On Thursday, Sept. 24, leaders from education, industry, government, and workforce organizations convened on campus to discuss聽strengthening partnerships and finding new ways to meet the region’s evolving workforce needs. Panel discussions, student and mentor reflections, presentations, and breakout sessions were among the highlights, and student interns and their mentors shared their experiences with experiential learning, offering a firsthand look at how partnerships between the university and employers can help prepare students for the workforce. Topics for breakout sessions included聽artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, nursing, social work, early childhood education, business development, and corporate business training.

Preparing individuals for a first job is only one element of the mission for universities; 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock also creates opportunities for advancement, upskilling, and re-skilling, said 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Chancellor Christina S. Drale. Universities like 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock are engines of economic growth and talent development, not only via traditional degrees, but certificates, skills training, professional education, internships, applied learning, and customized programs developed alongside employers.

“We begin by listening — employers must have a voice” — and feedback from business and industry identify any gaps in education, which can be addressed to meet the needs of an evolving economy, added Drale. “That spirit of collaboration is at the heart of today’s summit.”

Connecting students with employers hiring right now is paramount, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock’s Workforce Development Center “does incredible work” preparing students for careers, Gov. Sarah Sanders noted in a video that helped kick off the summit.

Indeed, the center was designed to impact students not only at the start of their work lives, but throughout their careers, noted聽Dr. Aaron Duvall, the university鈥檚 executive director of workforce development. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and other聽four-year universities are critical in the second tier of workforce development, assisting students who want to progress in their careers by adapting, evolving, and adding skills while also helping employers tap into resources and expertise.聽

And programs offered by 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock all demonstrate strong return on investment for graduates, said聽Dr. Ken Warden, commissioner of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock “is a gem, a tremendous asset to this community.”聽

Warden was part of a panel discussion moderated by聽Hunter Field, editor of Arkansas Business, that also included: Jack Thomas, senior vice president of economic development for the Little Rock Regional Chamber; state Rep. Mary Bentley; and Pulaski County Justice of the Peace Steven Person.

“Nationally, it’s a numbers game,” as roughly 8,000 more individuals age out of the American workforce daily than those who age into it, so states and regions must attract individuals from elsewhere to fill various job openings, said Thomas. Without an adequate local workforce, areas risk “economic stagnation.”聽

The top challenge for economic developers currently is making sure a competitive workforce is available for industry, and with technology altering jobs rapidly, the problem can’t be solved by working in silos, said Bryan Day, executive director of the Port of Little Rock and a “proud” 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock graduate. “That’s why we’re all meeting here (at the summit), to solve workforce challenges of today — and tomorrow — together.”

Gathering roughly 150 individuals together to discuss workforce problems and solutions “was exactly what the day was designed to do,” seconded Duvall. “Hopefully, connections were made between businesses, community leaders, and university stakeholders that will generate new and innovative partnerships and solutions as we attempt to build a stronger Central Arkansas together.”

Arkansas must also increase higher education participation, which is roughly 20 points below the national average, “a fixable problem,” and concurrent enrollment is one path, but concurrent enrollment in Pulaski County — home of Little Rock — also lags behind the state average, Warden said. Universities are also under increasing pressure to meet basic needs of students — from food insecurity to childcare — because “you can’t educate them without meeting those basic needs, first.”聽

And while universities can — and do — teach various technical skills, it’s the “durable skills,” like showing up on time, fitting into a culture, and collaborating adroitly, that are often missing with today’s job applicants, Warden said. “You learn workplace skills by going to work,” which is why experiences like internships are such a pivotal part of college.聽

“Old-school skills” remain necessary, even in an age of advanced technology, like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Thomas said. “Business decisions are data driven, but they also want to do business with people, (particularly) people they trust.”

The human connection is “more important than ever right now,” and interns develop meaningful connections in professional environments, said Dr. Rex Wilkins, assistant professor of Spanish at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Internships really are invitations to a rising generation “to participate in making organizations and communities better, and you will find great energy, vitality, and opportunities in our Trojan interns.”

Interns cultivate valuable skills like critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and conflict management, and “it’s a powerful thing” to help interns build those traits, said Tonya聽Villines, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Arkansas. “Hosting interns is a great experience.”聽

And her organization has found tremendous success with interns from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, hiring three of them full time, including聽Antwanette Smith,聽Villines said.聽“We love our interns, and we’re so thankful for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock — they’re the greatest.”聽

Internships also help students discover whether a specific career is truly for them or not, Smith noted.聽

Structured internships at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock provide discipline-specific learning and experiential training, but the university needs partners to offer these chances to students, said Wilkins, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. “You see students come out of their shells and grow” through internships.

Additionally, interns provide fresh perspectives and return on investment when given opportunities, said聽Dr. Yogi Pandit, founder and CEO of FlowZone, as well as an adjunct professor of Applied and Physical AI at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.聽“Invest in them, prepare them well, and they will do an awesome job.”聽

Senior Madison Thomas, a biology major and member of the Little Rock Trojans track and field team, had a pair of internships this summer, with FlowZone and Texas-based physical therapy practice聽Re/Align.聽

The experiences were “amazing, (with) hands-on learning impacting other people,” said Thomas,聽an ambassador for the Chancellor鈥檚 Leadership Corps. “It’s really beneficial.”聽

Md. Samin Morshed,聽a Ph.D. student in computer science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, was able to use technology聽at his FlowZone internship that he’d learned about in school, he said. “You need industry experience — it helps you become more professional.”聽

Youth need to see various career paths, then start on those roads, rather than merely taking short-term jobs that don’t ultimately lead to long-lasting聽careers, said Bentley, serving her sixth term in the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 54.

Person, director of technology for the Clinton School of Public Service and soon-to-be-sworn-in as the representative for District 77 in the Arkansas House, is hyper-focused on making sure young adults — ages 19-24 — are equipped with “tangible skills,” then matching them with jobs requiring those skills, he said. “Then, you can put a dent in the problems of today.”

As younger generations emerge in the workforce, however, complications can arise between them and older generations, but each generation brings something different, and it’s incumbent upon workers of all ages to help everyone flourish, said聽Minnesota-based workforce speaker Scott Zimmer, who discussed managing an intergenerational team at the summit. For example, punctuality and polished communication are critical when interacting with Baby Boomers, as they signal respect and build credibility, while intentionality is prized with members of Generation X, who are often juggling myriad responsibilities, such as caring for both children and parents.聽

Millennials were raised in a collaborative environment, encouraged to provide input, so in a workplace setting, they want to have their voices heard, while Gen Z — the group now between roughly ages 16 and 30 — is risk averse, pragmatic, and practical, Zimmer noted. “True digital natives” accustomed to rubrics in school, Gen Z wants a roadmap for success in their careers.

“Invest in young talent,” Zimmer advised. “Involve them, don’t ignore them.”

Duvall also thanked the event’s sponsors — Port of Little Rock (presenting),聽JPMorgan Chase (lunch),聽Goodwill Industries of Arkansas (refreshments), and聽Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield (closing reception) — for helping make the inaugural workforce summit such a success, noting that their “commitment聽to workforce development extends well beyond this event.”聽

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On Sept. 24, leaders from education, industry, government, and workforce organizations will gather at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the inaugural , a day focused on strengthening partnerships and finding new ways to meet Central Arkansas鈥� evolving workforce needs.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock’s role extends beyond preparing students for their first jobs; it聽also supports the next tier workforce development: “helping working professionals build advanced skills, earn specialized credentials, and move into higher-level or emerging occupations,” said聽Dr. Aaron Duvall, the university’s executive director of workforce development.聽“A four-year university like 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock can contribute a complementary layer to the work community colleges are doing in workforce development through advanced education and credentialing, applied research, professional upskilling, and community partnerships that help employers adapt, innovate, and develop their future leadership pipelines.”

The summit is expected to draw 150 to 200 attendees to share ideas and explore strategies for preparing and retaining the talent Central Arkansas needs while examining how stronger connections between education and industry can contribute to the region鈥檚 economic growth.

鈥淥ne thing I鈥檓 especially excited about is bringing community and university stakeholders together to showcase the many ways 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is actively working to close workforce and economic gaps across Central Arkansas and beyond,鈥� said Duvall. 鈥淭hese connections are incredibly valuable because they create opportunities for education and industry — two sectors that often speak different languages — to collaborate directly.鈥�

That collaboration will take several forms throughout the summit, such as panel discussions, student and mentor reflections, presentations, and breakout sessions.

Among the summit鈥檚 highlights will be an executive and legislative workforce panel moderated by Hunter Field, editor of Arkansas Business. Panelists will include Dr. Ken Warden, commissioner of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education; Jack Thomas, senior vice president of economic development for the Little Rock Regional Chamber; state Rep. Mary Bentley; and Pulaski County Justice of the Peace Steven Person.

Student interns and their mentors will also share their experiences with experiential learning, offering a firsthand look at how partnerships between the university and employers can help prepare students for the workforce.

The summit will also feature a keynote address from Minnesota-based workforce speaker Scott Zimmer on managing an intergenerational team, as well as an economic forecast from Dr. Michael Pakko of the Arkansas Economic Development Institute.

Breakout sessions will give attendees opportunities to explore workforce topics and programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, nursing, social work, early childhood education, business development, and corporate business training.

Beyond bringing workforce leaders together for a day of discussion, the summit will highlight the role a four-year university can play in meeting the region鈥檚 workforce needs.

鈥淚t is important for community and industry leaders to understand the vital role a four-year university can play in workforce development through advanced certifications, academic and professional skills certificates of proficiency, and upskilling opportunities,鈥� Duvall said.

The Workforce Summit in the Ledbetter Rooms of the Donaghey Student Center will also include breakout sessions held at locations across the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the program will start at 9:30 a.m.

Registration is open through the day of the event. Those interested in attending can register online through the Workforce Summit .

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Among U.S. institutions, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock ranked third for the largest improvement in ranking in the field of education, trailing only Purdue University Northwest and La Salle University, which each jumped more than 800 places.

The AD Scientific Index evaluates the research performance of more than 24,000 universities and institutions worldwide. The rankings recognize universities that demonstrate significant growth in research productivity, frequency of scholarly citations, and academic visibility.

鈥淭his significant increase in our ranking confirms what I have been seeing across campus: 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock researchers are doing exciting work that is gaining attention well beyond our university,鈥� said Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. 鈥淔rom our laboratories to our community partnerships, faculty and students are asking important questions and finding solutions that matter to Arkansas and beyond. It’s rewarding to see their hard work and the growing momentum of research at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock recognized in this way.鈥�

The ranking reflects the university’s growing research enterprise, with faculty securing competitive grants, publishing influential scholarship, and collaborating with researchers across the country and around the world. In the past year, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock researchers announced major federal research awards, published work at internationally recognized conferences, expanded research partnerships, and launched new initiatives in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, to chemistry, health sciences, and education.

鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic news,鈥� said Dr. Raffaela Lesch, assistant professor of biology, whose research on urban raccoons gained international attention over the past year. 鈥淭here’s amazing research happening on campus, and I’m excited to see my colleagues鈥� hard work reflected in the rankings.鈥�

Those accomplishments are reflected in research taking place across the university. From helping Arkansas farmers conserve water and launching a new cybersecurity research center to studying urban wildlife, advancing battery technology, and expanding hands-on psychology research opportunities, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty are addressing real-world challenges while creating meaningful learning experiences for students.

Protecting Arkansas鈥檚 Water Resources

Dr. Kent Kovacs, associate professor of economics and finance, is part of a National Science Foundation-funded research team studying how farmers鈥� attitudes toward risk influence irrigation decisions in the Lower Mississippi River Basin.

By combining farmer perspectives with economic and hydrologic models, the project seeks to better understand the pressures agricultural producers face and help guide water policies and conservation programs. The research could help Arkansas balance the economic importance of agriculture with the need to protect groundwater resources for future generations.

Strengthening Cybersecurity and Workforce Development

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock expanded its cybersecurity research and training capabilities with the launch of the Cyberspace Operations, Research, and Education (CORE) Center.

Established through a $1 million grant from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, the CORE Center brings together research, education, and real-world cybersecurity operations. Faculty and students are working with government agencies, law enforcement, industry partners, and community organizations on projects involving artificial intelligence, digital forensics, critical infrastructure protection, and cyber defense.

The center also provides students with hands-on experience through a cybersecurity clinic that helps schools, small businesses, healthcare providers, and other organizations identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their defenses.

Bringing Worldwide Attention to Student Research

Research led by Lesch gained international attention after identifying physical differences in urban raccoons that may point to early signs of domestication.

Published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology, the study found that urban raccoons had shorter snouts than their rural counterparts, a trait commonly associated with domesticated animals. Lesch conducted the research with 16 students through a course-based undergraduate research experience, using more than 20,000 images submitted to the citizen science platform iNaturalist.

The study was featured by outlets including NPR, BBC, CNN, and Smithsonian, while social media videos about the findings reached millions of viewers. The attention has led to new collaborations and opportunities to expand the research to other wildlife species.

Transforming Research Through Immersive Learning

The reopening of the Shellam Flake Planetarium this fall will create new opportunities for faculty and students to visualize, explore, and communicate research in immersive ways.

Designed to support interdisciplinary teaching and research, the facility will allow students to interact with simulations and scientific data that bring complex concepts to life.

Researchers across multiple disciplines, including physics, geology, and astronomy, plan to use the planetarium to enhance classroom instruction and integrate active research into student learning. The facility will also strengthen public science engagement through STEM programming that connects university research with schools and communities across Arkansas.

Expanding Research Opportunities in Psychology

The Department of Psychology has expanded its research capabilities through three specialized laboratory spaces focused on sleep, cognition, and human interaction with artificial intelligence.

Faculty and students are studying how sleep affects health and performance, how financial stress influences memory and information processing, and how people use and trust increasingly advanced AI systems. The laboratories combine psychology with fields such as neuroscience, computer science, physiology, and data science.

Throughout the research process, students gain hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, analysis, and advanced technologies such as brain-activity monitoring, eye tracking, virtual reality, and locally operated AI models.

Together, these projects illustrate the breadth of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 research enterprise and the role faculty and students play in addressing issues that affect Arkansas and the wider world. The university鈥檚 rise in the AD Scientific Index reflects not only increased scholarly visibility, but also sustained investment in research, collaboration, and student opportunity across campus.

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The achievement places 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alongside many of the world’s leading universities,
technology companies, and research laboratories, highlighting the university’s contributions to
cutting-edge AI research.

The paper was co-authored by Agarwal, director of the Collaboratorium for Social
Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center, Maulden-Entergy Chair, and
Donaghey Distinguished Professor of Information Science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, along with
collaborators from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and the University of Florida.

COSMOS is an interdisciplinary research center that studies online behavior and develops data
analytics tools to better understand online communities and emerging cognitive threats in online information environments.

鈥淣eurIPS is where many of the most influential advances in AI are first introduced,鈥� said
Agarwal, whose research on cognitive security has been recognized by the U.S. Department of
War, NATO, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States), the World Health Organization, and other
organizations. 鈥淗aving a paper accepted means the research has undergone an extremely
rigorous peer-review process and has been recognized by leading experts in the field as making a meaningful contribution to advancing AI.鈥�

As one of the world鈥檚 most selective AI conferences, the acceptance process is highly
competitive, drawing thousands of submissions from top universities, research labs, and
technology companies across the globe.

鈥淎cceptance reflects both novelty and technical excellence,” said Agarwal, an Arkansas
Academy of Computing fellow, an Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) fellow, and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Distinguished Visitor and Senior Member. 鈥淔or COSMOS and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, it demonstrates that the research being conducted here is competing successfully on a global stage alongside some of the world’s leading AI institutions. It reinforces that impactful, internationally recognized AI research is being developed right here in Arkansas.鈥�

Agarwal and his team鈥檚 paper introduces MANGO: Multimodal Attention-based Normalizing
Flow Approach to Fusion Learning, a new framework designed to improve how AI systems learn from and combine multiple types of information, including images, text, and other data sources.

The research centers on multimodal AI, a type of artificial intelligence that learns from multiple
forms of information 鈥� such as text, images, or audio 鈥� simultaneously. While people naturally combine different sources of information to understand the world around them, AI systems often struggle to do so effectively because the data doesn’t always match up in obvious ways. MANGO is designed to help AI better understand and combine different types of data. Unlike many existing AI models that simply merge information together, MANGO identifies which sources are most relevant and how they relate to one another, allowing AI systems to make more accurate and reliable decisions.

鈥淭he real world is inherently multimodal, so if we want AI to better understand people and
complex environments, it needs to learn from multiple sources simultaneously rather than
treating each independently,鈥� Agarwal said.

Research like this helps AI evolve to provide more context-aware analysis, enabling systems to
make more informed and trustworthy decisions.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life and industry, MANGO could improve
applications across various fields. In healthcare, it could help physicians make more informed
decisions by analyzing medical images alongside patient records and clinical notes. In self-
driving vehicles, it could improve safety by allowing AI to better interpret data from cameras,
radar, and other sensors. The technology could also strengthen security by analyzing social
media to identify coordinated influence campaigns or emerging cognitive threats through the
combined analysis of text, images, videos, and patterns of online behavior.

鈥淯ltimately, research like this helps build AI systems that are more reliable, more explainable,
and better suited for solving complex real-world problems,鈥� Agarwal said.

The publication also reinforces the COSMOS Research Center’s role as a hub for collaborative,
interdisciplinary AI research. By partnering with researchers at 糖心Vlog传媒 Fayetteville and UF, the
project demonstrates how 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is contributing to advances at the highest levels of the international AI community.

鈥淭his publication further demonstrates that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is producing AI research that is
recognized at the highest international level,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淚t enhances the university’s
visibility within the global AI community, strengthens our research collaborations, and creates
new opportunities for our students to work on cutting-edge problems.鈥�

Looking ahead, Agarwal and his collaborators plan to expand MANGO to work with additional
data types, larger AI foundation models, and real-time decision-making environments while
continuing to improve the transparency and reliability of AI systems. Their goal is to develop AI
systems that not only achieve high performance, but also operate reliably in complex applications where accuracy and trust are essential.

Disclaimer: This research was funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S.
Army Research Office (awards W911NF23S0001, W911NF2410078, and W911NF2510147), U.S. Office of Naval Research, U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Australian Department of Defense Strategic Policy Grants Program, Arkansas Research Alliance, the Jerry L. Maulden/Entergy Endowment, and the Donaghey Foundation at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding organizations.

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was conducted by online education website , a resource for individuals pursuing a career in teaching. The study placed 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 School of Education among the 35 best to receive an undergraduate degree in the west south central region of the country, comprising institutions in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

Among the highlights of the program, the study cited the school鈥檚 student success rate with a 94 percent passing rate on the Praxis II, a test that measures the knowledge and skills one needs to become a certified teacher. The passing rate is among the best in the country. 

The study also noted that the School of Education offers online and on-campus courses for undergraduate teaching programs in elementary and special education, and offers middle education degree paths in social studies, language arts, mathematics, and science.聽

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 School of Education is built on a foundation of success, providing students with knowledge to teach K-12, and higher education, as well as preparing students for educational leadership roles. 

鈥淲e are honored to be recognized as one of the top bachelor’s-level teaching programs in the country,鈥� said Dr. Rachel Eells, Windgate endowed director of the School of Education. 鈥淭his distinction reflects the dedication of our faculty, the strength of our curriculum, and our deep commitment to preparing exceptional educators who will make a lasting impact in classrooms across Arkansas and beyond.鈥�

The program also offers graduate-level courses with three licensure programs and five graduate certificate programs that will help enhance teaching skills with concentrations in curriculum and instruction, gifted and talented education, reading, and information systems technology education.

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鈥淲e are proud to welcome these new partners to the program as we work to develop the next generation of leaders in the Arkansas workforce,鈥� said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. 鈥淭he success of the Corporate Partnerships Program allows us to continue to add to our vibrant roster of committed business partners to create affordable, quality educational opportunities for their employees.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has more than 120 partnerships with Arkansas businesses, organizations, and corporations. The latest group of partners includes financial institutions in Relyance Bank and TMB Capital Partners, healthcare partners in Mena Regional Health System and the Bradley County Medical Center, along with The Root Cafe, the Arkansas Secretary of State鈥檚 office, the Pulaski County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, the Arkansas Business Publishing Group, and a variety of engineering, tech, and financial institutions.

Over 57,000 people in Arkansas鈥檚 workforce are eligible to receive educational benefits at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock through the Corporate Partnerships Program. More than 400 students are already taking advantage of these scholarships to pursue an affordable and accessible education at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

Employees who wish to participate in these new corporate partnerships will receive a 10-percent tuition scholarship, a $25-per-credit-hour textbook scholarship, and a waived application fee when they enroll in undergraduate and graduate classes at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 newest corporate partners include:

1. Arkansas Business Publishing Group
2. Arkansas Secretary of State
3. Bradley County Medical Center
4. Essick Air Products
5. Garver
6. Good Seven Management LLC
7. Independent Case Management鈥擨CM
8. Mena Regional Health System
9. Nelson Intelligence Solutions LLC
10. Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office
11. Relyance Bank
12. The Root Cafe
13. TMB Capital Partners

Adding these businesses and organizations to the Corporate Partnerships Program will help enhance the university鈥檚 partnerships with other great central Arkansas employers that provide higher educational opportunities for working adults. 

These new corporate partners join a list of organizations who have already joined the program, including the Arkansas Departments of Corrections, Education, Finance & Administration, the Capital Hotel, CARTI, Conway Regional Medical Center and Conway Rehabilitation Hospital, along with the Mayflower and Sheridan School Districts, Stone Bank, Trio鈥檚 Restaurant, and more. 

Those interested in learning more about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Corporate Partnerships Program may visit the Corporate Partnerships website for more information. Companies interested in becoming a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock corporate partner should email Matthew Bellew, corporate partnerships coordinator, at msbellew@ualr.edu.

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The tournament raises funds to support experiential learning opportunities for business students, including internships, participation in national competitions, and other unique educational experiences.

The event will feature both morning (8 a.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m.) flights, high-end participant gifts, and meals provided by local sponsors. Breakfast will be provided by Chick-fil-A on Highway 10, while lunch is courtesy of Taziki’s and the Keet Family.

鈥淭his tournament is a fantastic way for the business community to come together and invest in the future of our students,鈥� said Dr. Mark Funk, director of the School of Business. 鈥淭he support we receive directly enhances our students鈥� education, equipping them with real-world experiences that make them highly competitive in their careers.鈥�

The event is made possible by the generous support of community sponsors, including:

• Gift In-Kind Sponsor: Golden Eagle
• Golf Cart Sponsors: Stephens, Inc. and Priority1
• Contest Sponsors: Legacy Termite and Pest Control, Ted Bailey III Family, Deloitte, and Segra
• Practice Area Sponsors: Arvest, TMB Capital Partners, Pulaski County Title, and Ifrah Financial
• Bar Sponsor: Tito’s
• Hole Sponsors: USAble, MHP/SI,Deloitte, Platinum Drywall, Inc., David Pickering/Studio W, FIS, ACE Glass, CHI/St. Vincent, Dyke Industries, and Natural State Private Wealth Group
• Beverage Cart Sponsor: Relyance Bank and Bryan Hosto/Haybar Real Estate

For more information about the tournament, contact Ginger Daril at vlkays@ualr.edu or 501-944-7801.

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little has been recognized as the best college or university in Arkansas during the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette鈥檚 annual Best of the Best readers鈥� choice poll.

鈥淏eing voted as the best college in Arkansas is a tremendous honor,鈥� Chancellor Christina S. Drale said. 鈥淚t speaks to the commitment of our entire 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community to provide a top-tier education that empowers students to achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock celebrated another significant milestone last fall with the university鈥檚 largest enrollment growth in 15 years, driven by substantial increases of 28.9 percent in first-time freshmen and 18.2 percent for transfer students. This success continued into the spring 2025 semester, with the university reporting its largest percentage increase for a spring term in university history.

鈥淭his recognition is a testament to the affordable, high-quality education we offer at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. 鈥淲ith increased enrollment and a commitment to ensuring students have the support they need to thrive, we鈥檙e proud to be recognized by the community for making a meaningful impact in the lives of our students and their families.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has consistently focused on enhancing student experiences, growing its academic offerings, and building partnerships within the Little Rock region, providing students unique advantages as they prepare for careers in Arkansas’s Capital City. The university鈥檚 scholarship initiatives like Trojan Guarantee, a scholarship covering full tuition for Pell-eligible students, and the Half-Off Scholarship, which offers significant tuition discounts to students regardless of income, have made college affordable for many students and their families.

鈥淥ur goal is always to create a nurturing and engaging atmosphere where students can thrive academically and personally,鈥� Drale said. 鈥淭his recognition shows that our efforts are resonating with students and the broader community, and we鈥檙e incredibly proud of that.鈥�

This recognition reflects the university鈥檚 continued efforts to provide high-quality education, foster student success, and strengthen its ties to the community. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is celebrating its upcoming 100-year anniversary with the Centennial Campaign, the largest fundraising effort in university history.

Campaign funds will be used to advance academic scholarships, research opportunities, and facility improvements, further positioning 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as a leader in education and innovation. For more information about the Centennial Campaign, visit ualr.edu/centennial.

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According to the Carnegie classification, R2 institutions are those that awarded at least 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees during the upgrade year and had at least $5 million in research expenditures.

The university鈥檚 R2 classification signifies high research activity and places 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock among a select group of institutions nationwide. This recognition is based on research expenditures of approximately $8.7 million in fiscal year 2023 and an average of 47 research doctorates awarded from 2020 to 2023.

Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School, expressed enthusiasm about the university鈥檚 continued success in research and innovation.

“Earning this designation reaffirms 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 commitment to impactful research that addresses real-world challenges,” Berry said. “Our faculty and students are driving innovation in areas like cybersecurity, biotechnology, data science, and artificial intelligence. With our research activity and external funding on the rise, we鈥檙e excited to build on this momentum and continue making meaningful contributions to Arkansas and beyond.”

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 research portfolio includes major initiatives in cybersecurity, biotechnology, and data science. Key contributors to this research include Dr. Philip Huff, associate professor of cybersecurity; Dr. Alex Biris, director of the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences, and Dr. Nitin Agarwal, director of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies () Research Center. You can learn more about their groundbreaking research initiatives .

In addition to maintaining its R2 classification, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has seen impressive growth in research funding. Sponsored projects funded by external grants and contracts have increased by 30% over the past four years, while federal research expenditures have risen by 50% during the same period.

鈥淭he hard work of dedicated faculty, researchers, and students continues to drive innovation, economic development, and technological advancements that benefit central Arkansas and beyond,鈥� Berry said.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will showcase its student research efforts during the university鈥檚 annual Research and Creative Works Expo from 12-4 p.m. April 18. The event provides an opportunity for faculty, students, and the broader community to explore groundbreaking projects and collaborations.

For more information on 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 research initiatives, visit ualr.edu/research.

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The Titans of Industry series showcases influential business leaders from across the region, providing students and guests with the opportunity to hear from and engage with visionary industry pioneers.

Annemarie Dillard, vice president of e-commerce and digital marketing at Dillard鈥檚, and Marla Johnson, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 technology entrepreneur-in-residence, will moderate a discussion with Martin at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Schueck, Lexicon, McCarty Auditorium in the Engineering and Information Technology Building at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. A reception will follow the lecture in the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is committed to connecting our students with industry leaders who can share valuable insights into leadership, innovation, and career success,鈥� said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School. 鈥淲e are honored to host Bobby Martin, one of Arkansas’s most influential business innovators and a transformative leader in global retail technology.鈥�

Martin鈥檚 IT career is marked by industry shaping roles in two of the country鈥檚 most progressive retailers who call Arkansas home. Martin began at Dillard鈥檚 in 1969 before Walmart recruited him in 1984 to lead their technology efforts. From the first electronic point of sale, launching private satellite networks, barcode technologies, data sharing, and the development of retailing鈥檚 most advanced management systems, Martin led a digital revolution that changed retailer and supplier relationships for the benefit of the consumer.

In 1992, Martin became the first CIO to take on a top operating role, becoming CEO of Walmart International, where he grew revenue to $30 billion in seven years, setting the pace for Walmart’s global expansion.

Martin is a highly regarded corporate director. Previous public board roles include Gap Inc., where he served as lead director and chairman of the board. In 2022, he took on the role of interim CEO for 14 months, leading Gap鈥檚 turnaround through a complete corporate transformation that resulted in a $4 billion market cap recovery and a successful transition to Gap鈥檚 newly appointed CEO. Other public company board roles included Sabre Holdings, Furniture Brands International, Dillard鈥檚, SolarWinds, Guitar Center, Edgewater Technology, and Conn鈥檚. In the private sector, he remains affiliated with The Stephens Group as an operating partner.

Space is limited for this event, so please RSVP by filling out this form.

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