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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Employee Holds Summer Arts Camp for 6-12th Grade Students

John Hill — Tue, 24 May 2022 21:38:25 +0000

Neff Lankford, an instructional designer with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s eLearning office, will host an integrated summer camp for up to 50 students in grades 6-12 this summer. Lankford, who graduated in May from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a master’s degree in education in the Learning Systems Technology Program, runs a nonprofit, Alliance of Arts Inc., with her husband, Terence Lankford, a middle school�� principal at ScholarMade Achievement Place. The couple has combined their skills to provide this camp. “I’ve been doing dance camps for about 10 years, and my husband has been doing band camps for about six years,” Lankford said. “This is the second year we’ve collaborated to integrate band, dance, and academics into this wonderful comprehensive summer program for the youth.” The Alliance of the Arts Inc. Summer Arts Intensive Camp will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 1 through June 18. The three-week hybrid camp will offer a variety of activities in the arts, music, dance, academics, and outdoor activities. During the first two weeks of camp, participants will attend camp online on Mondays and Wednesdays and in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Horace Mann Arts and Science Magnet Middle School. They will learn about math, English language arts, dance, and music. There will be 11 instructors for the camp. For the academic lessons, each student will take an assessment at the beginning of the camp so that students receive an individualized tutoring program through August. The Arkansas STEM Coalition has provided 40 laptops for participants to use during the camp. During the final week of camp from June 15-18, students will stay at the Arkansas 4-H Center to participate in a movie and a campfire, ziplining, swimming, canoeing, archery, and arts and crafts to create a Father’s Day present. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture planned the schedule at the Arkansas 4-H Center. The camp will conclude with participants performing during the Juneteenth in Da Rock celebration at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center on June 18.

Students participate in the 2019 Alliance of the Arts summer camp.

The camp is being funded through a $25,000 grant Lankford received after completing a grant writing class at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Alliance of Arts Inc. is one of 20 community foundations in Arkansas selected to receive funding from Facebook, Inc. to manage grant making to support Black communities and Black-led nonprofits. The Community Foundation, in partnership with the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative, provided grants of up to $25,000 to support programs and initiatives specifically designed to impact Black people and communities in the Little Rock metropolitan area. “We do this camp to make a difference in the community,” Lankford said. “We want to see more students grow in their talents and gifts. We want them to be more confident when they are taking standardized tests and auditioning for college scholarships. We invest in professional developments so that our instructors feel prepared and confident that we can increase test scores in the central Little Rock areas. We also want to increase�� skills in the performing arts sector,�� while teaching students that learning is fun!” The camp has a registration fee of $75. Visit for more information and to register.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Grad Named Assistant IT Director at University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

John Hill — Tue, 17 May 2022 13:11:06 +0000

May has been a milestone month for Karen Watts DiCicco. The Bryant resident recently graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little with a Ph.D. in computer and information science and was promoted as the assistant director of information technology at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Watts DiCicco is finishing up an educational journey that started 13 years ago. When she first joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2009, she was a single mother of two sons with special needs and found it difficult to go to school full time, work, and raise her kids. She made the difficult decision to leave school in 2010. Afterwards, she earned her cosmetology license and opened Artistik Salon, which catered to children and adults with special needs. It became a popular destination, and people often traveled from all over the state to visit the salon. Determined to finish her education, she returned to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2016, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2018 and master’s degree in 2019. The same year the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture hired her as the division’s first digital and IT innovation manager, where she explored new and emerging technologies and how they can be implemented with Division of Agriculture applications. Now she will be taking on a new role this summer. “I will be staying with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in the IT department as the assistant director of information technology,” she said. “I will continue to bring recognition and funding to the organization. I feel my experience and knowledge will help lead us into the future.”

Photos of Karen Watts DiCicco by Benjamin Krain.

During her five years at the (COSMOS), she specialized in developing strategies to fight disinformation campaigns online using blockchain technology. Her dissertation, which she is planning to publish, followed the effects of toxicity in digital communities. “My dissertation looks at two different social media platforms, Parler versus Twitter, to see which platform is more toxic,” she said. “In my datasets, I found that Twitter was more toxic than Parler. We also look at the effects of toxicity with COVID-19 related information. We wanted to study if toxicity can break apart tight-knit digital communities.” This spring, Watts DiCicco received the Outstanding Doctoral Graduate Award and the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Information Science from the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Her advice for new students is to get involved in student organizations and take advantage of any opportunity you can find. “Take any opportunity that is given to you,” Watts DiCicco said. “Reach out if you want to join COSMOS. Try hackathons because I learned a lot at those. Get involved with student organizations. Talk to student ambassadors if you need help. Make the best of your education and reach out to your professors and the chair of your department. They are very knowledgeable.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Survey Research Center Partners with Division of Agriculture to investigate impact of feral hogs

John Hill — Fri, 07 May 2021 14:30:31 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Survey Research Center and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are teaming up to evaluate the impact of feral hogs in Arkansas. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Survey Research Center will be mailing surveys to landowners in four areas over 12 counties with ongoing feral swine pilot projects. They include Ashley, Arkansas, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Sevier, Yell, Logan, Sebastian, Marion, Baxter, and Izard counties. “We are working with the Division of Agriculture to assess the economic impact of feral hogs in Arkansas,” said Dr. Derek Slagle, director of the Survey Research Center and assistant professor of public administration. “We are including a handbook to educate and inform the public about the feral hog population in Arkansas as well as assessing the impact of the hogs.” Although a popular hunting animal in Arkansas, feral hogs are considered to be an invasive animal species that cause lots of damage to crops, property, and natural resources. It is illegal to transport or sell a live feral hog within the state. “Feral hogs are a pretty big issue in the state,” Dr. Becky McPeake, professor of wildlife extension for the Division of Agriculture. “We don’t know the exact dollar amount of damage they cause because they are so invasive. They cause damage to commercial crops, destroy livestock pastures, damage forest land, infect water supplies, and sometimes even break agricultural equipment.” The survey is part of a research project with the Arkansas Feral Hog Eradication Task Force, which includes participation from the University of Arkansas System, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other partner organizations.

The cover of the survey on feral hogs in Arkansas.

Landowners in the 12 counties will start seeing the survey in their mail at the beginning of May and periodically throughout the next few years to track changes in reported damages caused by feral hogs. The researchers say it’s important to answer the survey, even if you haven’t had any contact with feral hogs. The results will be used to inform task force partners about the impact of trapping in the four pilot areas as well as be added to a national database that assesses feral hog populations across the country.�� “The survey will ask landowners about their experiences with feral hogs,” Slagle said. “We are assessing the damage caused by feral hogs and the economic impact it poses to landowners. We want to know the general number of feral hogs they see, what precautions the landowners are taking, and how much time, money, energy, and resources the landowners are spending to control the feral hog population and prevent damage on their property.” This survey isn’t the first time ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has partnered with the Division of Agriculture to study the feral hog population. This survey follows a collaborative 2018 statewide study of landowners in Arkansas that evaluated the prevalence and economic damages incurred from the presence of feral hogs on their lands. The survey is funded as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) award of more than $3.4 million to fund pilot projects to control feral swine in Arkansas. These projects are part of the – a joint effort between USDA’s and to help address the threat that feral swine pose to agriculture, ecosystems and human and animal health.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock grad explores use of blockchain for state’s agricultural operations

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:05:25 +0000

Picking out the best fresh produce can be a difficult task for many shoppers looking for the best food for their families, but a University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate student is researching ways to make the process much easier for shoppers and local food producers.�� Karen Watts DiCicco of Bryant will graduate Saturday, Dec. 14, with a master’s degree in information science. As part of her graduate work, she’s studying how local food producers can use blockchain technology to safely and securely store and share their data. “Imagine going to the store or the farmers market and looking at two apples,” Watts DiCicco said. “One apple has a QR code you can scan with your smartphone to learn when it was picked, if it’s organic, if any pesticides were used, etc. Will you go with the apple that you can scan and know the origin of the produce or the apple that you know nothing about? Shoppers, especially those who shop local, want to know where their food comes from.” For her master’s thesis, Watts DiCicco investigated how blockchain applications are used in agriculture. Originally developed for bitcoin, a blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks, that are linked using cryptography. Blockchains are resistant to modification and are becoming an increasingly popular way to store, share, and protect data. In the spring, Watts DiCicco will continue her education and research as a doctoral student in computer and information science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. In addition to agricultural research, she’ll research strategies to fight disinformation campaigns online using blockchain technology with the Collaboratorium of Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), where she works as a graduate assistant. The research group is led by Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and distinguished professor in the Department of Information Science. The two will publish a book chapter in 2020 entitled, “Blockchain Technology-based Solutions to fight Misinformation: A Survey.” Armed with the knowledge of what works and doesn’t work regarding agricultural-related blockchain programs, Watts DiCicco’s next step is to create a survey for consumers, farmers, restaurant owners, and farmers markets in the Little Rock area through her work at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. This will help her determine what information customers want to see when shopping for food and what information local food producers want to track. The project is being created with financial support from Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s office. “My goal is to create a pilot program using blockchain technology with 6 to 10 local food producers,” she said. “They will enter their agricultural information on a blockchain application that I create. Consumers will be able to know where their food comes from, and producers will receive data analytics from their data.” Following her pilot study, Watts DiCicco will do a follow-up survey to see how her app can be improved and how it can be used by other agricultural vendors in the area. She also plans to conduct workshops and webinars that will educate the public on the benefits of using blockchain. “A lot of people still think blockchain is only for bitcoin,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize that Walmart and other large corporations already use blockchain. Using blockchain is about trust and authenticity. Blockchain will be a value for them.” Watts DiCicco first joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2009 as a freshman majoring in information science. As the mother of two sons with special needs, she found it difficult to go to school full time, work, and raise her sons. She left school in 2010, got her cosmetology license, and opened Artistik Salon, which catered to children and adults with special needs.

Karen Watts DiCicco(left) and Michael DiCicco (right)

“I had people travel from all over the state because they couldn’t go anywhere else to have their children’s haircut,” Watts said. “A lot of the children have sensory issues, so it could easily be too loud or crowded, so I catered to each child that came in. It was really hard to close in 2017, but I really wanted to finish my degree. It was a really hard decision since I helped a lot of kids.”�� After returning to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2016, Watts DiCicco graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in information science and a graduate certificate in data science in 2018. In January, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture hired her as the division’s first digital and IT innovation manager. She explores new and emerging technologies and how they can be implemented with Division of Agriculture applications. While an undergraduate at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Watts traveled the country competing in hackathons – events in which coders compete or collaborate to create usable software within a limited time. In August, she married her ��Vlog��ý Little Rock hackathon partner, Michael DiCicco. The family lives in Bryant.

Watts lands new position as first digital and innovation manager at University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 13:20:49 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate student will pair innovative ideas with the latest technology in her new role as the ’s first digital and innovation manager.�� Karen Watts, a graduate student in information science, was hired for the full-time position after interning with the Information Technology unit for the past 18 months. “No other extension office has this position. We are setting a trend,” Watts said. “I wanted to help agents and producers and make a difference in their lives.” Watts graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a Bachelor of Science degree in information science as well as a graduate certificate in data science in December 2018. In her new role, she will look at new and emerging technologies and how they can be implemented with Division of Agriculture applications. “I love learning about emerging technologies and I get to learn the newest technologies every day,” she said. “This job is like a hackathon. I look to see what works, develop a proof of concept, and prototype the new technology for us. It’s going to put us ahead in innovation.” Sam Boyster, chief operating officer for the Cooperative Extension Service, said he was looking forward to seeing how Watts will integrate emerging technologies into the division’s daily mission. “We hear a lot about blockchain, AI (artificial intelligence), and machine learning,” Boyster said. “This position will allow us to stay abreast of these innovations and their application across agriculture, as well as our other supported program areas. The goal is to see how we can leverage these technologies to the advantage of Arkansas producers and help us educate our agents and clientele in these areas.” The Division of Agriculture conducts research through its Agricultural Experiment Station and transfers discoveries to the public through the Cooperative Extension Service. At a recent conference, Watts saw researchers using AI in rice genome work. “Artificial intelligence isn’t the future,” she said. “It’s the present.” Watts presented a litany of potential avenues to put agriculture and technology together, including blockchain; advanced climate software using machine learning to do predictive analysis; nano trackers and sensors; chatbots and other virtual assistants; data mining and data visualization; and the new possibilities offered by 5G mobile platforms. She will also continue her work in application development, including e-commerce and business intelligence and “educating in the use of the new technologies and also pursuing and obtaining grants.” After completing her master’s degree in December, Watts plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer and information science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, where she will research strategies to fight disinformation campaigns online using blockchain technology with the Collaboratorium of Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), where she works as a research assistant. The research group is led by Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and distinguished professor in the Department of Information Science. While an undergraduate at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Watts traveled the country competing in hackathons – events in which coders compete or collaborate to create usable software within a limited time. This is another concept she’s bringing to the Division of Agriculture. She helped develop RockCity Hacks, the first hackathon designed for grades 9-12, where all the case uses will be ag-based.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Employee Holds Summer Arts Camp for 6-12th Grade Students

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Grad Named Assistant IT Director at University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture