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

��Vlog��ýLR honors Chancellor Anderson at commencement

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 18 May 2016 17:14:36 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock gave a tribute to retiring Chancellor Joel E. Anderson during his final commencement ceremony as chancellor May 14 at the Jack Stephens Center. About 1,000 students participated in one of three ��Vlog��ýLR ceremonies that Saturday. “His patience, his vision, and his compassion for those around him exemplifies the dignified professionalism that those who know him well understand comes from a core set of values that cannot be shaken or compromised,” said Dr. Donald R. Bobbit, president of the University of Arkansas System. Anderson began his 45-year career at ��Vlog��ýLR as an assistant professor of political science in 1971 and will retire on June 30 after 13 years as chancellor. “Chancellor Anderson has made a profound difference in the lives of students he taught, the careers of the faculty and staff he has mentored and supported, and the development of this university into a world-class institution,” Bobbit said. Upon addressing the graduating students, Anderson congratulated them on their hard work and pointed to ��Vlog��ýLR’s student diversity as one of its most remarkable characteristics. “To the graduates, this ceremony is for you, and it’s about you,” he said. “We have people seated on the floor here today who are probably 40 or 45 years away from applying for Social Security. We also have graduates seated on the floor today who have been receiving Social Security for some time. And then we have students all in between. It’s one of the remarkable characteristics of this university.” Anderson also gave new graduates a “chancellor’s charge” to “reach back down and give a hand” to others who are climbing the ladder of success.

In the upper right photo, Chancellor Joel E. Anderson walks to the stage during the 2016 spring commencement ceremony at Jack Stephens Center. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III.

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.

��Vlog��ýLR grad student completes 14-year journey

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 12 May 2016 13:23:48 +0000

While proudly donning her graduate cap and gown, Henrietta Smothers excitedly walked across the stage during ��Vlog��ýLR’s 2005 spring commencement to receive her hard-earned master’s degree in criminal justice. The only problem is that Smothers, parent coordinator at Little Rock School District, had not quite finished all the requirements for her degree. Fourteen years after beginning her master’s degree and 11 years after participating in commencement, Smothers graduated from ��Vlog��ýLR during the 2016 spring commencement May 14 at the Jack Stephens Center. The first time around, Smothers completed her coursework and did the research for her final paper on preparing non-violent drug offenders for successful re-entry into society. She just needed to write it down and turn it in. As Smothers laments, with four children to raise and a new business to run, life got in the way. “I started a new business, and that took up all my time,” she said. “BE Keepers was a tutoring business for children. I had several locations in the state. Managing everything was very time consuming, and I just never stopped long enough to do the paper.” In 2012, Arkansas changed the way it provided funding for supplemental education service providers, leaving many outside providers like BE Keepers without contracts. Without the business taking up all Smothers’ time, her four children and several professors at ��Vlog��ýLR urged her to finish her degree. “I am so glad that she is graduating,” said Dr. David Montague, ��Vlog��ýLR professor of criminal justice and interim director of eLearning. “Henri is one of those folks that really represents what ��Vlog��ýLR does best, helping people who had trouble getting through school to finish. She had a long road, but she did it, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.” In August 2013, Smothers re-enrolled at ��Vlog��ýLR. Due to the time lapse, she had to take an additional four courses as well as finish the final paper to graduate. When Smothers first enrolled in the criminal justice master’s program in 2002, it represented a return to school nearly 25 years after completing her bachelor’s degree in business administration from LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis. She made the decision to encourage her children to pursue higher education. “I was the first person from my family to graduate from college,” she said. “At the time, my daughters, Sasschon and Jessica, had graduated from Central High School, and Valerie had graduated from Mount Saint Mary. If my daughters had a college degree, we would be at the same level, so I had to get my master’s degree. I had to stay a step ahead, because I wanted my children to know that they needed to do better than me.” While earning her master’s degree took a little longer than she originally anticipated, Smothers was successful in inspiring her children to pursue higher education. Three of her children have college degrees, and her youngest, Justin Henderson, will graduate in the fall. Meanwhile, her oldest daughter, Dr. Valerie Henderson, earned a doctorate in psychology from Southern Illinois University and is now a licensed clinical psychologist in Wisconsin. Another daughter, Sasschon Henderson, went on to earn a master’s degree in public health from Emory University and is an information technology project manager. “Education is so important in our household,” Smothers said. “We believe that it will make a foundation for wherever you want to go in life. We believe you need education that will make you knowledgeable, well rounded, and will open up other opportunities that may not be available to you if you do not have a college education.” Smothers’ one regret is that her mentor, Professor Emeritus Dr. Charles Chastain, who passed away in 2015, will not see her graduate. “I regret Dr. Chastain did not live to see me finally accomplish this task,” Smothers said. “He was one of my favorite professors. He was always asking me when I was going to finish my degree.” Looking back on her 14-year journey to graduation, Smothers would encourage anyone to take the steps necessary to complete a degree. “Keep moving forward, one step at a time. That would be my advice,” she said. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You have to keep moving forward even when you stop and stumble and don’t think you are going to make it. I did stumble many times, but I made it.”

Record turnout expected for Spring 2015 Commencement

Gloria King — Tue, 12 May 2015 16:55:53 +0000

More than 1,500 students at ��Vlog��ýLR have applied for spring commencement, which will be held Saturday, May 16, at the Jack Stephens Center. With a record 750 graduation gowns already pre-ordered, the university expects a large commencement crowd. Ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. Both events will be available for viewing online via the ceremony live stream. At the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, the following colleges will confer degrees: College of Education and Health Professions George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology Graduate School For the 3 p.m. ceremony, the following colleges will confer degrees: College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences College of Business College of Social Sciences and Communication The afternoon ceremony will feature Derek Fisher, head basketball coach of the New York Knicks, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Liberal Arts degree. Fisher was a distinguished Trojan basketball player named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in his senior year at ��Vlog��ýLR. He was instrumental in winning five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. The ��Vlog��ýLR William H. Bowen School of Law ceremony will be at 12:30 p.m. in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright will deliver the keynote address for Bowen graduates, which will be carried by the C-SPAN network. The Stephens Center will open for guests at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony. Early arrival is recommended. ��Vlog��ýLR reminds its guests that the campus is smoke free.

Commencement ceremonies set for Dec. 20

Gloria King — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 21:15:31 +0000

More than 800 students are expected to participate in Fall Commencement ceremonies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Jack Stephens Center. In addition, ��Vlog��ýLR is granting a posthumous degree to Katherine Palludan, an anthropology major and magna cum laude graduate, who died in August following complications related to Loeys-Dietz syndrome, a disorder which affects the connective tissues throughout the body. Ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Both events will be available for viewing online via the Ceremony Live Stream. At the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, the following colleges will confer degrees:

College of Business
College of Social Sciences and Communication
College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences

For the 3 p.m. ceremony, the following colleges will confer degrees:

College of Education and Health Professions
George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
William H. Bowen School of Law

The Stephens Center will open for guests at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony. Early arrival is recommended. ��Vlog��ýLR reminds its guests that the campus is smoke free. ��Vlog��ýLR graduates are encouraged to join the Alumni Association and purchase a commemorative brick. For more information about commencement, contact the Office of Records and Registration.

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Commencement ceremonies set for May 17, inspector general to speak

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 09 May 2014 22:26:09 +0000

More than 1,400 students will join the ranks of University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumni following commencement exercises on Saturday, May 17. There will be three ��Vlog��ýLR ceremonies on Saturday, one at 9:30 a.m. and another 3 p.m. for the main campus at the ��Vlog��ýLR Jack Stephens Center. A separate commencement and hooding ceremony for graduates of The William H. Bowen School of Law will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center. Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt, president of the U of A System, will be among those to address ��Vlog��ýLR graduates during commencement at the Stephens Center. The afternoon ceremony at ��Vlog��ýLR will feature remarks from ��Vlog��ýLR Alumnus Jon T. Rymer, the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Defense. Jay Moody, a 1989 graduate and U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas, will speak to graduates of the Bowen Law School.

Jon T. Rymer, inspector general for U.S. Department of Defense

At the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, the following colleges will confer degrees: •College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences •College of Education •College of Professional Studies For the 3 p.m. ceremony, the following colleges will confer degrees: •College of Business •College of Science •George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology The Jack Stephens Center will open for guests at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony. Early arrival is recommended. ��Vlog��ýLR reminds its guests that the campus is smoke free. ��Vlog��ýLR graduates are encouraged to join the Alumni Association and purchase a commemorative brick. For more information about commencement, contact the Office of Records and Registration. Events will be available for viewing online via the Ceremony Live Stream.

Despite hardships, husband and wife team set to graduate together

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 09 May 2014 16:11:04 +0000

It’s been a long road, but Phoenix and Jacob Gatlin of Bryant will finally participate in commencement together as husband and wife Saturday, May 17, at ��Vlog��ýLR. Both will graduate with their associate degrees in general studies, with plans to continue working toward their bachelor’s degrees. They have encouraged each other’s successes so far, even as they persevered through many life-changing events. In early 2011, Phoenix became pregnant and later that same year, delivered their first daughter via emergency cesarean. Phoenix lost so much blood, a transfusion was required. “I remember getting the blood transfusion and shortly afterward, sitting in our hospital room catching up on our assignments online,” said Phoenix. Jacob helped by bringing Phoenix her books and laptop to the hospital and by ensuring she was comfortable while she worked. Only a few months later, Phoenix continued to struggle with health issues, ultimately requiring an iron infusion through a 12-hour intravenous drip. The 12 hours was spent studying with her husband while her mother brought food and drinks. In 2013, Phoenix became pregnant again. “My spring 2013 semester was so hard. I started having a really hard time with the pregnancy, and we were told that I needed bed rest. We were faced with a possible miscarriage,” she said. The couple was devastated. Eventually, things started to look up and on Nov. 15, they had their second daughter. But, by January, Phoenix was dealt another blow when her father died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 66. The family reeled in shock at the loss, but Phoenix said she knows her father will be with her as she and Jacob graduate Saturday. “Despite all of the hardships we have made it through because of our dedication to each other,” said Phoenix. “I had many things that could have stopped me. But my husband’s encouragement and support was stronger than all of that.” Learn how to earn an associate degree at ��Vlog��ýLR, go to Associate Degree Options.

For more information about the May 17 Commencement, go to 2014 Spring Commencement.

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Mom, daughter motivate each other, will graduate on same day

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 06 May 2014 18:22:14 +0000

For many college students, the last person they would choose to hang out with on a regular basis is their mother. But for Nina Green and her mother, Ingrid Green, being in school together became a mutually beneficial arrangement, one that culminates Saturday, May 17, when they both graduate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “It wasn’t weird at all going to school with my mom; it was actually nice,” said Nina. “I absolutely loved going to school with her because we were the positive motivating forces in each other’s lives to make sure we both made it to the finish line.” In fact, Nina said she realized it was “kind of cool” when she ended up taking a historical geology class a semester after her mother had taken it. “I was having difficulties with the class and instead of her telling me ‘oh honey, I took that so long ago I don’t remember that stuff,’ she was able to help me the whole way through. I got an ‘A’ in that class, thanks to my mom,” said Nina. Ingrid Green said Nina’s high school graduation in 2009 was part of her motivation to return to college. The fact that her parents had achieved educational success also influenced her decision. “I was inspired to get a bachelor’s degree because my father has a doctorate in educational psychology and my mother has a master’s degree in counseling,” said Ingrid. Ingrid had 32 hours of college credit that transferred from another school, and she was determined to finish her degree, once and for all. At one point, she and both her daughters were in school at the same time (oldest daughter Brittany earned a degree in special education in May 2012). Ingrid said she was inspired by their examples. She also said she felt good being able to assist younger daughter, Nina, with homework deadlines by keeping her granddaughter. “I know how important it is to finish your work on time,” Ingrid said. “The only disadvantage is that there were times when we both had homework, and we had to adjust our babysitting routine.” Nina will earn a degree in Health Education and Promotion, and Ingrid will graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor is Psychology. She plans to attend the ��Vlog��ýLR William H. Bowen School of Law in the fall. “I look up to my mother for finishing school, no matter how many years down the line it was; I’m proud of her,” said Nina, who plans to continue working at the Arkansas State Hospital. She is still deciding whether to attend graduate school. To learn more about how to apply to ��Vlog��ýLR, go to ualr.edu/admissions. For more information about the May 17 Commencement, go to 2014 Spring Commencement.

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O’Hara to receive 2014 Whitbeck Award

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:27:41 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock Donaghey Scholar who earned a remarkable 141 college credits while also maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average is this year’s Edward L. Whitbeck Memorial Award winner. Senior Mackie O’Hara will receive the award during an annual awards luncheon Friday, May 16, at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Joining her will be the ��Vlog��ýLR 2014 Distinguished Alumnus, Jon T. Rymer, who serves as the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Defense, and local attorney Tjuana Byrd, recipient of the 2014 President’s Award. The event is hosted by the ��Vlog��ýLR Foundation Fund Board and the ��Vlog��ýLR Alumni Association. The Whitbeck Award is given each year to an outstanding graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and character. Last summer, O’Hara earned the Mark Hartmann Student Fieldwork in Anthropology Fellowship and a research travel grant to finance a trip to South Africa, where she joined an excavation team from the University of Wisconsin. The trip inspired her honors project at ��Vlog��ýLR, the development of a process for preserving fragile fossils as they are being removed from soil so that valuable data is not lost. O’Hara, an anthropology major and biology minor, has presented two conference posters on her research focusing on a three-dimensional technique that reconstructs the human diet based on “wear patterns” on fossilized teeth. After collaborating with Vanderbilt University to compare two-dimensional and three-dimensional microwear analysis techniques, she was listed as a co-author in an academic journal and received numerous acceptances to top-tier graduate programs, including one at The Ohio State University, where she will be attending this fall. In recognition of her many achievements, O’Hara was also selected as ��Vlog��ýLR’s nominee for a Marshall Scholarship and the Gates-Cambridge Fellowship. She will graduate May 17 at ��Vlog��ýLR’s 2014 Spring Commencement. To learn more about how to apply to ��Vlog��ýLR, go to ualr.edu/admissions. For more information about the May 17 Commencement, go to 2014 Spring Commencement.

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

����Vlog��ýLR honors Chancellor Anderson at commencement

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

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

����Vlog��ýLR grad student completes 14-year journey

Record turnout expected for Spring 2015 Commencement

Commencement ceremonies set for Dec. 20

Commencement ceremonies set for May 17, inspector general to speak

Despite hardships, husband and wife team set to graduate together

Mom, daughter motivate each other, will graduate on same day

O’Hara to receive 2014 Whitbeck Award

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

��Vlog��ýLR honors Chancellor Anderson at commencement

Mother and daughter graduate ��Vlog��ýLR together

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

��Vlog��ýLR grad student completes 14-year journey