A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Lemus published his debut short story collection, Guatemalan Rhapsody, with HarperCollins in 2025. Set in Guatemala, the collection explores interconnected lives, community, and identity through lyrical, character-driven narratives. His debut novel is scheduled for release in 2027, and across both projects, Lemus said his goal is to write stories that feel as relevant decades from now as they do today.

鈥淢y stories have been described as timeless, and that鈥檚 how I like to think of them,鈥� Lemus said. 鈥淚 hope they feel just as urgent now as they did when I was writing them.鈥�

He said that while the subject matter of his novel differs from his short fiction works, his creative process has remained largely unchanged. Rather than imposing structure, he allows each story to determine its own form.

鈥淚 let the story flow rather than dictate its movements,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ach one tells me the space it requires.鈥�

Lemus, who majored in psychology with a minor in creative writing, traces his development as a writer to his time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. He credits Jeffrey Condran, an associate professor of English, as the first person to recognize his talent and encourage him to take writing seriously.  

鈥淥n the first day of class, I wrote something he wasn鈥檛 expecting,鈥� Lemus said. 鈥淎t that point, I didn鈥檛 even have aspirations as a writer. When I started taking it seriously, that鈥檚 when I began to feel like a real writer.鈥�

Condran spotted Lemus鈥� talent right away. His debut short story collection was recently named a finalist for the PEN/Bingham Award, the PEN America prize honoring outstanding debut story collections.

鈥淓ven in his early writing, it was clear that Jared possessed a distinctive voice on the page,鈥� Condran said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a joy to watch his talent develop and see him succeed so well. Every writing professor鈥檚 dream is to see their students break out like this. I鈥檓 so happy for him.鈥�

His confidence grew through participation in the university鈥檚 writing community, where workshop conversations extended beyond the classroom. Lemus said learning that his classmates were sharing and discussing his work even when he wasn鈥檛 present had a profound influence on his career path.

鈥淭o know people were preserving my stories 鈥� remembering them, sharing them 鈥� that meant a lot,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what really boosted my confidence early on.鈥�

In fall 2025, Lemus returned to campus as part of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Visiting Writers Series, where he shared insights into his craft during a public reading and discussion. The event also coincided with a launch celebration for Equinox, the university鈥檚 student-run literary journal, emphasizing the same creative community that helped shape his early development as a writer.

Today, Lemus balances his writing career with teaching, serving as a visiting writer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He said mentoring emerging writers has sharpened his own approach and keeps him grounded in the fundamentals of fiction.

鈥淭eaching keeps craft at the forefront of my mind,鈥� Lemus said. 鈥淲hen I sit down to the blank page, those lessons are always there.鈥�

Lemus said that despite publishing with a major press, he remains focused on the writing itself rather than the mechanics of the publishing industry.

鈥淚鈥檓 very much a purist,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 focus on the art and trust my agent and publishers to do their part.鈥�

For current 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students who hope to build a writing life of their own, Lemus encouraged persistence, attentiveness, and curiosity 鈥� starting with expanding knowledge through reading about any and every subject.

鈥淩ead everything,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou never know where an idea is going to come from.鈥�

Over time, that mindset becomes instinctive, he said. 

鈥淓ventually, you stop reminding yourself that you鈥檙e a writer,鈥� Lemus said. 鈥淵ou just start seeing the world that way.鈥�

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Raised in Des Arc, Arkansas, Yarberry earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock before completing a master鈥檚 degree in professional and technical writing.

鈥淨uality writing changes things,鈥� he said. 鈥淟earning how to use language as a tool helped me connect with the people we serve at World Services for the Blind and with partners in the community. It made me intentional about my words, because what I say and write has the power to drive people to positive change.鈥�

WSB is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower blind and visually impaired individuals in the United States and around the world to achieve sustainable independence.  Yarberry brings more than a decade of experience working with blind youth and adults, as well as valuable lived experience as a person with a visual impairment.

Graduate school offered him numerous opportunities to expand his knowledge and skills.

鈥淔or me, teaching in grad school was the perfect blend of learning and doing,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 knew the PTW program opened doors in grant writing, nonprofits, and communication-heavy roles. What you learn in professional and technical writing stays with you long after you graduate.鈥�

As a full-time graduate student, Yarberry held several roles on campus at different times 鈥� teaching beginning composition classes, working in IT, and assisting in the Writing Center.

鈥淲orking in the Writing Center taught me how to meet people where they are,鈥� he said, noting that in a state where many people struggle with literacy, 鈥減eople are putting a lot on the line when they ask for help. Learning how to support someone by creating a friendly environment when they are vulnerable has shaped how I teach and how I lead at World Services for the Blind.鈥�

The Little Rock resident said he feels fortunate to have earned his master鈥檚 degree.

鈥淚 was the first person in my family to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree, let alone a graduate degree,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y dad was a single father who raised my brother and me. He never finished college, but he pushed me constantly. His question was always, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 next?鈥欌��

Yarberry said he enjoyed his graduate school experience.

鈥淚 knew it would be tough, but I also knew it would give me a skillset that made me employable,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o I leaned into the challenge.鈥�

Yarberry met his wife, Emily, while they were both attending 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and she was one of his biggest supporters when he was in graduate school.

鈥淪he was in the Donaghey Scholars Program,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he kept me focused. She made sure I didn鈥檛 lose sight of what I was working toward.鈥�

While seeking a graduate assistantship, he wanted a position where he could use what he learned in class. Some of his favorite memories come from teaching Composition I and II.

鈥淢y students were mostly older than me, taking classes during their workday, and many had never been taught by someone who was blind,鈥� he said. 鈥淥nce that wore off, it just became about working as a team to build stronger writers and communicators. I loved those classes. I hope I inspired them, but they definitely inspired me.鈥�

As Yarberry’s career has evolved, so have the opportunities for leadership and advocacy.

He was selected as a 2025 Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree, joined Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XLI, and serves on boards including the Arkansas Association for the Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired, VisionCorps, and Penny Forward. He is also treasurer of the Arkansas School for the Blind Alumni Association and works to strengthen statewide and national partnerships supporting blind and visually impaired individuals.

Yarberry said 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock prepared him well for life after graduate school.

鈥淩ight after finishing the program, I stepped into the role of director of education and training at World Services for the Blind,鈥� he said. 鈥淭eaching nontraditional students gave me a strong understanding of what people need in order to learn, adapt, and succeed.鈥�

He said his coursework also taught him the foundations of curriculum design. 鈥淎s part of the practicum I took for teaching, we dug into how to build a course from the ground up 鈥� everything from a syllabus to learning outcomes,鈥� he said.

The Disability Resource Center on campus played an important role in his time at the university.

鈥淚 still stay connected to the Disability Resource Center,鈥� he said, adding that it has a wealth of resources. 鈥淲orking there as an undergraduate student gave me the chance to support others the same way people had supported me.鈥�

Yarberry said his education has strengthened his ability to serve the visually impaired community he is part of.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an underserved community, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock opened doors for me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat gave me the ability 鈥� and the responsibility 鈥� to give back and help move the community forward.鈥�

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Originally from Glenwood, Arkansas, Angeles decided to go to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock after hearing so many great things about it. 

鈥淚 had heard so many great things about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, especially concerning their criminal justice and English programs,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had a few friends and teachers that had attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and they had nothing but great things to say about the university.鈥�

During her time here, Angeles was involved in a variety of student organizations. She was a writer for the student newspaper, The Forum. She served as communications director for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) from 2023-2024 and was vice president from 2024-2025. Angeles was also a senator for the Student Government Association (SGA), and public relations manager for the Model Arab League for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Her favorite memory on campus was the Late Night Pancake dinners, where she could spend time with friends, play games, and have fun with other students. 

鈥淢y friends and I would go and have such a great time eating breakfast food for dinner, playing the numerous games they had in the cafeteria, participating in the raffles, and getting up to dance with the rest of the students,鈥� she said. 

Numerous events on campus helped her learn more about the field and prepare her for her future endeavors. 

鈥淭he Criminal Justice program had numerous events where police officers, lawyers, and judges would come visit the university and chat with the students,鈥� Angeles said. 鈥淎dditionally, LULAC held several professional mixers that allowed us to hear from and connect with professionals around the area.鈥� 

She was also an intern at Braddock Avenue Books and works at the Communications Skill Center. 

鈥淭hese were such great places to work at,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think both of these places showed me valuable skills that will help me in my future career.鈥� 

Angeles is grateful for multiple professors who helped her along her educational journey. 

鈥淚 am forever indebted to Professor Jeffrey Condran, Dr. Angela Hunter, Professor Heather Hummel, Dr. Kris McAbee, Dr. Rebecca Glazier, and Dean Richard Harper,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey have truly made my years at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock an unforgettable experience. They have helped me and guided me throughout my four years here, and I am eternally grateful to them.鈥�

After graduating, she plans to go to law school and pursue a career as a family and immigration lawyer. Her advice for future students is to enjoy their college experience. 

鈥淓njoy the butterflies,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ake friends, find your people. Join clubs. Go to the events the university holds. These things all seem so nerve-wracking at first, but I guarantee, you will not regret it.鈥�

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School of Art and Design

鈥淎manda Burnham: Y Tho:鈥� Gallery One鈥檚 newest exhibition opens in the Fine Arts building on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus on Monday, Aug. 26. In celebration of the re-opening of Gallery One, which has been closed for almost a decade, Amanda Burnham created a site-specific installation that can only be seen at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

A reception and artist lecture will be held on Thursday, Sept. 12. The reception will begin at 5 p.m. in the Fine Arts building, and Burnham will give a lecture at 6 p.m. in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus. This event will also formally welcome the School of Art and Design鈥檚 new Gallery Director Brian Young.

All galleries and receptions at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock are free and open to the public.

鈥淒erek Slagle: Science of Conservation:鈥� Dr. Derek Slagle, the director of the School of Public Affairs at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, will showcase his photography exhibition in September. Open from Sept. 5 through Sept. 27, the exhibition鈥攆ocused largely on conservation and sustainability鈥攚ill be in the Focus Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art + Design. A reception will be held at 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5.

Artist Lecture by Dongyi Wu, Windgate Artist-in-Residence: The School of Art and Design is excited to welcome Dongyi Wu as this semester鈥檚 Windgate Artist-in-Residence. Wu will give an artist lecture at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5, following Derek Slagle鈥檚 reception in the Windgate Center of Art + Design.

From Nov. 11 through Dec. 6, Wu will have her exhibition 鈥淒ongyi Wu, Artist-in-Residence: Whisper of Nights鈥� on display in the North and Focus Galleries in the Windgate Center of Art + Design.

鈥淎lchemy7: The Enamelist Society Juried Exhibition:鈥� Open since July 22, 鈥淎lchemy7,鈥� the biennial juried exhibition hosted by the Enamelist Society, will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6.

The exhibition is on display in the Brad Cushman Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art + Design. Additional information on the exhibition can be found on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock website.

鈥渄raw (verb): new work by Clark Valentine:鈥� Assistant Professor of Drawing Clark Valentine will showcase his drawings in one of his first exhibitions at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. The exhibition will be open until Sunday, Sept. 15 in the Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art + Design. Additional information on Valentine and the exhibition can be found on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock website.

鈥淪chool of Art and Design: Creative Currents:鈥� The School of Art and Design鈥檚 faculty biennial exhibition will open on Friday, Sept. 27 in the Brad Cushman Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art + Design. A reception is scheduled for Oct. 10, and the work will be on display until Nov. 3.

鈥淢ichele Noiset: Analogies and Absurdities:鈥� Assistant Professor of Illustration Michele Noiset will unveil one of her first exhibitions at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock on Monday, Sept. 30. With a background in publishing, advertising, and editorial, Noiset brings her prior experiences into her illustrations. The exhibition will be on display in the Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery until Oct. 25, and a reception will be held on Oct. 10.

For additional information regarding the above events, contact the administrative analyst for the School of Art and Design Kristi Pruett at kncrow@ualr.edu or 501-916-5101.

School of Literary and Performing Arts

A Musical Bouquet: Sonorities! A Faculty Piano Concert featuring Dr. Linda Holzer: The School of Literary and Performing Arts is excited to welcome violinist Sandra McDonald and cellist Joanna Klett, members of the Arkansas Symphony, for Dr. Linda Holzer鈥檚 piano concert. The concert is at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20 in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Fine Arts building. The concert is also free and open to the public.

Blue Line Duo: A Percussion Concert featuring Justin and Cassie Bunting: Faculty member Dr. Justin Bunting will perform alongside musician Cassie Bunting for their percussion showcase, 鈥淏lue Line Duo.鈥� This concert will take place at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24 in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Fine Arts building. The event is free and open to the public.

Visiting Writers Series & Six Bridges-Sponsored: An Afternoon with Margot Livesey: In collaboration with the 2024 Six Bridges Book Festival, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock welcomes 鈥淣ew York Times鈥� best-selling author Margot Livesey to campus at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27. The event is free and open to the public, and it will be held in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Fine Arts building. Information on Livesey and her work is available on .

For additional information regarding the above events, contact the School of Literary and Performing Arts鈥檚 coordinating assistant Caelon Colbert at cdcolbert@ualr.edu or 501-916-3291.

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Hunter will begin her tenure in August. She is taking over for Dr. Joanne Matson, professor of rhetoric and writing, who is retiring this summer after more than 40 years at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淚 am very excited to be the next president of Faculty Senate,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淚 felt it was a good time to throw my hat in the ring for this position since there is a lot of stability for me right now.鈥�

Having just finished up a two-year term on Faculty Senate, Hunter said it鈥檚 been a good year for her. She was promoted to a full professor and has been promoting her book, 鈥淟ouise Dupin鈥檚 Work on Women: Selections,鈥� which she edited and translated with Rebecca Wilkin after receiving a $133,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been invested in Faculty Senate,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is a good time to take on a new role with lots of networking and communication with people all over campus. I am happy to have this role.鈥�

Hunter earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in comparative literature from Colorado College, a master鈥檚 degree in French literature from New York University, and a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Emory University.

She joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2004 and is celebrating her 20th anniversary at the university. She has previously served as coordinator of the graduate program in interdisciplinary studies, interim chair of the Department of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies, interim chair of the Department of English, and interim associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Hunter, who lives in Little Rock, is also the mother of twins, Ayelet and Delphine Benjamin, who will be freshmen at Little Rock Central High School in the fall.

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Hunter and her co-author, Dr. Rebecca Wilkin of Pacific Lutheran University, were selected for the 37th Annual French-American Foundation Translation Prize in Nonfiction for their co-translation of 鈥淟ouise Dupin鈥檚 Work on Women: Selections.鈥� They received their award, which comes with a $10,000 prize, at The Strand Bookstore in New York City June 18.

鈥淚 am so thrilled and shocked to have received this award,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淲hen we found out that we were one of the finalists, we didn鈥檛 have too much hope that we would win the big award because there are some exciting and interesting texts in the finals. It was a great and welcome surprise to find out that we won.鈥�

The , funded by the Florence Gould Foundation, honors the best of French-to-English translation. In keeping with the foundation’s mission to strengthen ties between the United States and France, the prize has established itself as a valuable element of intellectual and cultural exchange between both countries, promoting French literature in the U.S. and providing greater visibility to translators and their craft.

The French-American Foundation noted that the 2023-24 cycle was one of their most competitive to date. The foundation鈥檚 jury of literary professionals spent five months reviewing submissions, which were judged on a wide range of criteria, including accuracy in conveying the sense of the original work, awareness of stylistic, linguistic, and cultural nuance, and the level of difficulty of the translation itself. Hunter and Wilkin were selected from more than 80 submissions.

Their goal is to bring Dupin鈥檚 most important intellectual contributions to a wider audience at a time when interest in early female philosophers is on the rise.

鈥淢ost of her correspondence was destroyed after her death, so we may never know what persuaded her not to complete and publish her work,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淭he image of her has been portrayed as a beautiful, gracious woman, a friend to many philosophers and artists, and a great conversationalist. It鈥檚 very important to me that she is recognized as a thinker in her own right and not just as a featured friend and employer of Jean-Jaques Rousseau, who used his time in her employ to expand his own knowledge base and even borrowed ideas from Dupin.鈥�

Hunter and Wilkin haven鈥檛 finished their translations of Dupin鈥檚 manuscripts and are hoping to release further translations as part of a digital archive project or a special edition of a journal. Meanwhile, Hunter鈥檚 research on Dupin has inspired her in a new way.

鈥淚鈥檝e been researching Louise Dupin for more than a dozen years, and now I鈥檝e shifted gears,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淚鈥檓 working on a creative historical fiction project set in an 18th-century salon in Paris. Louise Dupin鈥檚 salon is the centerpiece of this historical fiction project.鈥�

Hunter has found Dupin to be an interesting historical figure who has only been recognized in recent years for her contributions to philosophy and feminism. Dupin is primarily known for holding an important literary salon in Paris that encouraged many of the academic elites of the time and for her friendship with philosopher Jean-Jaques Rousseau, who served as a secretary in her household from 1745 to 1751.

Hunter and Wilkin received a $133,333 Scholarly Translations and Editions grant from the National Endowment for Humanities in 2020 to publish this edition of Dupin鈥檚 unpublished treatise. Oxford University Press published the book in July 2023. It is described as the French Enlightenment鈥檚 most in-depth feminist analysis of inequality and its most neglected one.

鈥淔or much of the time since her death, she was recognized more as a salon holder, a beautiful woman who was well known and had a lot of connections among enlightened intellectuals,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淪he wrote this large work of feminist philosophy, but she did not end up fully completing it, nor did she publish it in her lifetime.鈥�

Since Rousseau became a well-known philosopher, Dupin鈥檚 manuscript was sold widely and held in many different collections. Prior to the publication of this translated book (and a French edition that was published in 2022), researchers would have had to look through more than 10 archives in three different countries to read Dupin鈥檚 work.

鈥淪ince Rousseau was her secretary for this project, his handwriting is on many of the manuscript pages,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淭he pages were sold at auction in the 1950s and dispersed all over. Her work is a really strong, powerful feminist critique of science, history, inheritance, law, and sexism. She made a strong argument for total equality between men and women. The fact that she is finally coming to light as a philosopher in her own right is very exciting.鈥�

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While researching, Thurmond, a faculty member in the Department of English at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, discovered that the most interesting thing about his namesake was actually his wife and decided to focus his novel on her instead.

鈥淚 had been told by friends that my name Frank Thurmond came up as a 19th century outlaw, and a friend said you should write a novel about this namesake,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淚 started researching that person, and the only thing he did worthwhile was having married this famous woman, Lottie Deno. I realized the real story was her story, and that led to me researching her story and finding out about the incredible story of Lottie Deno.鈥�

The result is Thurmond鈥檚 first novel, 鈥�,鈥� a 240-page historical fiction novel published by Parkhurst Brothers Publishers following the adventures of the notorious gambler through Reconstruction-era Texas.

鈥淗er original name was Carlotta Tompkins, a Southern Belle living on a plantation before the Civil War,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淗er family lost their fortune during the Civil War, so she went off and became a legendary gambler. A Mexican gambler said she ought to call herself Lotta Dinero. She came up with her famous handle 鈥楲ottie Deno鈥� from that.鈥�

Thurmond has seen a lot of travel while promoting his book. He鈥檚 already done multiple signings in Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi. This summer he鈥檒l head out on a road trip for events in New Mexico and California. He鈥檒l next appear at Blytheville Book Company at 10:30 a.m. on May 4 and Weber鈥檚 Book House in his hometown of Paragould at 1:30 p.m. on May 4.

Thurmond has been able to use his writing to inspire his students and vice versa.

鈥淚 was teaching a screenwriting class two years ago while I was finishing the novel,鈥� Thurmond explained. 鈥淢y students said that they wanted to see a screenplay for the novel and encouraged me to write it that semester. That was a wonderful opportunity where my students equally inspired me and encouraged me to get that work done. Thanks to my students鈥� encouragement and prodding, I finished it at the end of the semester and had a table reading. My students were the first to experience the screenplay format of my novel. It was a great way to test out the story, and I benefited greatly from having a group of enthusiastic students who inspired me. Many of my students are creative writers, and it鈥檚 nice to practice what I preach and preach what I practice.鈥�

Thurmond said there has already been interest in producing his novel as a miniseries or a film.

鈥淭he Western has become popular again in recent years, and mine is rare because it has a female protagonist set in the Old West,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had filmmakers interested in the potential of having such a unique, real-life Western. I鈥檓 working with some potential film investors to get this going. It鈥檚 always a long shot. I am a filmmaker, and I’ve made some short films screened at film festivals. This would be my first shot at developing a longer film project. I鈥檓 just excited about having my first novel published.鈥�

The novel started out as a pandemic project, along with a collection of poetry that was published as a poetry chapbook last year. Much of the novel is set in Fort Griffin, Texas, a frontier town that 鈥渕akes Tombstone look tame.鈥� Readers will see appearances from some famous Old West names in the novel, including John Henry 鈥淒oc鈥� Holliday and Wyatt Earp.

Thurmond completed extensive research for his novel, even traveling to New Mexico, the final resting place of Lottie Deno, then going by the name of Charlotte Thurmond, and her husband, Thurmond鈥檚 namesake.

鈥淚鈥檓 currently writing a memoir/travelog, including some travel I did to research this book, which led to some interesting adventures in itself,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淭he heart of the story is set in frontier era Texas, where there was a string of military forts right after the Civil War. Most are preserved as state parks, and I was able to visit the old ghost town of Fort Griffin, where most of my story is set. It鈥檚 privately owned by a Texas rancher, and he invited me to view this place. I completed my research out of New Mexico, where the characters are buried in a cemetery in Deming, New Mexico. It turns out that my 19th century namesake who inspired the initial idea for my novel is an actual real-life ancestor of my Thurmond family. They even have artifacts associated with my character in the local museum.鈥�

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The film, 鈥淭he Forms of Things Unknown,鈥� was written by Frank Thurmond, a faculty member in the Department of English at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and directed by Dylan Pojar-Weatherly, a former student of Thurmond’s who graduated from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2022 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mass communication.

鈥淔or me, it was an opportunity to work with a student whose filmmaking I really admired and who I knew understood the subject matter,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淎t the same time, I鈥檓 gratified to give Dylan a chance to showcase more of his work. I hope this will propel his career forward. That is ultimately what it鈥檚 all about as a teacher. You want to inspire students to develop their craft and help them move forward in their career.鈥�

The 10-minute film will debut during the Made in Arkansas Film Festival. It will be shown at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Ron Robinson Theatre. for the film festival are $20.

鈥淚 am really proud of the piece,鈥� Pojar-Weatherly said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very genuine story, and it鈥檚 definitely different from other projects I鈥檝e worked on before.鈥�

The collaboration between Thurmond and Pojar-Weatherly started during the spring 2022 semester. Pojar-Weatherly, then a senior at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, was taking Thurmond鈥檚 screenwriting class when he asked his professor if he would share some of his own screenplays with the class.

鈥淚t meant a lot to me that Dylan was curious about my work,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淚 brought in a script for a short film about my experience with my late mother, who had Alzheimer鈥檚. The reason I came back to Arkansas in 2009 was to care for her.鈥�

Pojar-Weatherly felt an immediate connection with Thurmond鈥檚 script. At the time, he was working on his capstone project, a short film called 鈥溾�� that highlights a daughter struggling to care for her father who has Alzheimer鈥檚. This film also premiered during the Made in Arkansas Film Festival in 2023.

鈥淚 remember reading the script for the first time, and I remember connecting with the script right away,鈥� Pojar-Weatherly said. 鈥淚 was honored that Mr. Thurmond asked me to be a part of the project. Alzheimer鈥檚 is something I am familiar with through my grandparents.鈥�

The film, which was filmed in the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock School of Nursing鈥檚 Center for Simulation Innovation, delves into the emotional journey of Thurmond鈥檚 final conversation with his mother, capturing the poignant moments of connection and reflection amidst the shadows of the terrible disease.

鈥淭he way that Dylan shot the film and the way the actors brought the story to life captures my final moments with my mother on her deathbed,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be an overwhelmingly emotional experience for me. The theme of it is so universal. So many people have some connection with Alzheimer鈥檚, dementia, and caregiving. It鈥檚 something that many audience members will relate to.鈥�

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