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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Wellness and Inclusion events in celebration of Halloween and LGBT History Month

John Hill — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 13:47:53 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold three Wellness and Inclusion events in October, two of which are in honor of LGBT History Month. The first event is the Wellness and Inclusion open house on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The open house is in three locations, including Counseling Services in SSC 118, the Disability Resource Center in DSC 103, and Health Services in DSC 102. Each location will provide games, snacks, door prizes, a costume contest, and photo opportunities. The Disability Resource Center will also offer face painting. All three locations have undergone renovations in the last two years, so an open house is a good opportunity to get people to see the changes, as well as increase awareness about the services they provide. “As much as we try, we know some students don’t even know these departments exist,” said Sharon Downs, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. “That’s not okay. We want to be there for every student.” Students can have their picture taken with faculty and staff dressed as characters from “The Wizard of Oz.” Those who take pictures in each location will be eligible to enter a drawing for a prize. This allows students to get equipped with each location and meet staff members. Another event in place to foster student success is the “Building Inclusion Together: Panel Discussion” in honor of LGBT History Month on Oct. 27, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m in the Donaghey Student Center Leadership Lounge. Speakers include Dr. Melvin Beavers, the inaugural Chancellor’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Dr. Joyce Carter, professor and chair of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Rhetoric and Writing; Dr. Christina Drale, chancellor; and Dr. Greg Robinson, associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Health Professions. Speakers will get the chance to tell their stories and experiences, and audience members will get to ask questions and generate conversation about what allies can do better to make LGBT students on campus feel more welcome. The celebration of LGBT History Month builds community, raises awareness, and represents those who paved the way for today’s LGBTQ+ community. Although the community has come a long way, many still struggle with acceptance and safety on a daily basis. That’s why SafeZone has taken on a project called the Rainbow Center, which will have its grand opening on Oct. 27, from 12:30 to 2 p.m in Dickinson Hall room 104. SafeZone wanted to have a space specifically for LGBTQ+ students to hang out with one another and unwind between classes. Downs hopes it becomes a place where they feel safe and respected. “There’s a lot of data that shows that LGBT students are at high risk for dropping out because they don’t feel like they belong,” Downs said. “I think this can address some of that, especially for the students who can’t make the monthly Rainbow Alliance meetings and don’t know another way to connect.” Students in Rainbow Alliance have hand-picked everything that will go in the room, from books and furniture to decorations. “They’re planning a really good library,” Downs said. “An Amazon registry has been set up with a lot of books, and I’ll be recruiting some work study students next semester to take care of the space and keep the door unlocked during the day.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Choir Students Debut at Carnegie Hall

John Hill — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 14:06:40 +0000

For Dr. Lorissa Mason, director of choral activities at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, conducting at Carnegie Hall for the first time ever was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that she will never forget. “To conduct at Carnegie Hall was everything I thought it would be and more,” Mason said. “Spending time in the Maestro Suite before the concert, where the world’s greatest conductors throughout history have sat and prepared for performances, was special and humbling. Pictures of the greats hang all through the halls backstage, and the spirit of the concert hall is everywhere. It is a beautiful place, where music meets humanity, and you can feel it when you are in the space. There are no words to properly describe the feeling of performing here, and it is an experience that will not soon be forgotten.” Mason led a group of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Choirs students and alumni for their debut performance June 26 at in New York City. She conducted a performance of Francis Poulenc’s masterwork “Gloria” along with the New England Symphonic Ensemble and accompanying choirs from Arkansas. This included performers from Berryville High School, Robinson High School, and Una Voce from Wildwood Park for the Arts. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who are attending the trip include Jessica Arellanes, LaVerne Bell, Hannah Blacklaw, Kyndal Collins, Sean Davis, Brent Foster II, Magali Gomez, Josh Gregory, Stacy Howard-Parchel, Reanna Jiles, Kaitlyn Kendrick, Laila Petties-Leon, Carmen Ramirez, Kenshayla Robinson, McKenzie Smith, Damion Snowden, Christian Waldron, Yvonne Melendez-Whalen, and Jonathan Wyatt. They will be joined by alumni Jillian Hall, Jade Keathley, and Gerald Mayo as well as Sharon Downs, Leann Jones, and Yvette Palmer. While the trip got off to a rocky start with their flight from Chicago to New York City getting canceled on June 23, the group was able to reschedule through numerous flights and airlines to arrive before their rehearsals began June 24. “The students carried themselves with integrity and joy,” Mason said. “Their leadership was inspiring. They represented the choral program, the university, and our city beautifully. Rehearsals progressed efficiently, and the group had a great time outside of rehearsal as well. The dress rehearsal and performance were spectacular. We received a standing ovation for our performance. There were a number of reactions after the concert from our singers, including smiles and tears and everything in between. It was truly a remarkable experience.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Choirs students visit New York City.

Sharon Downs, assistant vice chancellor of student affairs and a longtime ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Choirs member, said Carnegie Hall was quite a sight to behold. “I tried to take it all in at Carnegie Hall during the dress rehearsal Sunday morning. It’s a stunning space with so much history,” Downs said. “When we performed that afternoon with an audience, it was tempting to be swept away again. Dr. Lorissa Mason did a masterful job of bringing all the vocal groups together to form one unified choir, and of conducting us and the orchestra at Carnegie Hall. My fellow choir students represented the university well, both in terms of their musical gifts and their patience and gracious attitudes. To say I’m proud of them is an understatement.” Aside from musical performances and practices, the group experience Broadway shows, unique dining, museums, subway experiences, Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, shopping, a dinner cruise around the Statue of Liberty, and more. As for it being a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it will now be a twice-in-a-lifetime experience for Mason as she revealed that she has been invited back to conduct future concerts at Carnegie Hall.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Partners with Healthy Active Arkansas and Arkansas Department of Health to Celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Month with New Lactation Rooms

John Hill — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 14:31:43 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has partnered with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) and Healthy Active Arkansas (HAA) to offer lactation rooms on campus.�� These rooms provide a comfortable, private space for mothers who need to breastfeed their children or pump while on campus. Each room is equipped with a refrigerator, nursing pads, a white noise machine, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and a changing station. “I am very pleased that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will now be providing this important resource to students and employees who might otherwise experience barriers to full participation in work and study at this institution,” Chancellor Christina Drale said. “I also want to express my appreciation to all of the people who advocated for lactation rooms and helped make it a reality at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The rooms have been strategically located across campus for added convenience to new mothers. Lactation rooms are available in Dickinson Hall Room 300-H, Reynolds Business Building Room 362, and Health Services in the Donaghey Student Center.�� Breastfeeding has been linked to fewer incidences of ear and upper respiratory infections in infants, sudden infant death syndrome, and obesity. In addition, breastfeeding benefits mothers by reducing their risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer and aids in losing weight gained during pregnancy. Mothers who receive support to breastfeed, through their family, employer or community, are more likely to continue exclusively breastfeeding for the recommended six months’ time frame, according to the . “Breastfeeding has many benefits for mom and baby,” said Renee Mallory, Arkansas Department of Health chief of staff. “Lactation rooms help to support moms as they return to work and school after having a baby. I commend ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for placing several lactation rooms across campus, and I encourage other organizations to consider creating lactation rooms as well.”

From left, Chancellor Christy Drale, Renee Mallory, chief of staff for the Arkansas Department of Health, Dr. Joe Thompson, chair of the board for Healthy Active Arkansas, and Sharon Downs, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, spoke at a press conference announcing new lactation rooms at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Photo by Ben Krain.

Having a clean and private place to pump will help new mothers feel supported by the university and will help with the transition after maternity leave.�� “The availability of lactation rooms will make it easier for nursing mothers and encourage them to continue their breastfeeding journey,” Michelle Lewis, a lead programmer analyst at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a new mother. “Given all of the challenges of having a newborn, it is a relief to know that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is an advocate for new moms and fosters a family-friendly campus.” To reserve one of the rooms or to access breastfeeding resources, go to . The month of August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a campaign funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which hopes to empower women to commit to breastfeeding. Individuals or organizations interested in learning how they can support breastfeeding can learn more by visiting the Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition at .�� The Expressly for You breastfeeding helpline (501) 202-7378 is also available 24 hours, seven days a week to mothers who have questions or need advice. The Arkansas Breastfeeding Helpline (1-844-344-0408) is also available 24/7. Additional information, including lactation room design plans and community breastfeeding resources can be found at .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Events to Recognize Diversity Month

John Hill — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:38:18 +0000

To celebrate Diversity Month, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Diversity Council has scheduled a variety of events set to take place throughout the month of March. Presentations will include discussions on a range of topics, research findings, and historical events. Addressing Microaggressions – Noon, Wednesday, March 3 The Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence (ATLE) will present this upcoming Lunch and Learn session as an opportunity for faculty to engage in conversations about how to deal with microaggressions in the classroom. Disability and Diversity – Noon, Thursday, March 4 The director for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Disability Resource Center, Reed Claiborne, will present a discussion on disability and the things that frame perceptions of disabilities such as legal definitions, media portrayals, historical treatments, and more. Anti-Blackness, Social Feelings, and Public Policy: 1964-2020 – 6 p.m. Thursday, March 4 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock English Department’s Cooper Honors Program will present a talk with Dr. Lisa Corrigan, associate professor of communication and director of the Gender Studies program, who will discuss her latest book, “Black Feelings: Race, Affect, and the Long Sixties.” Building Collaborative Relationships to Improve Race Relations – 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 9 A panel of researchers from the Little Rock Congregations Study (LRCS) will discuss findings relevant to race relations from their Fall 2020 survey with 35 community congregations. The panel will consist of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors Gerald Driskill, Rebecca Glazier, and Kirk Leach. In partnership with the Clinton School of Public Service, the panelists will also present a process of facilitating community dialogues on key issues found within their survey results. Modern Warriors of World War I: American Indians in the Great War – Noon, Wednesday, March 10 Presented by Erin Fehr, an archivist with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Sequoyah National Research Center, this event will highlight the sacrifice and bravery of American Indians and Alaska Natives that served in World War I. It will inform audience members about things such as how they used their language to create a code that was never broken by the Germans. The Sequoyah National Research Center created a to identify all 12,000 American Indians that served in World War I, which can be found online as part of the ’s website. New Funds for Minority Businesses in Little Rock – 2 p.m. Thursday, March 11 The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present a panel discussion on new funding opportunities available in Little Rock for minority businesses. We Sing! A Celebration of Women’s Heritage – 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Choirs will host a live-streamed performance celebrating Women’s Heritage Month, featuring historically informed music performances, poetry reading, a speaker with commentary on notable women of the suffrage movement, and a special musical oratory presentation with Dr. Linda Holzer and Dr. Yslan Hicks. Putting the Pieces Together: A look at how Universal Design for Learning, Open Educational Resources, and Affordable Learning Content work together to benefit students and faculty – 3 p.m. Monday, March 15 in the Ottenheimer Library Presented by e-Learning Specialist Hannah Hurdle, will discuss the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Open Educational Resources (OER), and Affordable Learning Content (ALC) frameworks for inclusive learning. Entrepreneurship: My Journey into the Unknown – 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 16 Entrepreneurial Education Specialist Pamela Reed, with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, will present a panel discussion featuring minority entrepreneurs. Connecting & Utilizing Social Media for Each Generation – 1 p.m. Thursday, March 18 Jennifer McDannold, coordinator of student orientation and transitions, will present information about each generation, focusing on social media and marketing tricks as well as best practices for Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. “This is Not Who We Are:” Discussing Whiteness, Denial, & Division – 10 a.m. Monday, March 29 Laura Casey, a student success coach with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Retention Initiatives (SRI) team, will host a discussion on the experiences of whiteness and confronting denial. She will be utilizing references such as Ibram Kendi’s book “How to Be an Antiracist” in her presentation to unpack what denial mixed with whiteness looks like. Exploring Our Power and Privilege – 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 30 Sharon Downs, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, will present this final event to encourage conversation on the concepts of power and privilege.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock senior overcomes injury to complete college education

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 09 May 2019 13:34:06 +0000

In 2016, Kaiden O’Suilleabhain’s life was on track. He had just graduated from the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College and was about to start school at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as an engineering major.�� His life soon took an unexpected turn he wasn’t sure he would ever overcome. “I had sudden cardiac arrest and suffered a brain injury. I was actually in a coma the first day that classes started,” O’Suilleabhain said. The year and a half that followed his injury would prove to be an intense journey through an extended hospitalization, rehabilitation, recovery, and setbacks, but O’Suilleabhain fought hard to get his life back and started at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in fall 2017. All his hard work paid off, and he will graduate May 11 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional and technical writing at the Jack Stephens Center. “Being back in college gave me a sense of normalcy I didn’t have anywhere in my life, so I fought my doctors to get back to college as quickly as possible,” he said. “The thing about coming back to school so quickly after an injury is that I wasn’t completely fixed.” Recovering from his injuries was not the only roadblock O’Suilleabhain faced in his efforts to complete his college degree. “Because of the fact that I mysteriously did not show up to class, I lost my scholarship,” he said. “The doctors told my parents I wouldn’t survive more than a couple of days, so they were more interested in getting my family in to see me before I passed. They didn’t know they needed to contact the school. Sharon Downs was very instrumental in helping me get the scholarship back, and I probably wouldn’t have made it back to school without her. The Disability Resource Center was also very helpful in getting me back to school.” O’Suilleabhain joined the Department of Rhetoric and Writing after getting some advice from a friend. “I originally came here to study engineering, but after my injuries, the doctors told me that I couldn’t pursue that,” he said. “A friend told me about the Rhetoric and Writing Department because she knew that I liked writing.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, O’Suilleabhain greatly sharpened his writing, editing, and design skills while working at the University Writing Center and interning at the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp., where he wrote and edited safety training materials for electric workers. “I loved my internship. I learned a lot about writing in the real world,” O’Suilleabhain said. “The audience I was writing for was rural electrical workers, pretty much the opposite of me. My job was to make the technical writing clean enough and in the right terms that people will want to read it. I have to look at all the obstacles people have to reading these manuals and overcome those preemptively.” O’Suilleabhain credits the rhetoric and writing faculty members with keeping him motivated and on track to complete his education. “For me, the faculty is my favorite part of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I’ve had some professors who really motivated me. I’ve had my health and other things on my mind while in college, but my teachers have kept me motivated,” O’Suilleabhain said. “Dr. Karen Kuralt stands out. She is one of the teachers who seems very excited about her work. I took one of her classes my first semester. Being a writer wasn’t my original plan. I was still feeling nebulous, and she helped me feel like I belong.” After graduation, O’Suilleabhain plans to work as a technical writer. “Graduation is pretty exciting,” he said. “Finishing college feels a lot like getting my life back in a way. This injury derailed my life, and I definitely feel accomplished now that I am graduating. This is a big step in rebuilding my life.”

Diversity Week set for March 26-30

Janea Snyder — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 13:18:48 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host an array of events for this year’s Diversity Week, including lunch-and-learns, a Human Library, movies and films, art, Safe Zone training, and an international food and dance festival. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Diversity Council started the annual Diversity Week celebration in 2015 as a way to highlight the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The event is held each spring, although the council is considering expanding the event to once per semester. This year’s event will be significantly larger than in years’ past. “The Diversity Council planned five activities, and then we opened it up to the campus community for additional workshops and events,” said Sharon Downs, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs and the Diversity Council chair. “The response was overwhelming. There are now 13 events.” This year’s Diversity Week events include: Monday, March 26 Lunch & Learn, Death By Dialect: Oppression of Language is Still Oppression, 12-1 p.m., DSC meeting room D Human Library, 2-5 p.m., Ottenheimer Library, 1st Floor The Human Library is designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue. Black Panther Movie Panel Discussion, 6-7 p.m., DSC C Tuesday, March 27 “A��첹,” a film about the Arab American immigrant experience followed by discussion, 10:50 a.m.-1 p.m., SSC Auditorium Lunch & Learn: Deaf panel, 1-2 p.m., DSC meeting room D LGBTQ Ally 101, 3-4 p.m., DSC Leadership Lounge Discussion about Safe Zone training content for employees and how students can be good allies to the LGBTQ community. Wednesday, March 28 “I See You: Blind contour drawings from Basic Drawing class,” 9-10:50 a.m., mall area “I See You” is a social practice project by the Windgate Center for Art and Design’s Basic Drawing students. Come get a quick portrait drawn of yourself, or draw a portrait of someone else. Lunch & Learn: Hidden in Plain Sight, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., DSC meeting room G Discussion: Subculture of low socioeconomic citizens in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community Safe Zone training for faculty and staff, 1-5 p.m., Dickinson 502 Thursday, March 29 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s WorldFest: A Food & Music Experience, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., ��DSC and surrounding outside areas Lunch & Learn: The Voice of Cesar Chavez and the Impact on Hispanic/Latinx communities, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., DSC Leadership Lounge Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace workshop, 12:30-1:30 p.m., DSC D Job seekers will learn what to look for when choosing companies that value diversity and inclusion, including what questions to ask during a job interview. Anderson Institute lecture series: “How Can Black Parents Rear Their Children to be Black Americans in a Color Conscious Society?” 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Ottenheimer 2nd floor “Te Ata” movie, 4-6 p.m., Ottenheimer 535 Produced by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, the film tells the story of Te Ata (1895-1995), internationally known Chickasaw actor and storyteller, who traveled the world educating audiences about Native American cultures. Expressing S’More Values, 7-8 p.m., Commons Great Room Students will discuss and compare their key values, create a display board showing values that are important to the students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. ��At the end of the event they will make s’mores. Friday, March 30 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s WorldFest: A Food & Music Experience, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., DSC and surrounding outside areas (mall area) The schedule is also online.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Wellness and Inclusion events in celebration of Halloween and LGBT History Month

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Choir Students Debut at Carnegie Hall

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Partners with Healthy Active Arkansas and Arkansas Department of Health to Celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Month with New Lactation Rooms

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Events to Recognize Diversity Month