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

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.

Dodd completes degree online while traveling to over 20 countries

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:55:52 +0000

Sarah Dodd believes that all dreams are possible. So when the motivational speaker and writer decided to finish her college degree to improve her communication skills, Dodd did not let the fact that she was following another dream — traveling the world — stand in her way. Dodd, a native of Mountain Home, Arkansas, was interested in the online bachelor’s degree in speech communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. After a one-hour phone conversation with Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, chair of the ��Vlog��ýLR Department of Applied Communication, Dodd was sold. “I talked to Dr. April on the phone, and it completely blew my mind. I decided right there that I was going to join the program, and I decided I was going to do it all in one year while traveling,” Dodd said. A year later, the 27-year-old is graduating early, having completed her degree online while traveling to more than 20 different countries. “I took it as a challenge,” she said. “I set this goal for myself to be a little crazy. Before the ��Vlog��ýLR communications program, I wasn’t as serious about what I wanted. When you have a goal and know exactly what you want, nothing can stop you.” For all her hard work, Dodd was awarded the Department of Applied Communication’s Making a Difference student award in spring 2016. “Every time I talk to her, I am encouraged by Sarah’s fortitude and desire to make a difference,” Chatham-Carpenter said. “Her passion in life is to motivate others to explore and live their dreams. In order to do this, she has had to face her fears and do things that she never thought were possible.” Dodd received the award for her international motivational speeches, in particular, earlier this year. Dr. Kristen McIntyre, associate professor of applied communication, helped Dodd develop the speech, which she delivered in Spanish.

Sarah Dodd gives a motivational speech at the largest TEDx conference in Spain. Photo courtesy of Sarah Dodd.

“Her recent TEDx talk in Spain, spoken in Spanish — a language she didn’t even know three years ago — about facing down your fears, is an example of the courage and persistence that is so typical of Sarah,” Chatham-Carpenter said.

Following her dreams

Dodd is no stranger to making her dreams a reality. At 17, she graduated high school one year early, packed up everything she owned, and moved to Florida to attend college. By 2012, she found herself with a long list of dreams waiting to be fulfilled, while also trapped in growing debt from college loans. After completing her associate’s degree in nursing, Dodd was determined to live debt free. She spent the next year working as much as possible, working double shifts, holidays, and overtime. Dodd was able to pay off $43,000 in debt in a little over a year. Finally free of debt, Dodd got a job as an au pair and moved to Spain in 2013 with the goal of learning Spanish. During this time, Dodd was careful with her money, because she planned to embark on a trip across Europe, Africa, and Asia. One of the highlights of this trip was the . In 2015, she walked 650 miles over 31 days from a small town in France to the west coast of Spain. “During the Camino, I was faced with my own silence for days and days, when I am used to talking all the time,” she said. “I was so empowered by this experience that I changed all of my habits and all of my life.” Finishing her bachelor’s degree online while traveling was often difficult. Dodd recalls many instances of sitting in the corner during a party or leaving social gatherings early in order to write papers and turn in her assignments on time.

Sarah Dodd visits Yogyakarta, Indonesia, during her world travels. Photo courtesy of Sarah Dodd.

“It’s called balance,” Dodd said. “When I was traveling, my answer was I got up at 5 in the morning, whether I wanted to or not. I meditated and exercised and ate right, because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to give 100 percent to my university.”

Life after graduation

Back home in Zaragoza, Spain, Dodd plans to build up her, social media presence, and motivational speaking. She already has more than 130,000 followers on social media. Once she receives her diploma, she is going to hang it on her wall, along with her other ��Vlog��ýLR accomplishments, as a reminder of all the hard work, time, and effort she put into ��Vlog��ýLR. Dodd also has a goal of traveling to every country in the world, including Antarctica, before her 35th birthday. “The message is about achieving your dreams on a professional and personal level,” Dodd said. “It’s about facing your fears and going out and living your dreams. It’s about not just doing it good, but doing it excellent.” In the upper right photo, Sarah Dodd visits with schoolchildren in Indonesia. Photo courtesy of Sarah Dodd.

New students welcomed at Freshman Convocation

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:02:40 +0000

In the 2001 movie “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” the character Samwise Gamgee realized that when he was about to take one more step from the Shire, he would be the farthest from home he had ever been. While delivering the keynote address at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Freshman Convocation on Aug. 16, Dr. Julien Mirivel described this movie scene as one that relates to new students. “We can all identify with this moment,” Mirivel said. “We are all on a journey. Some of you are far from home. Many of you will live probably for the first time without your parents around. All of you in this room are like Sam; you are about to make a pretty big step on an important journey. You are about to start your undergraduate experience.” During his address, Mirivel, interim associate dean for student success, instruction, and engagement in the College of Social Sciences and Communications, encouraged students to “keep their hands open.” “Learning is about opening your hand,” he said. “Learning is about accepting. It’s such a beautiful idea that one way you can embody this idea of opening your hand on this journey is to be wide open to learning. Ideas, concepts, theories across disciplines will change the way you see things.”

Interim Chancellor Dr. Zulma Toro delivers well wishes for new students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock during the Aug. 16 Freshman Convocation. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ýLR Communications.

University leaders attended the convocation dressed in black academic regalia to welcome new students with inspiring speeches and well wishes for the Class of 2020. The tradition of wearing distinctive academic attire originated in Europe during the 12th century. Faculty members at the university wear regalia as a show of support and commitment to the success of ��Vlog��ýLR students. “An academic convocation is a ceremony that invokes centuries of tradition in higher education,” said Dr. Zulma Toro, interim chancellor and executive vice chancellor and provost. “The faculty are dressed in their academic regalia. Our robes and colorful hoods both symbolize significant events in higher education and honor the longstanding historic role of teacher and scholar.” Dr. Brad Patterson, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, assured new students they can be successful at ��Vlog��ýLR and follow their dreams into graduate school, a career, volunteer work, or wherever life may take them. “You’re the Class of 2020, which means that you are going to stay on track for graduation, and we are going to get you all on to the next step in your journey in the next four years,” Patterson said. “We want to do everything we can to ensure that you reach those educational goals and that we help you take that next step, no matter what it may be.” Connor Donovan, president of the ��Vlog��ýLR Student Government Association, encouraged students to be active in their college careers. “New members of my Trojan family, this is where you will make it,” Connor said. “This is where you will get up early and go to these classes, and you learn things you never imagined existed. You join in at pep rallies, and then all of a sudden one day you are surrounded by love and friendships that will empower you to do whatever your heart desires. This university has all the resources you could possibly imagine.” In the upper right photo, Dr. Julien Mirivel delivers the keynote address at the Aug. 16 Freshman Convocation at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ýLR Communications.

Public invited to leadership, communication lecture series

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 15:40:10 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will offer a public lecture series during the 2016-17 academic year covering topics on current leadership and change management. Organizers say the series is a good fit for leaders seeking to enhance their communication and leadership knowledge, employees desiring career development, as well as ��Vlog��ýLR students and alumni. The Leadership Lecture Series was conceived by the newly renamed Department of Applied Communication at ��Vlog��ýLR (formerly Speech Communication) and will feature former and current faculty members and alumni who are experts in their fields. The lectures are free; however, a $15 contribution is requested to help cover the cost of each event. Department Chair April Chatham-Carpenter said the concept stemmed from a committee formed more than a year ago to explore ways to engage the community and help raise the profile of the department and university. The committee worked with the department’s alumni/development board to implement the idea. “We wanted to actively involve our community leaders, alumni, and other interested people in our mission who might also want to improve their communication skills in an easy and affordable way,” Chatham-Carpenter said. Chatham-Carpenter said the department faculty members believe strongly “in the power of positive communication to create better social worlds,” and the lecture series is just one part of sharing that mission. Each lecture, which will be held at the ��Vlog��ýLR Bailey Alumni Center from 7 to 9 p.m. on select Thursdays throughout the fall and spring, will be followed by a question/answer session and networking opportunities. A certificate of completion will be awarded to those attending all the lectures. The following speakers and topics are scheduled:

Dr. Julien Mirivel, “The Art of Positive Communication for Leaders: Small Actions with Big Impact,” Sept. 8
Dr. Carol Thompson, “Nonverbal Communication for Today’s Leaders.” Nov. 3
Dr. Linda Pledger, “Managing Conflict Positively as a Transformational Leader,” Feb. 16
Mary Cantrell, “Why Yes Works for Leaders,” April 20

Background information with suggested readings for the lectures will be provided. Light refreshments will be served. More information about the speakers and topics is available at the , along with ticket information.

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.

70-year-old ��Vlog��ýLR grad fulfills lifelong dream

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 13 May 2016 15:28:07 +0000

Every couple of years, Phillip Bryant Sr. has a nightmare. “I am in college, and right before I can get my degree, the school would burn up, or it would fall in a hole in the ground,” he said. “It’s always something where I could never get my degree.” At 70, Bryant has overcome his recurring nightmares and fulfilled a lifelong dream of earning a college degree. He will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication Saturday, May 14, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

What’s a 70-year-old going to do with a degree?

Among other things, Bryant is the self-described last hippie in America to get a college degree. “What people don’t remember is that 95 percent of hippies got a college degree,” he said. “If I had a hammer, I’d ring out love to my brothers and sisters all over this land.” His detractors have asked him: What is a 70-year-old going to do with a college degree? “No. 1, I am putting it in an expensive frame and hanging it on the wall. Isn’t that what everyone else does with their degrees?” Bryant never set out to earn a degree from ��Vlog��ýLR. He started taking academic classes in 2013 when he enrolled in a golf course with his friends. “I came over to get a golf class, and my mind said, ‘take some classes,’” he said. “If you are going to come to a university, you should get educated in something other than golf.” Bryant greatly enjoyed his music, history, art, and literature classes but discovered that he did not take well to computer and language courses. His world literature class inspired him so much that he spent the summer of 2013 writing a manuscript, “The Deacons Must Get Paid,” which will be published as a book this year. Bryant describes it as an “eye-catching, educational, and informative book” that gives an “in-depth understanding of the churches.”

A long road

Born the youngest of eight children in 1946, Bryant quit school in the 11th grade to move to Los Angeles. A year later, he returned to Little Rock to be with his family when his older brother entered the military. Bryant re-enrolled with the goal of completing high school. However, during his senior year, his wife, Beverly, got pregnant, so Bryant dropped out of high school for the second time to support his growing family. He spent three years in the U.S. Army from 1966-1969, 18 months stationed at Ft. Polk in Louisiana and the rest in Saigon, Vietnam. He earned his high school GED while serving in the military. Upon returning from Vietnam, he spent four years taking classes at Arkansas Baptist College, but he never graduated. “Between 1969 and 1973, I accumulated 109 college credit hours with nothing pointed toward a career,” he said. Meanwhile, Bryant had already gone into business for himself in 1970, first with a furniture upholstery shop and then with a furniture store. Eventually, Bryant took up floor covering work, installing carpeting, vinyl, and tile in homes and businesses, which he did until he retired in 2007.

A path to graduation

Bryant had been taking classes at ��Vlog��ýLR for a year and a half before he realized he could get a degree. He first committed to history but had difficulty filling the foreign language requirement. He then switched to speech communication, where he found a good fit with his interests and skills. “Once he found the Department of Speech Communication, he knew he had found his home,” said Department Chair April Chatham-Carpenter. “The courses in the department taught him how to be more reflective about how he communicated with others. These opportunities allowed him to continue his quest for lifelong learning that he had started as a business entrepreneur and owner of multiple businesses, along with his passion for writing poetry and songs.” As part of his speech communication classes, Bryant participated in a study abroad trip to learn about hybrid cultures in Trinidad during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2015. “We had nine students in the class,” said Dr. Avinash Thombre, an associate professor of speech communication who led the study abroad trip. “The youngest was 22, and the oldest was Phillip, who was 69. It is a high-energy class. I wondered if he would be able to do it, and it turns out he was the most energetic of the whole class.” Bryant shows a dedication and enthusiasm that influences younger students, Thombre said. “He is the most dedicated student I have seen in terms of being on time, coming to class, and trying to understand,” Thombre said. “As a teacher, I think it helps to see somebody in the classroom who is a role model for these younger students.”

Post-graduation plans

While Bryant does not plan to use his degree to get a new job, his classes have inspired him to become a writer. In addition to the book he has coming out later this year, he is writing two manuscripts he hopes to publish. As someone who struggled with English classes in junior high and high school, Bryant is thankful to ��Vlog��ýLR for helping him become a better writer. “I never thought it was possible that I could write anything inspiring or positive,” he said. “Now that I have gotten older and attended the great ��Vlog��ýLR and the great Ph.D. professors, the ones that show kindness and love to students, they have inspired me.” Bryant is also looking forward to celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 29 with Beverly and their 15-year-old grandson, Phillip Bryant III.

Fundraiser to benefit speech communication students

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 21:53:43 +0000

Alumni and friends of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Speech Communication are invited to an upcoming celebration to raise money for a pair of scholarships. The event, which honors Drs. Allan Ward and Angie Laird Brenton, includes hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a silent auction. It’s set to run from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the ��Vlog��ýLR Bailey Alumni Center. Admission is $20, payable at the door. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP, but same-day registrants are welcome. Proceeds benefit the Dr. Angie Laird Brenton Memorial Scholarship Fund as well as the Dr. Allan Ward Endowment Student Success Fund. Donations to the funds also can be made online.

December graduate attaining a dream

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 20:16:10 +0000

Bettina Bryant’s journey to graduation was long and difficult. Bryant, a single mother of three, went through a period of homelessness, and while at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, she suffered a stroke. She persevered, securing the right to participate in the 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, commencement ceremony — her first opportunity to wear a cap and gown. She didn’t graduate with her high school class 30 years ago. Bryant, who prides herself on being resilient, said she earned her bachelor’s degree in speech communication “by the grace of God and believing in myself, regardless of what people say.” Through her many challenges, Bryant held on to her dreams of bettering her situation and clearing the way so her children didn’t have the same difficulties she experienced, said Cheryl Johnston, instructor in the ��Vlog��ýLR Department of Speech Communication. “Putting others’ dreams before (her) own is something that Bettina Bryant knows a lot about,” Johnston said. One of Bryant’s sons has earned a master’s degree, and the other son is an Army sergeant taking classes online. Her daughter is a college student in Georgia. “It is through their accomplishments that I know I raised them right, as a single parent,” Bryant said. She chose to study speech and communication because she enjoys interacting with people — to the point that some have suggested she become a politician. “I love listening and trying to help or give ideas,” Bryant said. While politics might not be in her future plans, Bryant is leaving her options open. She plans to continue her education and is eyeing future careers in nursing or human resources. Her experience at ��Vlog��ýLR was rewarding, and Bryant said she particularly appreciated the work of Johnston as well as Drs. Gerald W. Driskill and Avinash Thombre, also faculty members in the Department of Speech Communication. For Johnston, the admiration is mutual. “It may have taken her longer than most, but (Bryant’s) determination is an inspiration, not only for her children, but all of us here today to witness her accomplishment.”

��Vlog��ýLR professor advancing crisis communication research

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 16:19:17 +0000

From fires to fraud, all organizations face potential public and internal crisis communication situations. Their responses can shape their identity for years to come. Dr. Ryan Fuller, University of Arkansas at Little Rock assistant professor of speech communication, is helping organizations better prepare their communication plans before devastating events occur, thanks to a $2,000 grant from the . Centered on the communication readiness evaluation system Fuller designed, the project, titled “Readiness for Renewal: A Service-Learning Research Project in the Crisis Communication Course,” has two focuses. First, he will further refine the evaluation he created. Second, in the spring of 2016, he will lead ��Vlog��ýLR graduate and undergraduate students in service learning projects that implement the tool in local organizations. The evaluation tool is research based and is targeted at meeting a critical need for companies, as most existing crisis management tools address how well a situation was handled after something occurs. Fuller’s method is designed to help organizations make sure they are ready to respond honestly, think progressively, and communicate positively during and after a crisis. Organizations will be prompted to form communication plans that build crisis resilience rather than just survival. The project is intended to not only benefit organizations, but also ��Vlog��ýLR students and the crisis management research field. Participation in service learning gives students hands-on professional experience with real clients, letting them practice the communication principles that Fuller teaches. His students will work with an organization in the community, selected with the help of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, to identify its crisis management concerns, stakes, and current readiness level. They will then develop a personalized plan for crisis communication that takes into account that organization’s audience, mission, needs, and brand, while also prioritizing honesty and responsibility. The C.R. Anderson Research Fund grant will enable Fuller to employ an undergraduate student to assist in the project work. By the end of the spring semester, Fuller hopes to create more self-reflective, crisis-ready organizations, as well as communication career-ready students.

Alum tabbed for Arkansas Suicide Prevention Council

Shanna Fitzgerald — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 17:56:58 +0000

Bruce Trimble, graduate of ��Vlog��ýLR’s College of Social Sciences and Communication

Gov. Asa Hutchinson recently appointed a University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumnus to serve on a new statewide group tasked with preventing suicide. Bruce Trimble, a graduate of ��Vlog��ýLR’s College of Social Sciences and Communication, joins the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Council, which was formed this year in an effort to put an end to suicide throughout the state. Trimble, director of business development at , will be one of more than 20 members of the Suicide Prevention Council. He also serves on the ��Vlog��ýLR Speech Communication Development Council, which created the Dr. Angela Laird Brenton Endowment Scholarship — the first-ever private scholarship endowment for the university’s speech communication department. The fund was named in memory of a former dean of the ��Vlog��ýLR College of Professional Studies. In April, the ’s Arkansas chapter honored Trimble with the 2015 Crystal Award. The award recognizes chapter members for their significant and consistent contributions to the public relations profession.

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