The recognition underscores the leadership approach Phillips brings to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She said her doctoral experience sharpened her strategic thinking and strengthened the skills that now guide the university鈥檚 communications and marketing efforts. She credits that training with helping her develop data-informed strategies that contributed to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 recent enrollment momentum. 

鈥淭hat mindset fueled strong campus partnerships and fresh advertising strategies at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, helping halt a 13-year enrollment decline and deliver our best enrollment in 15 years,鈥� she said.

The award also highlights Phillips鈥� growing national influence in higher education marketing and communications 鈥� visibility that benefits 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as she represents the university on regional and national platforms. She revitalized CASE District IV programming, driving engagement to 216% of goal and earning the opportunity to present before the international CASE Board of Trustees. She remains active in the Public Relations Society of America鈥檚 Counselors to Higher Education, presents regularly for the American Marketing Association, and mentors emerging professionals across the country.

Her recognition as a Raider on the Rise adds to a distinguished list of honors that reflect the caliber of leadership she brings to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, including being named an Arkansas Money and Politics Future Icon, a two-time Top 10 Higher Ed Marketer to Follow, and a CASE Circle of Excellence Grand Gold Award recipient.

Phillips said the award and the values she gained from Texas Tech, guided her work and commitment to serving others. 

鈥淟eadership is about investing in others and creating momentum that lifts an entire campus. I鈥檓 grateful for the chance to do that at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� she said.

As 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock continues to strengthen its reputation and expand its reach, Phillips鈥� national recognition and leadership help elevate the university鈥檚 visibility, strengthen professional networks, and advance the institution鈥檚 mission.

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The aroma of barbecue and the sound of live music filled the air at the 19th annual BBQ at Bailey on Oct. 8, as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock welcomed a record-breaking crowd of more than 2,200 attendees to celebrate one of the university鈥檚 most beloved traditions.

Hosted by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association, the annual tailgate-style event transformed the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center into a hub of Trojan pride, camaraderie, and celebration. Alumni, students, faculty, and staff came together to enjoy an afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun while honoring the university鈥檚 Ohio Valley Conference championship teams from the past three years.

Guests dined on barbecue from Whole Hog Caf茅, cookies from Community Bakery, and enjoyed live music from Klassik Entertainment, while Travis 鈥淭re Day鈥� Rowan, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumnus and host of 鈥淭he Drive Time Show鈥� on Power 92 FM, broadcast live from the event.

鈥淏BQ at Bailey is more than just a meal. It鈥檚 a celebration of who we are as a Trojan community,鈥� said Guy Choate, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors and chair of this year鈥檚 event. 鈥淔or 19 years, this tradition has brought together generations of Trojans to share good food, good company, and good memories. This year鈥檚 turnout shows just how strong our community is.鈥�

The event opened with remarks from Chancellor Christina S. Drale, who highlighted the university鈥檚 recent growth and accomplishments. She shared that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 enrollment rose by 1.4 percent this fall, with the freshman class growing by an impressive 33 percent, which is the largest increase in years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always a joy to gather with you at BBQ at Bailey, where we get to kick off the fall with great food, great friends, and the kind of Trojan spirit that makes this university so special,鈥� Drale said. 鈥淥ur students and faculty are achieving remarkable things and events like this remind us what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves.鈥�

Drale also spotlighted the dedication and excellence of the university鈥檚 student-athletes, who brought home multiple Ohio Valley Conference titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Athletic Director Frank Cuervo joined the celebration to honor the teams鈥� achievements.

鈥淭his is a great event,鈥� said Nate Olson, associate athletic director of strategic communications. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very special for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff to be recognized like this. You could see how much they enjoyed connecting with people from across campus and the community who support them.鈥�

Technology, Tradition, and Trojan Pride

While BBQ at Bailey celebrates tradition, it also embraces innovation. This year, students from the Emerging Analytics Center added a high-tech twist by debuting a custom Snapchat filter designed specifically for the event.

鈥淲e walked around and helped people use the BBQ at Bailey Snapchat filter, and they were really impressed,鈥� said Dalen Villa, a graduate student in computer science. 鈥淧eople are very intrigued by the technology used to create the app. People use Snapchat every day, and this app is our special mark on it.鈥�

That blend of old and new is part of what makes BBQ at Bailey so special. Students from across disciplines joined alumni and faculty under the canopy of the Bailey Center patio, laughing, networking, and celebrating the shared spirit of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

A Tradition That Brings Trojans Together

For many, BBQ at Bailey has become a cherished annual tradition. Leisa Myles, a 1998 graduate of the administration program who has attended all 19 events, said the celebration continues to grow in both size and spirit.

鈥淓ach year this event gets bigger,鈥� Myles said. 鈥淲hat I love most is that it provides a good sense of community and camaraderie among faculty, staff, and students. It gives us all a chance to take a break, say hello, and enjoy each other鈥檚 company. It鈥檚 good music, good food, and good spirits.鈥�

Others experienced BBQ at Bailey for the first time and were moved by the sense of connection it fostered. Kevin Jones, a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock donor and volunteer, said he was impressed by both the turnout and the purpose behind the event.

鈥淚鈥檓 a big believer in the value of higher education,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淐ollege changed my life, and it鈥檚 great to see so many people supporting the university. BBQ at Bailey had quite the turnout. It鈥檚 nice to see this level of support for the university.鈥�

For international students like Sai Kandula and Shivani Katta, both graduate students from India, BBQ at Bailey offered a warm introduction to Trojan traditions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to experience the culture here,鈥� Kandula said. 鈥淣ot only is this a place for coming together, but showcasing the championship trophies and the athletes who won them shows another quality of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock 鈥� it鈥檚 a winning culture.鈥�

Katta agreed, noting that the event helps bridge connections across the university.

鈥淚t brings the campus together,鈥� Katta said. 鈥淭he student body can mingle with professors and instructors in an informal space. It鈥檚 great for campus pride.鈥�

Pride, Legacy, and Looking Ahead

Longtime supporters also reflected on how BBQ at Bailey embodies the university鈥檚 enduring mission. Don Riggin, a 1962 graduate and member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Centennial Campaign Committee, said the event symbolizes the university鈥檚 deep roots in the community.

鈥淭his event shows pride 鈥� from sports to academics to community fellowship,鈥� Riggin said. 鈥淚t shows that this university is part of this community鈥檚 culture. When I enrolled here, I came because I could get a great education at an affordable cost, and that鈥檚 still true today.鈥�

This year鈥檚 record turnout reaffirmed that BBQ at Bailey isn鈥檛 just an event but a reflection of what makes 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock special: its people, its pride, and its shared sense of purpose.

鈥淓very year, BBQ at Bailey reminds us why we love this university,鈥� Choate said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a celebration of where we鈥檝e been, where we are, and where we鈥檙e going 鈥� together.鈥�

This year鈥檚 BBQ at Bailey took on a special twist as several community volunteers joined the event to help serve students. Traditionally, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock student-athletes serve at the annual gathering, but this year鈥檚 addition of local business representatives brought an exciting new dimension to the event.

The goal was to give students an opportunity to interact with professionals from a variety of industries, people they might one day work alongside or for, while also recognizing the generous spirit of the business community that supports the university.

Representatives from the following companies volunteered their time to serve: Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bailey Construction, Bravere, Centennial Bank, City of Little Rock, DDK Forestry and Real Estate, LLC, Flexion Point, Good Seven Management, LLC, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, JP Morgan Chase, KSmith Properties, mhp.si, Regions Bank, Simmons Bank, and TMB Capital Partners.

Their participation not only made this year鈥檚 BBQ at Bailey a memorable experience but also underscored the strong partnership between 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the local business community in supporting student success.

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Jami Eubanks, assistant director of STEM careers and outreach services at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, is passionate about fostering opportunities for women in STEM. With a background in biology and information technology, her journey into science began in sixth grade, thanks to an inspiring teacher, Mrs. Lora Grosvold from Greenwood, Arkansas, who opened her eyes to the possibilities in STEM through hands-on experiences like science fairs and geological field trips.

鈥淪he made me believe in myself and see options for my future,鈥� Eubanks said. 鈥淚 was the first in my family to go to college, and breaking that generational gap was instrumental in shaping who I am today.鈥�

Eubanks has dedicated her career to STEM education, working in both secondary and post-secondary institutions for 16 years. She has seen firsthand the transformative power of mentorship and encouragement, particularly for young women in rural areas who may not have had many role models in science fields.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Eubanks and her colleagues work on multiple programs aimed at engaging young women in STEM. She and Thomas Wallace, coordinator of the Web Design and Development and Information Technology programs, lead the Windstream GIRLS Code summer camp, which introduces participants to coding and computer science concepts in a supportive environment.

Additionally, Eubanks and Wallace recently launched a Girls Who Code College Loop, a new student organization providing mentorship and networking opportunities for female college students pursuing STEM degrees.

The STEM Education Center at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will also host a Women in Tech Luncheon on March 7, featuring faculty, students, and industry professionals discussing their experiences in the field.

Beyond these initiatives, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock hosts a variety of STEM outreach events, including competitions such as Best Robotics, the Science Olympiad, and the Central Arkansas Regional Science Fair. These events bring students to campus, exposing them to the exciting possibilities in STEM fields.

鈥淩epresentation matters. When young girls see women leading in STEM fields, they realize they can do it too,鈥� Eubanks said. 鈥淭hrough outreach, mentorship, and hands-on experiences, we are breaking barriers and creating pathways for the next generation of female scientists and engineers.鈥�

For Eubanks, the mission extends beyond simply increasing numbers鈥攊t鈥檚 about fostering confidence and ambition in young women. She encourages aspiring female scientists to seek out inspiring mentors, just like Mrs. Grosvold was for her, and surround themselves with supportive networks.

鈥淔inding a female role model who has already broken through those barriers can be life-changing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir experience and advice are invaluable.鈥�

As 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock continues to invest in STEM education and outreach, Eubanks remains dedicated to ensuring that all students鈥攅specially young women鈥攈ave the support and resources needed to succeed.

鈥淭his doesn鈥檛 feel like a job,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe I get to go out and share opportunities with kids. It鈥檚 especially important to reach those who just need someone to believe in them.鈥�

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Chatham-Carpenter is one of 30 leaders from around the country who will make up the 2024-25 class and join a network of 120 alumni representing more than 35 states.

鈥淏ecause of my background in applied communication, and the mission of my department to co-create better social worlds through positive communication, as well as my work with the Braver Angels organization, I have found myself involved in initiatives to work across the political divide,鈥� Chatham-Carpenter said. 鈥淏eing a part of the Civility Leadership Institute will allow me to improve my skills in helping to navigate conversations across the political divide in the classroom, as well as in professional and personal relationships.鈥�

Created in 2021, the Civility Leadership Institute is an exclusive group of community leaders who come together for a year of learning, training, and networking with the mission to fight polarization and create civility. Since its inception, 120 people have gone through the program by participation with the flagship Renew America Together cohort, and additional satellite cohorts led by partner organizations.

The alumni network of the Civility Leadership Institute, along with board members and supporters, will join the new cohort in Little Rock this summer for the 3rd annual Civility Summit from July 24-26 to kick off a year of learning focused on civil dialogue, identifying misinformation, and bridging partisan divides.

“I am excited to bring all alumni and new participants together for the Civility Summit in Little Rock this summer,鈥� said General (ret.) Wesley K. Clark, founder of Renew America Together. 鈥淭hese leaders come from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, geographic locations, career paths, political beliefs, and industries. It’s encouraging to see these dynamic individuals acknowledging the need for improved communication and civic engagement.”

Following the in-person Civility Summit, participants will engage in monthly virtual learning. Each month, participants will work through an engaging curriculum, hear from nationally recognized speakers, and build strong relationships with the CLI network.

Graduates of the Civility Leadership Institute will earn certifications in SERVE: a framework for civility, TRUST: combating disinformation, and TypeCoach Influence training. Upon completing the program, they will join a robust alumni network committed to supporting the organization鈥檚 mission through community involvement.

鈥淎s an educator, I believe in preparing the next generation of Arkansans and Americans to be civic-minded, with increased desires to communicate across our differences, to come up with solutions for the 鈥榳icked problems鈥� of our day,鈥� Chatham-Carpenter said.

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Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm, a professor of public affairs at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, traveled to Bogota, Colombia, to advise government officials, nonprofit employees, and activists on how to implement recommendations from Colombia鈥檚 Commission for Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Recurrence.

鈥淭ruth commissions, in many ways, are the start of the conversation about the past,鈥� Wiebelhaus-Brahm said. 鈥淭ruth is often needed before other things can happen to address the past. Truth commissions produce a final report with a history of what was investigated and recommendations about what else should be done about the past and how to prevent these things from happening in the future.鈥�

The commission was set up in 2016 as part of a peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). It was tasked with documenting human rights violations and explaining what caused the conflict to persist for so long, which began in 1964.

Colombia鈥檚 Truth Commission presented its final report in 2022, announcing that more than 450,000 people were killed and more than 121,000 people disappeared during almost six decades of conflict. The commission is part of a transitional justice system that is designed to help the country move towards a path of reconciliation and peace.

The commission drafted recommendations on eight issues with the goal of ending continued armed disputes, to build reconciliation between the people and institutions, and preventing the recurrence of armed conflict. A Follow-up and Monitoring Committee has been established in Colombia to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the commission through 2029.

Wiebelhaus-Brahm, author of the books 鈥淭ruth Commissions and Transitional Societies鈥� and 鈥淓xploring Truth Commission Recommendations in a Comparative Perspective,鈥� told his Colombian audience that there was a lot of reason for optimism.

鈥淥ur research on the recommendations from 13 truth commissions across Latin America reveals that, among other things, implementation of recommendations is more likely when victims and human rights organizations are strong, countries are comparatively wealthy, and the government prioritizes disseminating findings,鈥� he noted. 鈥淐olombia has all of these things going for it.鈥�

He added that truth commissions often recommend the creation of a follow-up body to coordinate and monitor implementation of the commission鈥檚 recommendations. This has happened in Colombia, but, in its first year of existence, Follow-Up Committee members have mostly been bogged down with determining which recommendations to prioritize.

鈥淒epending on how one counts them, the Colombian Truth Commission included more than 600 recommendations in its final report,鈥� Wiebelhaus-Brahm said. 鈥淯nfortunately, our research reveals that issuing a large number of recommendations reduces the odds of implementing any one of them.鈥�

While visiting Bogota, Wiebelhaus-Brahm also trained nonprofit officials and activists on how to combine different research methodologies to study efforts to address human rights violations and promote peace.

During the second week of his trip, Wiebelhaus-Brahm met with his fellow colleagues in the Gender, Justice, and Security Hub. The hub is funded by a 拢15.2 million, five-year grant from the Global Challenges Research Fund. The hub seeks to advance sustainable peace by developing an evidence base around gender, justice, and inclusive security in conflict-affected societies. As the research hub鈥檚 grant will end in 2024, Wiebelhaus-Brahm and his colleagues met to collaborate on on-going research.

鈥淲e have 30 different research projects going on in the hub, and the researchers are scattered throughout the world,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good time to go over our projects. With the hub coming to a close next year, we are also starting to identify the broader lessons we鈥檙e learning from our research and what will be the legacy of the Gender, Justice, and Security Hub.鈥�

In the hub, Wiebelhaus-Brahm鈥檚 research examines how foreign aid shapes justice and peacebuilding processes in conflict-affected societies.

鈥淒onor governments can be critical to providing the resources necessary to address human rights violations in countries beset by conflict,鈥� he said. 鈥淗owever, they may only be interested in funding initiatives that align with their conceptions of justice or their broader foreign policy agenda rather than programs that reflect local needs and desires.鈥�

Additionally, members of the hub had a chance to view local truth and reconciliation efforts in action. They met with a dozen local organizations in Colombia who are working to promote human rights, peace, and justice for violations that occurred during the civil war.

Some of the groups include a village that is using fiber arts to record the history of the village during the Columbian civil war, a dance academy that provides a creative outlet for youth that were affected by the civil war, and a support group for mothers that lost children during the conflict that use art and crafts to process their grief and memorialize their loved ones.

鈥淢any of these groups are people who are just trying to tell their story about what happened to them during the civil war and are finding new artistic outlets to express what happened,鈥� Wiebelhaus-Brahm said. 鈥淭he dance academy, for example, provides youth with creative outlets to process their feelings about what they鈥檝e experienced in their lives. Many of these youths come from poor backgrounds. Some of them have been displaced by the conflict, or their parents were before they were born. This is something that may also lead to a career.鈥�

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The Juneteenth event will celebrate freedom and heritage through critical conversations about the origins of Juneteenth, affirming traditions within Black culture, and reflections upon the legacy of Juneteenth. The event is sponsored by PepsiCo and the Office of the Chancellor.

“I think Coretta Scott King sums up the importance of Juneteenth well when she says, 鈥楽truggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation,鈥欌�� said Dr. Melvin Beavers, assistant professor and the chancellor鈥檚 DEI fellow. 鈥淛uneteenth is always a good reminder that freedom, like maintaining a democracy, requires action, work, and a commitment to seeing everyone’s humanity.”

The Juneteenth celebration will begin at 10 a.m. June 19 in the Stella Boyle Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building with a welcome by Chancellor Christina Drale followed by a 鈥淲hat Juneteenth Means to Me鈥� video presentation and a Juneteenth performance by S. Juain Young.

At 10:30 a.m., Dr. Carl Moneyhon, professor emeritus of history at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, will speak about the origins of Juneteenth and the impact of reconstruction. Moneyhon鈥檚 primary fields of study are the Civil War and Reconstruction eras with a focus on events in Arkansas and Texas. His article, 鈥淓mancipation Day to Juneteenth: The Origins of a Texas Celebration,鈥� is scheduled for publication by Southwestern Historical Quarterly in July 2024.

From noon to 2 p.m., the celebration will move to the Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall for a catered lunch featuring Black-owned businesses, including CBR鈥橺 Catering, Cici鈥檚 Chicken and Waffles, and SAP鈥檚 Creole Cuisine. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn more about community organizations who are joining in the Juneteenth celebration and pick up a copy of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 commemorative Juneteenth Cookbook.

The celebration moves back to Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall at 2 p.m., when Michael Williams will introduce Sen. Joyce Elliott, who will give her speech, 鈥淩emembering Juneteenth 鈥� Celebrate, Educate, and Inspire.鈥�

Sen. Elliott was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2000 and to the Senate in 2008. After reaching her term limit on Dec. 31, 2022, she now serves as the executive director of Get Loud Arkansas, a nonprofit organization working to fight voter suppression, register new voters, engage low-propensity voters, and mobilize all eligible voters to utilize the power of their vote to shape the future of Arkansas. She is also the co-chair of the board for the National Center on Education and the Economy, an organization dedicated to the study, design, and building of equitable, high-performing, and cost-effective education and work development systems that prepare students to contribute to our democratic society and compete in the global economy.

All of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Juneteenth events are free and open to the public. Please visit this link for a full schedule of events. Those who plan to participate in person for the Sen. Elliott and Moneyhon talks as well as the Juneteenth lunch. Virtual participants may register via .

Those who register for the Juneteenth events will also be placed in a book raffle for a chance to win one of the following books: 鈥淭he Impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on Arkansas鈥� by Carl Moneyhon; 鈥淯nder the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and the Health of the Nation鈥� by Linda Vilarosa; 鈥淲eathering – The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society鈥� by Arline Geronimus; and 鈥淗ow the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America鈥� by Clint Smith.

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