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

Ward to receive 2017 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Presidents Award

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 10 May 2017 17:27:52 +0000

When Rebecca Ward discovered a need for social work student scholarships at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, she quickly jumped into action. Ward, a 1979 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a Master of Social Work degree, organized fellow social work alumni into a community advisory board with the goal of creating an endowed scholarship for social work students at the university. “I came to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and the first week it snowed and I fell on the ice,” Ward said. “It was an awful beginning, but turned out to be a life-affirming experience after I had just been divorced. The professors were great, and I felt like I got a great education. I wanted to give something back. If you love your university, it’s natural.” Ward’s philanthropic spirit and desire to help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students are among the reasons she was named the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association’s Presidents Award winner. The award is bestowed on individuals with career success and a profound dedication to the university. Ward will be honored during the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration, presented by Baptist Health, at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 12, in the Great Hall of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Her foray into fundraising was a learning process. The advisory committee’s first fundraiser in 2010 earned about $1,500. After six years, the group raised more than $100,000 for social work scholarships. Ward arrived at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1977 at a time of great transition. Having recently divorced, she was the quintessential nontraditional student out to earn an advanced degree and a better career to provide for her young son, Dan Smith. She had to leave her home in Arkadelphia at 5 a.m. to make it to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for 7 a.m. classes. Although he kept it a secret for many years, her son, who was 9 at the time, used to stand at the window to watch his mother leave for school and ask God to please bring his mother back to him. “When your mom is a single parent, your mother is your whole world,” said Smith, who is now a dermatologist in Little Rock. Originally, Ward thought she would become a language teacher. She earned bachelor’s degrees in English and French and completed the educational requirements for teaching certification from Ouachita Baptist University in 1964. After reading “What Do You Say After You Say Hello” by Eric Berne, she became interested in psychology and social work as a way to help people. She was also inspired by her aunt, Dr. Virginia Boyle, who worked as a clinical psychologist in North Carolina. Ward studied psychology at the University of Central Arkansas before completing a master’s degree in social agency counseling at Henderson State University in 1977. During her career, Ward worked at Arkansas Children’s Colony, Greater Little Rock Community Mental Health Center, Ouachita Regional Mental Health Center, and several private practices. She has been in private practice with her partner, Howard Turney, the past 10 years. The two think of each other as family and “try to out-nice each other.” After serving as chair of the School of Social Work Advisory Committee, Ward joined the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association board of directors as president from 2010 to 2014. Ward and her fellow board members help oversee hundreds of scholarships for potential and current ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. Additionally, Ward is a past chair of the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board, Arkansas Hospice, and Thea Foundation. She has also served on the Arkansas Association for Marital and Family Therapists. She spent 17 years as the therapist on the television show “Good Morning Arkansas,” is a contributor to AY Magazine, and is the author of the 2000 book “How to Stay Married Without Going Crazy.” Ward is currently writing a book for caregivers inspired by the person she admires most, her husband, Don, who had a stroke in 2015. “My husband has shown great dignity and perseverance. I look for people who persevere and show grace under pressure,” she said.

Gradfest, ‘one-stop shop’ for graduation, set for Oct. 12-13

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 14:06:25 +0000

Gradfest, a “one-stop shop” for all things graduation, is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 12-13, in the Donaghey Student Center between Health Services and the . Caps and gowns will be available for purchase, and orders can be made for official ��Vlog��ýLR class rings and ��Vlog��ýLR personalized graduation announcements. The radio station, 106.7 The Ride, will be on site to broadcast the event live. Registration representatives also will be in attendance to inform students about graduation applications and commencement information. Alumni Association representatives will be available to chat with students about membership benefits, personalized bricks, and college license plates. During the event, students may enter for a chance to win a $300 ��Vlog��ýLR graduate package, consisting of a cap and gown, personalized brick, alumni T-shirt, alumni license plate frame, and official ��Vlog��ýLR diploma frame. To enter the contest, visit ��Vlog��ýLR BOSS online to fill out a graduation survey. Under the student services menu, click on “Answer A Survey” to complete the survey. For more information, contact Hyginus Ukadike at 501.569.3185.

University honors Heritage Society members

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 21:38:28 +0000

The future of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is near to Mary Moore’s heart. “I am hard of hearing, so I have always felt that the university’s audiology and speech pathology department’s Speech and Hearing Clinic offers a broader spectrum of services available than other places,” Moore said. Moore has been a client of the clinic, which recommends her hearing aides and provides other services, for years. She also serves on the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology Development Council. So when the opportunity arose to meet ��Vlog��ýLR’s new chancellor, Dr. Andrew Rogerson, she didn’t hesitate to join 30 other members of the university’s Heritage Society to have “Coffee with the Chancellor” Sept. 20 at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center. The event also recognized new members who joined the Heritage Society in the past year, including Elaine Eubank and Alfred Williams, Bill Ballard, and Loris Fullerton.

Chancellor Andrew Rogerson (left) presents a plaque to honor new Heritage Society members Elaine Eubank (middle) and Alfred Williams (right).

People can become a member of the Heritage Society by naming ��Vlog��ýLR in a will or trust, by designating the university as a life insurance or retirement plan beneficiary, or by creating some other type of planned gift. Only a statement of intent is required to participate in the Heritage Society. The society, formed in the 1990s, has had about 170 members through the years, who together contributed about $7 million to enrich the lives of future students and help the community. Almost $14 million more is planned, according to Jan Davis, director of gift planning. “Thank you for being a part of our Heritage Society,” Davis said told those who gathered for the event. “This is a very special group of people, and we are thankful for your support. We are thrilled we can celebrate you today and introduce you to our new chancellor.” The event represented the first chance for many Heritage Society members to meet Rogerson and his wife, Janessa. Rogerson answered questions on topics that ranged from ��Vlog��ýLR’s recent groundbreaking at the site of the future eStem Public Charter Schools high school on campus to the possibility of reducing the number of programs at ��Vlog��ýLR, to enhanced opportunities for the university to partner with nonprofit organizations in central Arkansas. “One of the reasons Janessa and I chose this university is because this is the only campus that spent half of the interview with the community and its leaders,” Rogerson said. “This showed a real willingness to make this university a part of the community. It’s my job, with anyone who wants to help in this room, to make this university a place where people want to be.” After spending her career working at several nonprofit organizations in central Arkansas, Moore, now a retiree, splits her time between being an Uber driver, a pet sitter, and an Airbnb host. Moore is always on the lookout for new things to do, and she is very interested in the chancellor’s ideas on expanding educational classes for seniors and providing more one-semester “signature experience” opportunities for ��Vlog��ýLR students.

Heritage Society member Mary Cantrell and Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement, attend “Coffee with the Chancellor”.

“We need to get our students involved in the community, learning about services offered in the community,” Moore said. “We need to do a lot of what the chancellor recommended. I am big on volunteerism, and I think every student should get involved in some degree and learn about civic organizations.” Another Heritage Society member, Dr. C. Earl Ramsey, director emeritus of the Donaghey Scholars Program who worked at the university for more than 40 years, was excited to meet a new chancellor with such extensive academic experience. “This event was terrific,” Ramsey said. “I think Dr. Rogerson has a chance to be one of our best chancellors ever. He is a real academic as well as being an administrator. He has a great breadth of experience and has published 130 academic articles.” University staff members want to see the ranks of the Heritage Society grow. Each gift is appreciated regardless of size, said Davis, who encourages people to let the university know when they include ��Vlog��ýLR in their estate plans. For more information about how to become a member of the Heritage Society, contact Davis at 501-569-8738 or jpdavis@ualr.edu. In the upper right photo, Chancellor Andrew Rogerson (right) talks to Dr. Mary Good (left) during the “Coffee with the Chancellor” event for ��Vlog��ýLR Heritage Society members. Photos by Danielle Hendrix.

Chancellor Andrew Rogerson reflects on his first day on the job

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 19:36:35 +0000

Dr. Andrew Rogerson began his journey as the new chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Sept. 1. Rogerson and his wife Janessa came to ��Vlog��ýLR from California, where Rogerson was provost and vice president of academic affairs at Sonoma State University, part of the California State University system. A native of Scotland, Rogerson earned both an undergraduate honors degree in biology and a doctorate in protozoan ecology. He has been a professor, scholar, and senior administrator at leading universities in England, Canada, and the United States, including Marshall University and Fresno State. At the end of his first day as chancellor on Sept. 1, the ��Vlog��ýLR Office of Communications and Marketing met with Rogerson to get the scoop on his move to Arkansas, his first day on the job, riding motorbikes to work, and his surprising past as an artist. Q. How are you and Janessa adjusting to life in Arkansas? A. We are enjoying the transition very much. Everyone has been very supportive. We are thrilled by the Southern hospitality and the generosity of the people we’ve met. A lot of what we’ve been involved with has been meeting members of the community. We have been starting off engaging with the community and university leaders in preparation for the kickoff of my first day. We have felt the warm hospitality of this state and this city. We are thrilled with the chancellor’s house and its potential to become a hub of entertainment. Q. How do you feel about beginning your journey as the chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock? A. I am very excited. It seems like it’s been a long time coming. I accepted the position towards the end of May, and here we are on Sept. 1. However, it couldn’t have happened any faster, because I did have to finish responsibly at Sonoma State and then transition to Arkansas. I have been impatient to get here and get started. I did spend the summer learning a lot about ��Vlog��ýLR, and I’ve had briefings sent to me, all of which has piqued my interest to get here and start this job.

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Q. Did Janessa give you any memorable advice today?

Go forth and be wonderful. My wife has a lot of confidence in me. Having spent 14 years in university administration, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is not a lot in the way of challenges that can hold me back. Janessa has a lot of confidence in me, so she just wanted to remind me that this will be a very challenging and rewarding job. She did make sure I was respectable for day one. I am famous for having a wardrobe in my office. I used to be notorious for not wearing a suit and tie, and that is mainly because I drove a motorbike to work, which is not conducive to wearing a suit and tie. Even today, I drove a red Ducati, a red Italian sports bike, to work. Q. What did you do on your first day as chancellor? A. It’s important to realize I am on an incredibly steep learning curve. My first day and first few weeks will be spent learning everything I can about this great university. So to start this learning course, today I spent time meeting my senior vice chancellors. I haven’t met with all of them. Today, I got up to speed with development, athletics, and community relations. I also had an intense session on the university’s budget and touched based with the head of the faculty senate, Andrew Wright. Q. What was the most memorable part of your first day as chancellor? A. I think it was all the well wishes from the current faculty and staff on the campus and via email. I also received surprise packages from some of the system presidents, vice chancellors, and deans. Everyone has been very welcoming. Q. Looking back on your first official day as chancellor, are there any thoughts you would like to share with the campus community? A. I am coming back for day two. I have no reservations about coming in for day two, because I have thoroughly enjoyed my first day.

��Vlog��ýLR Chancellor Andrew Rogerson and Janessa Rogerson enjoy a night at the ballpark during ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Night Aug. 27 at Dickey-Stephens Park.

Q. How would you describe your leadership style and your personal approach to being chancellor? A. I think a good scientist has a lot of the qualities of a good university leader, because you have to be ethical, a team player, collaborative, and resilient. You have to be patient. Scientists have to have a sense of humility, and we have to be good communicators. As for my management style, I am very willing to delegate, trust people to the best of their abilities, and to take my time making important decisions. This is something that Steven Sample, who was the president of the University of Southern California, called “artful procrastination” in his recent book, “The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership.” I also have a very casual manner. I don’t get upset when people make mistakes, because we are all human. All I ask is that people come to work in my office happy. Q. Tell me something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn. A. Although I am a scientist, I have always had a love of art. Since the age of 14, I have painted very seriously in oils. When I was 18, I had to make a decision on whether to become a scientist or go to the Glasgow School of Art. I chose science, but never lost my love of art. Also, not so surprising to those who know me, but I usually commute to work on two wheels or my orange MGB. It’s an old British car from the ’70s. Q. Is there anything else you would like to say? A. I think it’s important to know that Janessa and I didn’t choose this position lightly. Our intention is to stay here for the long haul and to help the University of Arkansas at Little Rock reach its full potential.

Elaine Eubank honored as 2016 ��Vlog��ýLR Distinguished Alumni Award winner

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 19 May 2016 22:18:27 +0000

A woman who has spent nearly four decades working in the public health sector and with nonprofit organizations recently received the 2016 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Distinguished Alumni Award. Elaine Eubank, president and CEO of , received the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association’s highest honor during a May 13 luncheon at the Clinton Presidential Center. “The Distinguished Alumni Award is recognized as a way to really point out exceptional achievement for former students of the university,” said Christian O’Neal, ��Vlog��ýLR vice chancellor for advancement. “Elaine Eubank has achieved extraordinary distinction in her career and made extraordinary contributions to Little Rock, to the university, and to the citizens of the state.” Eubank was the first person in her family to attend college, an opportunity she attributes to the hard work of her dedicated parents. “Thank you to ��Vlog��ýLR for this wonderful honor,” Eubank said. “I was the first in my family to have the opportunity to attend college, and that makes this more meaningful to me. The education that I received at ��Vlog��ýLR opened doors that made it possible for me to follow my heart in the career choices that I made, and that’s been a wonderful gift.” Eubank said she appreciates the many resources ��Vlog��ýLR has provided that have aided her work. “For 40 years, ��Vlog��ýLR has been a resource and a source of lifelong learning for me,” she said. “I’ve had so many special friends, faculty members, consultants, board members, and mentors from ��Vlog��ýLR over the years, and that also makes this very special to me. It’s no wonder that ��Vlog��ýLR is such an important partner to so many nonprofits in central Arkansas. I’m so grateful for the difference ��Vlog��ýLR has made in my life.” The award is also special to Eubank because she gets to join the ranks of family members who received some of ��Vlog��ýLR’s highest honors. Her husband, Alfred Williams, is a 2013 recipient of the ��Vlog��ýLR Presidents Award, and his father, E. Grainger Williams, is a 1957 recipient of the ��Vlog��ýLR Distinguished Alumni Award.

Becoming an advocate for those without a voice

After graduating from ��Vlog��ýLR with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1975, Eubank served as the director of women’s health at the Arkansas Department of Health, where she supervised the operation of 10 public health programs with an annual budget of $25 million that served approximately 80,000 patients. She next served as assistant director of the Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services, where she oversaw 10 statewide programs operated by more than 50 nonprofit agencies. One of her favorite aspects of her work is being an advocate for underserved populations in Arkansas. “In Arkansas, it is amazing what one person can accomplish if they go to the Capitol and lobby,” Eubank said. “I am a fighter and love being an advocate for people who don’t have a voice.”

Finding her place in nonprofit work

In 1992, Eubank moved to the nonprofit sector to become the president of , which provides resources for older people and their families in central Arkansas. Beginning with a staff of 400 employees and an annual budget of $4.5 million, Eubank helped the agency grow to almost 800 employees with an annual budget of $17 million. After 22 years at CareLink, Eubank became the president and CEO of Easter Seals Arkansas, a nonprofit organization that aids more than 20,000 Arkansans with disabilities per year. Easter Seals provides life-changing services that help children and adults with disabilities reach their full potential. For children, services include two developmental preschools, outpatient therapy, a children’s rehabilitation center, and in-home services. Services for adults include a wellness center, job training, four apartment complexes, and in-home services. Arkansas Business named her one of the Top 100 Women in Arkansas in 1995, and she is a former board member of the Rotary Club of Little Rock. She is a member of Second Presbyterian Church and the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association. Eubank and her husband have been married for more than 30 years and have two children and three grandchildren. She enjoys reading, gardening, and watersports, especially stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking with her dogs Winston and Daisy. In the upper right photo, the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Elaine Eubank, and her husband, Alfred Williams, are pictured at the Distinguished Alumni Luncheon. Photos by Lonnie Timmons III.

Chloe Deaton named Whitbeck Award winner

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 02 May 2016 17:38:48 +0000

A Donaghey Scholar who taught women in Nicaragua how to support themselves by making metal jewelry and selling their creations online is the recipient of the 2016 Edward L. Whitbeck Memorial Award. Chloe Deaton, 23, of Little Rock, has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average while double majoring in Spanish and fine arts with an emphasis in metals at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Whitbeck Memorial Award is the single greatest distinction the university annually bestows on a graduating student. Deaton will receive the award during a luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 13, at the Clinton Presidential Center Great Hall in Little Rock. Elaine Eubank, who will receive the ��Vlog��ýLR Distinguished Alumni Award, and Paul Nolte, who will receive the ��Vlog��ýLR Presidents Award also will be honored during the event. Deaton’s final project for the Donaghey Scholars program included leading a metal jewelry making class for Nicaraguan women participating in Nueva Imagen, a program teaching new life skills to women previously trapped in prostitution. Before she left, Deaton raised more than $1,700 for tools and supplies during a two-week period via social media. When she returned home, she created a business plan to help participants sell their products online. “That opportunity was the most complete I have ever felt,” Deaton said. “I cannot fully express the joy that is found in seeing these marginalized women transform into confident, hammer-wielding craftspeople. I believe that work like this project embodies the idea of citizenship. “Utilizing the skills we have all acquired at ��Vlog��ýLR to make a positive impact is perhaps the best way to give back and fulfill our duties as privileged citizens of the world.” As someone who is not afraid to take on new challenges, Deaton also created a stop-motion animated film entirely on her own for her final fine arts major project. is about a cricket tailor who helps out the bullying dung beetle mayor, who has ripped his pants at an inopportune moment. “It has an underlying message of class and equality,” she said. “The mayor does something bad to the cricket, and the cricket still does something nice when the mayor needs help.” The film was accepted into seven film festivals and won several awards, including Best Student Film at the Indie Film Festival in Switzerland, Best College Film at the Austin Student Film Festival, and the Presidential Award at the North Carolina Film Awards. Coming from a family that believes strongly in giving back, Deaton has always been active in her community. She volunteered as a facilitator at World Services for the Blind, a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a translator for Community of Grace Health Center, and a tutor at Franklin Elementary School. After doctors diagnosed Type 1 diabetes in Deaton when she was a child, her parents helped found a local chapter of the in Little Rock, where Deaton still volunteers as an ambassador. Most people would not realize just how accomplished Deaton is because she “has the potential to fly under people’s radar,” said Simon Hawkins, interim director of the Donaghey Scholars Program. “She is friendly and personable, but her demeanor is quite modest,” Hawkins said. “Sometimes getting her to list accomplishments is like pulling teeth, but her work is impressive in its complexity, detail, thoughtfulness, and commitment to others.” Deaton has worked in leadership positions in several ��Vlog��ýLR organizations. She restarted ��Vlog��ýLR’s Spanish Club and has served as president for the past three years. She also served as personnel chair of Chi Omega Fraternity and was a founding member of Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society. She is also a member of Golden Key International Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Sigma Delta Pi. The ��Vlog��ýLR Faculty Senate Honors and Awards Committee makes the annual selection of the outstanding senior based on the criteria of citizenship, scholarship, and leadership. Frank L. and Beverly Whitbeck established the award in memory of their son, Edward Lynn Whitbeck, who was a senior at Little Rock University, the predecessor of ��Vlog��ýLR, at the time of his death in 1965. Each scholar receives a personalized plaque and a monetary award and will lead the graduating students during the academic processional at spring graduation. Deaton is currently keeping busy by working as a cake decorator at Natalie Madison’s Artisan Cakes and as a radiology assistant at Radiology Associates, P.A. After graduation, Deaton is getting married May 21 to her fiancé, Mr. Kaley Crum. This summer, she plans to finish her second stop-motion animated film about two Florida retirees playing on the beach and the humorous situations that arise.

Taste of Little Rock raises $121,000 for ��Vlog��ýLR scholarships

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 13:53:05 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Alumni Association raised more than $121,500 for student scholarships during one of its largest annual fundraising events, Taste of Little Rock. The money will go to the ��Vlog��ýLR Scholarship Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for 12 deserving ��Vlog��ýLR students. The Alumni Association broke its fundraising goal of $100,000 by more than $21,500, thanks to generous sponsors, donors, and the more than 750 people who attended the April 14 event at ��Vlog��ýLR’s Jack Stephens Center. In its 13th year, the upscale food-tasting event featured more than 40 of Little Rock’s most popular restaurants. Bob and Peggy Denman, dedicated alumni of ��Vlog��ýLR and active members of the Little Rock community, were the night’s featured guests of honor. Bob Denman, president of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, also known as Club 99, retired from ��Vlog��ýLR as the vice chancellor for advancement on March 30. Denman managed some of the largest gifts in ��Vlog��ýLR history, including the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which lasted 10 years and raised $103.4 million. In the upper right photo, members of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Greek community volunteer at Taste of Little Rock. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III.

��Vlog��ýLR honors Denmans during Taste of Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 16:44:18 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor one of the university’s most successful fundraisers and his wife during a Taste of Little Rock Thursday, April 14. While raising money for student scholarships, Taste of Little Rock will feature some of the best food in the city from 40 of Little Rock’s most popular restaurants. The event is set for 6 to 8 p.m. April 14 at ��Vlog��ýLR’s Jack Stephens Center. The guests of honor are Bob and Peggy Denman, who are dedicated alumni of ��Vlog��ýLR and active members of the Little Rock community. Bob Denman, president of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, retired from ��Vlog��ýLR as the vice chancellor for advancement on March 30. Denman managed some of the largest gifts in ��Vlog��ýLR history, including the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which lasted 10 years and raised $103.4 million. “Bob’s work as vice chancellor led us through the largest fundraising endeavor undertaken by ��Vlog��ýLR,” said Chris O’Neal, vice chancellor for advancement. “His work has grown the number of loyal and generous alumni, benefactors, and volunteers to unprecedented levels.” Entering its 13th year, the Taste of Little Rock is one of the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association’s largest annual fundraising events. The association’s goal is to raise $100,000 for the ��Vlog��ýLR Scholarship Endowment Fund. Each year, 10 to 12 scholarships are awarded to deserving students through the fund. “The ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association will award a record number of scholarships this year to ��Vlog��ýLR students,” O’Neal said. “Among them will be class presidents and team captains. Some are going to be coders, musicians, and even filmmakers. Others will found startups and nonprofits and become published authors. The proceeds, sponsorships, and tickets sales from Taste of Little Rock help us award premiere scholarships to ��Vlog��ýLR students in perpetuity.” Individual tickets are on sale for $75. The dress is business casual. To order tickets, please contact the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni office at 501-683-7208 or send an email to alumni@ualr.edu, or purchase tickets online. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Taste of Little Rock Restaurants American Pie Big Whiskey’s American Bar & Grill Bistro Catering Bravo! Cache Restaurant Cajuns Wharf Cantina Laredo Capers Restaurant Catering to You Cheers/Samantha’s Taproom Chef Shuttle ��ܲ�’s Community Bakery Del Frisco’s Grille Diamond Bear Brewing Company and The Ale House Doe’s Eat Place Faded Rose Forty-Two Franke’s Cafeteria Green Leaf Grill Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken Heights Taco and Tamale Jerky’s Spicy Chicken and More Juice Bar Little Rock Le Pops Oceans at Arthur’s One Eleven at the Capital Pulaski Technical College – Culinary Arts Institute So Restaurant Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe The Copper Grill The Lemon Cakery The Pantry/The PantryCrest Three Fold Noodles and Dumpling Co. Trio’s Restaurant U. S. Pizza Company Whole Hog Cafe YaYa’s European Bistro Zoes Kitchen Taste of Little Rock Sponsors Presenting Sponsor Verizon Wireless and Glazer’s Distributors Platinum Sponsor Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield Haskell and Peggy Dickinson Sigma Nu Fraternity, Eta Xi Chapter Gold Sponsor Diamond Bear Brewing Company Mauri and Lee Douglass Toast of the Taste Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Arkansas Democrat Gazette AY Magazine – Angela Thomas Bill and Connie Bloodworth Martha Sawrie Stephenson – Chi Omega College of Business College of Education and Health Professions John and Susan Crawford Daily Record Diamond Bear Brewery Thomas and Anna Dickinson Bob and Peggy Denman Donaghey Scholars – Stasia McDonald Edward Jones – Kelly Journey Entergy Gateway Bank – Troy Duke Greater Kappa Sigma Alumni Theta Eta Chapter Iberia Bank – Pamela Lamb Irwin Partners – Sean and Mary Glancy The Janet Jones Company Matlock and Associates – Lester Matlock Paul and Diana Nolte Christian and Julie O’Neal Bill and Marnette Ragon Don and Dee Riggin Darren and Holly Rose The Rotary Club of Little Rock – Club 99 Simmons Bank Renee Shapiro Rebecca Ward Troy Wells

Vice Chancellor Bob Denman retires from ��Vlog��ýLR

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 18:32:54 +0000

If someone asked University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Joel Anderson what Bob Denman has been worth to him, he’d say “at least $103 million.” The retired vice chancellor for advancement spearheaded the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which lasted 10 years and raised $103.4 million. Anderson highlighted the campaign as one of Denman’s greatest accomplishments during his 15-year career at ��Vlog��ýLR, as colleagues, friends and family members wished Denman well at his retirement reception March 31 at the Bailey Alumni Center. “If you think about undertaking a $100-million comprehensive campaign at an institution where it had not been done before and to launch it before all the infrastructure was in place, that was bold,” Anderson said. “Bob really was the person who was most responsible for that campaign and its great success.” Bob Denman joined ��Vlog��ýLR in 2001 as the associate vice chancellor and director of development. “Retiring from ��Vlog��ýLR has been bittersweet,” Denman said. “I never doubted the time was right, but, as the time approached, there was a lot of anxiety. It was kind of like graduating from college. I am proud of the accomplishments but sad the journey is over. There will be a lot to miss: great colleagues, generous donors, and the thrill of new accomplishments.” Related: 2016 Taste of Little Rock to honor Bob and Peggy Denman He left a successful broadcast television career after Charles Hathaway, ��Vlog��ýLR’s chancellor at the time, asked him a simple question: Are you adding value to anyone’s life? “Those seven words changed my life,” Denman said. “They caused me to leave a job I never thought that I would to come here.” While at ��Vlog��ýLR, Denman helped manage the largest gifts in the institution’s history, including a $22.4 million donation from Jack Stephens that led to construction of the Jack Stephens Center, and a recent $20.3 million gift from the Windgate Charitable Foundation that will be used to build a new center for art and design on campus. In addition, the campus faculty and staff participation in campus giving rose from 6 percent to 70 percent, one of the highest in the nation. Denman’s employees describe him as an empathetic leader who was dedicated to helping his employees succeed in life. “I’ve known Bob for the 11 years I have been working at ��Vlog��ýLR as a mentor, as a leader, and, as he retires, as a friend,” said Andrea Angel, senior director of development. “Bob is an amazing boss. He leads by example and always leads you on a path for success.” Clayton Andrews, an annual giving and membership associate, said Denman has been “really great to work for” during Andrews’ five years with the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association. “He has been a tremendous leader, and he is a boss that you enjoy working for,” Andrews said. Denman’s hard work on behalf of the university was driven by his desire to help students gain a college education, Anderson said. “Bob always loved the students and was concerned about their welfare and making the campus really hospitable for them,” Anderson said. “He was always raising scholarship dollars so that those for whom money was a barrier would still be able to gain an education.” During his time as a university leader, Denman, a 1974 ��Vlog��ýLR graduate, was president of the university Alumni Association and chairman of the Foundation Fund Board. He was a 1993 winner of the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association Presidents Award, an annual honor that recognizes a graduate who pairs career success with dedication to the university. “I think he has been one of the best hires ��Vlog��ýLR has ever made,” said Sheila Castin, who now chairs the Foundation Fund Board after Denman’s tenure. “He has made a big difference in the way development was handled. His heart was always with ��Vlog��ýLR, and that makes a huge difference.” In addition to being a mentor for his employees, Denman was willing to help anyone at ��Vlog��ýLR who knocked on his door. Aresh Assadi, a counselor at ��Vlog��ýLR Counseling Services, recalled that Denman spoke in one of his graduate classes about fundraising. Afterward, he sought Denman’s advice on how to raise money for Suicide Prevention Week events. At the time, Assadi was wondering how he could plan a week’s worth of events with only a $1,000 budget, especially considering he estimated he needed $15,000. With Denman’s help, Assadi received donations and in-kind gifts from many Little Rock-area companies in support of Suicide Prevention Week. “He guided me and served as a mentor on how to approach fundraising,” Assadi said. “I had zero experience in fundraising. Now our office is raising between $10,000 and $15,000 a year.” In 2014, Denman served as the ��Vlog��ýLR interim director of athletics — one of many roles he filled with the university through the years. Denman’s wife of nearly 44 years, Peggy, insists that “Bob loved being interim athletic director, but he won’t admit it.” Now that Denman has retired, he is going to spend more time with Peggy, his “best friend,” playing his beloved sport of golf (a pastime that was recognized by Anderson’s retirement gift of ��Vlog��ýLR golf clubs), and playing with his grandchildren. His 12-year-old granddaughter, Nadia Denman, is looking forward to having more time with her grandfather. She described Denman as a “funny grandpa” who “can tolerate my jokes most of the time.” Nadia, who wants to be an architect, said Denman “loved his work at ��Vlog��ýLR because it helps enrich students’ lives.” Even though he has retired, Denman won’t be far from ��Vlog��ýLR. He will begin working part time for ��Vlog��ýLR’s Office of Alumni and Development in May, and he is also chairing an advisory committee to assist in the search for the next chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Chancellor Joel Anderson will retire in June following a 13-year tenure as chancellor and a 45-year career at the university. “Luck may not be as random as it seems,” Denman said. “Luck continues to find me. I’ve already been hired by my new boss, Christian O’Neal, (Denman’s replacement as vice chancellor for advancement) starting in May. I look forward to continue service with the place I love.”

��Vlog��ýLR to honor Distinguished Alumni, Presidents award winners May 13

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 17:50:14 +0000

A woman who has dedicated her life to helping underserved populations in Arkansas gain access to better health care, education, food, and community-based services is the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Elaine Eubank is the president and chief executive officer of Easter Seals Arkansas, a nonprofit organization that helps more than 20,000 Arkansas children and adults with disabilities per year. She will receive the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association’s highest honor at a luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 13, at the Great Hall in the Clinton Presidential Center. Joining Eubank is the 2016 ��Vlog��ýLR Presidents Award recipient, Paul Nolte, a veteran entrepreneur of the election industry and a dedicated volunteer and member of the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association. This award is bestowed on individuals with career success and a profound dedication to the university. Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for advancement, hailed the award winners as two wonderful ��Vlog��ýLR alumni who are committed to their alma mater and dedicated to serving their community. “Elaine Eubank has achieved extraordinary distinction in her career and made extraordinary contributions to Little Rock, to the university, and to the citizens of the state,” O’Neal said. “The Presidents Award winner, Paul Nolte, has achieved remarkable success in his career and has donated hours upon hours of time and talent to the university and to Little Rock.” The event is hosted by the ��Vlog��ýLR Foundation Fund Board and the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association. Elaine Eubank Elaine Eubank has dedicated more than 35 years working in public health and nonprofit organizations. She was the first person in her family to attend college, an opportunity she says was possible because of her parents’ hard work. After graduating from ��Vlog��ýLR with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1975, Eubank served as the director of women’s health at the Arkansas Department of Health, where she supervised the operation of 10 public health programs serving approximately 80,000 patients and with an annual budget of $25 million. She next served as the assistant director of the Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services, where she oversaw 10 statewide programs operated by more than 50 nonprofit agencies. In 1992, Eubank moved to the nonprofit sector to become the president of CareLink, which provides resources for older people and their families in central Arkansas. Beginning with a staff of 400 employees and an annual budget of $4.5 million, Eubank helped the organization grow to almost 800 employees with an annual budget of $17 million. After 22 years at CareLink, Eubank became the president and CEO of Easter Seals Arkansas in 2015. Easter Seals provides life-changing services that help children and adults with disabilities reach their full potential. Arkansas Business named her one of the Top 100 Women in Arkansas in 1995, and she is a former board member of the Rotary Club of Little Rock. She is a member of Second Presbyterian Church and the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association. Eubank and her husband, Alfred Williams, have been married for more than 30 years and have two children and three grandchildren. She enjoys reading, gardening, and watersports, especially stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking with her dogs Winston and Daisy. Paul Nolte Paul Nolte is a veteran entrepreneur of the election industry and a dedicated volunteer and member of the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association. He has modernized the association’s scholarship application process and investments, ensuring that the association will be able to provide scholarships for generations of future Trojans. Nolte graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in advertising. When he returned to ��Vlog��ýLR to pursue courses in technology, databases, and computer coding in 2009, Nolte began volunteering at the Alumni Association and was soon serving on the board of directors. He has since served two, three-year terms, and is the immediate past chair of the Scholarship Committee. In his role as chair, he completely automated the scholarship system for the association, modernizing the application and interview processes, as well as planning and budgeting the scholarships up until 2024. Previously, the association gave out one-time scholarships to students. Thanks to Nolte’s dedicated work, the association now awards an increasing amount of continuing scholarships that follow students through their entire academic career at ��Vlog��ýLR. Nolte is also a beekeeper as well as a Master Gardener, whose current project is the Governor’s Mansion Vegetable Garden. He and his wife, Diana, are avid travelers who love to spend time with their three daughters, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

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

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Chancellor Andrew Rogerson reflects on his first day on the job

Elaine Eubank honored as 2016 ����Vlog��ýLR Distinguished Alumni Award winner

Chloe Deaton named Whitbeck Award winner

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����Vlog��ýLR honors Denmans during Taste of Little Rock

Vice Chancellor Bob Denman retires from ����Vlog��ýLR