “Lindsey Baertlein has been my favorite, the most helpful and outgoing professor,” Marlar said. “She was easy going and made things fun to do and to learn. Lindsey has given me the most advice for my goals and has been the most helpful.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Marlar and fellow nursing students Rachal Pendergrass, Savannah Thackeray, and Latasha Bell created a presentation on Doctor on Demand, a telehealth app. Nursing professors were so impressed with the student project that they are turning it into a continuing education course for the School of Nursing’s Professional Development Center. Now that she is about to graduate, Marlar is celebrating her long road to completing her bachelor’s degree and has high hopes for the future. “I feel fabulous, to put it lightly,” Marlar said. “I made graduation invitations and everything. I’m proud. It’s taken me a long time to get back on my feet. I planned to go to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with my friend Mary several years ago. She’s just passed her nurse practitioner degree. I would be graduating with my nurse practitioner degree if the car accident hadn’t happened. God has more plans for me. I know I’ve helped people along the way because of my disability.” This summer, Marlar will attend Arkansas State University so she can become a nurse practitioner. She also hopes to begin her healthcare business in the fall. She plans to offer concierge medical services to start. Eventually, she hopes to offer private duty nursing, respiratory supplies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and mental health therapy. “I’m naming the business Ryan’s Hope for Special Needs,” Marlar said. “Ryan was a patient of mine who couldn’t get the care that she needed. She was quadriplegic. She died two months after I had my car accident. There are so many people like Ryan who can’t get the care at home that they need, and I want to change that.”

Nduku, McElwee, Hendon Named 2022 Faculty Excellence Winners for College of Business, Health, and Human Services

John Hill — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 14:51:48 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services has honored Josy Nduku, Tracey McElwee, and John Hendon as its top professors of 2022. Nduku, assistant professor of nursing, has received CBHHS’s Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, while McElwee has received the Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors Award. Hendon, a senior instructor, has been honored with the Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award. More information about the winners:

Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service

Hendon is a 24-year veteran of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and serves as a senior instructor in the Department of Management and Human Resources. He served as a board member for the Small Business Institute from 2012 to 2017. He also served in a number of executive positions over the years, including vice president of programs, president-elect, and president. He continues to serve as a mentor and fellow. He also holds the title of Small Business Institute Fellow, which is the highest honor the organization bestows on its members. This honor goes to those who have significant and noteworthy accomplishments in teaching, research, and service involving small businesses. One of his major accomplishments is creating a link between traditional large organization human resources research and small business/entrepreneurial research. Hendon also serves as a member of the Central High School Technology Committee. His service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock includes being on the Institutional Effectiveness Committee and several terms on the Faculty Senate. “During his time here, he has routinely gone above and beyond in his efforts to serve, amplify, and promote our university,” said Joseph Bell, professor of entrepreneurship. “He is quick to assist others in the college while at the same time shuns personal credit. His significant corporate knowledge of the university and willingness to share that information with others makes our job easier. His extensive volunteerism is a significant illustration of John’s devotion to our institution, while also demonstrating his competency and tenacity.”

Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching

Josy Nduku

Nduku also serves as the RN-BSN online program coordinator. She earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice, all from the University of Central Arkansas. Since taking on a leadership role in the School Nursing, Nduku has also become a mentor to new faculty members and is instrumental to the program through curriculum revisions, policy updates, recruitment, and research endeavors. “The School of Nursing is fortunate to have Dr. Nduku as a leader on our team that educates over 800 nursing students every year,” said Dr. Sloan Davidson, director of the School of Nursing. “She embodies the description for the Excellence in Teaching Award and is an outstanding representative of everything our school stands for, particularly our vision of inspiring excellence, transforming care, and creating leaders.”

Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Creative Endeavors

McElwee has an impressive research agenda that has resulted in 20 peer-reviewed publications, four manuscripts under review, and four book reviews.

Tracey McElwee

“Tracey has maintained a commitment to students and service, all while maintaining a stellar publication record that rivals those at R1 institutions,” said Dr. Laura Danforth, assistant professor of social work. “Dr. McElwee is a scholar and master researcher, and is always pursuing her goal of adding to the literature in the field of social work. She has demonstrated a passion and commitment to her research agenda, loves challenges, and is one of the most perceptive and prolific researchers in our department and field.” Her research agenda includes being a part of a team of researchers, led by Dr. Taren Swindle, who received a $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to complete a seven-year project to address early habits in early childcare and education settings with the goal of reducing cancer. The project will reach 5,000 children and 500 teachers across Arkansas and Louisiana. McElwee is also studying the results of a research study conducted with a $10,000 grant from the Council on Social Work Education’s Policy Practice in Field Initiative through the New York Community Trust. Approximately 125 students participated in this high-impact learning experience embedded in social work and political science courses at Philander Smith College and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. In 2017, McElwee and her students assessed the state of campus food insecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock after the creation of the Trojan Food Pantry. This project led to her next research endeavor involving a partnership with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and exploration regarding how reduction in SNAP funding would affect SNAP recipients. McElwee and students in her policy course called grocery stores, food pantries, farmers markets, and SNAP recipients across all 75 Arkansas counties. In 2018, McElwee was invited to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to present findings from this study.

Women to Watch at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 2022: Joanna Hall

John Hill — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 13:28:38 +0000

In celebration of Women’s History Month, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is profiling women in leadership positions who are making a difference at the university and in the community. The next Woman to Watch at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock of 2022 is Joanna Hall, director of simulation for the Center for Simulation Innovation and assistant professor of nursing. Tell us about yourself and your background. I was born and raised in Arkansas and am now raising my little boy here too. I have deep roots at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, graduating with my Bachelor of Science in 2009, Associate of Science in Nursing in 2013, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2015. I recently finished my Master of Nursing Science at ��Vlog��ýMS in 2021. Prior to pursuing nursing education here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I worked as a cardiac nurse at CHI St. Vincent for five years. Though I found fulfillment in bedside nursing and cardiac care, I have found a true passion getting to work with the amazing nursing students that go through our School of Nursing. I have some of the most amazing family, friends, and coworkers around me. I enjoy the outdoors in Arkansas, especially when the weather is warm, and hope to buy my first kayak this summer. Lastly, and certainly not least, I am an avid Razorback fan. From football to basketball and everything in between, I love to call the Hogs! What is your current position and professional duties at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? Nursing education has been quite the evolution for me here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I started as an instructor in 2017, worked my way to interim director of simulation in 2019, and now fill the role of director of simulation and assistant professor. I have been afforded the opportunity to run our Center for Simulation Innovation here in the Pat Walker Center for Nursing Education on campus for the last three years. From helping run day-to-day operations of our incredibly busy simulation center to organizing schedules and supplies to working on grant funding and research, I get to wear many hats. We have an exceptional group of simulation faculty and administrative support that enables me to foster a forward-thinking simulation curriculum, especially related to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusivity within our simulation center. What woman has inspired you the most and why? Though there have been so many women who have inspired me along my journey, the standout inspiration for me is my mom, Naomi Hall. She has been the epitome of resilience and strength throughout my life. Through plenty of life’s trials, she has consistently shown me how to persevere and be grateful for everything I have. She followed her dream and went back to school to become a massage therapist at 46. Against so many odds, she followed her heart, grew a successful business, and showed me the power of ambition and hard work. Marian Wright Edelman said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” My amazing mother has set the most exquisitely real example of what a good human is in this life. How have you adapted to working in a world with COVID-19? COVID-19 has required quite the adjustment in nursing education. From completely online nursing classes, skills, clinical, and simulation in 2020 to modified COVID-related classroom, clinical, and simulation experiences now, the changes have been many. Nurses are as resilient as they come, and our nursing faculty, staff, and students have risen to the challenge over the last couple of years. How has the nursing field changed since the pandemic began? The important role that pre-licensure nursing programs and nursing employers play has become much more apparent in the last two years of COVID. Though Registered Nurse pay has increased (and it certainly needed to), so too has nurse burnout. Nursing is an extremely challenging profession even in the best, non-pandemic circumstances. COVID has only further complicated the healthcare environment, requiring our nurses to care for more complex patient populations and increasing competition with sign-on bonuses and travel assignments across the globe. Focusing on retention initiatives to improve nurse mental health and working conditions is essential. There are some alarming statistics out there saying that anywhere from 30 percent to 57 percent of new graduate registered nurses are leaving healthcare within the first two years of practice. We are doing everything we can here in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Nursing to help prepare our graduates with all the tools they need to be successful long term in nursing. What’s next in your professional career? I am really enjoying my position as director of simulation currently. The support I have from administration and faculty regarding advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in simulation is beyond exciting. As I continue to grow in my role, I have found such a passion for enhancing the nursing student experience through incorporation of more culturally competent simulation scenarios and technology. It is my sincere hope that the work we are doing in CSI will help us develop more well-rounded humans and future nurses capable of taking care of our wonderfully diverse Central Arkansas community. So, what’s next? Helping facilitate change and continuing to advance human kindness and diversity in the future of our nursing workforce. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? My word for 2022 was perspective. I encourage you to appreciate the process and try to keep life in perspective. Hard work, passion, and a lot of laughter will get you farther in life than you know. Through the ups and downs, hold tight to the notion that you are exactly where you need to be. Learn from the downs, appreciate the ups, and never forget that you are worthy. As my absolute favorite author and podcaster Glennon Doyle says, “We can do hard things.” Life is certainly not always easy, but a little resilience goes a long way. When in doubt, remember that there is always a seat at the table for you. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Name something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn. This does not come as a surprise to anyone that knows me, but to those who don’t, I am fascinated by sharks. I collect shark teeth and will watch literally any documentary about shark conservation. I have always lived in a landlocked state, which makes my interest a bit out of left field. Thanks to watching “Jaws” at a young age, I am hooked on sharks (pun intended)! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Go Trojans!

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