A senior double majoring in geology and biology with an ecological and organismal concentration, Joheim has spent the past year curating a fossil display on the library鈥檚 first floor. The project takes visitors on a journey through deep time, from the earliest ocean-dwelling life to the age of mammals. It鈥檚 the next chapter of a project that began when Joheim first organized and identified a collection of recently donated fossils, work that earned her first place in the Student Research and Creative Works Social Media Competition.

This year鈥檚 project, titled A Sneak Peek into Prehistory: Curating an Interactive Fossil Display to Spark Interest in the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Natural History Museum, earned Joheim first place in the Student Research and Creative Works Social Media Competition for the second consecutive year. The display invites visitors to explore ancient sea scorpions, armored fish, megalodon teeth, and fossils found right here in Arkansas. Each specimen is a chapter in Earth鈥檚 story.

鈥淢y goal with this display is to get people curious about natural history,鈥� Joheim said. 鈥淚 want to introduce visitors to these basic principles in biology and geology and inspire them to investigate the world around them.鈥�

But fossils weren鈥檛 the starting point. Joheim came to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a fascination for fungi and a broad interest in ecological biology, but no clear direction. That changed in her sophomore year, when a childhood interest in paleontology resurfaced 鈥� and a simple Google search for 鈥淲hat is geology?鈥� set her on a new course. That curiosity led her to Dr. Ren茅 Shroat-Lewis, who first brought Joheim into the work of identifying and organizing the university鈥檚 donated fossil collection. This project earned her a competition win. From there, Dr. Shroat-Lewis encouraged Joheim to take the next step: transforming the cataloged collection into the public-facing display now housed in the library.

鈥淪yd is the kind of student every professor hopes for, curious, driven, with a genuine enthusiasm,鈥� said Dr. Shroat-Lewis 鈥淭hey are an exceptional science communicator with a rare ability not only to understand complex ideas but to bring them to life for others. I have no doubt they will become an outstanding paleontologist who inspires curiosity and shares the wonder of science with everyone they encounter.鈥�

When Joheim first entered the competition, she was still relatively new to research and the hands-on work of paleontology. In the year between her first win and this one, she completed a research internship with the University of Southern Mississippi, served as an ambassador for the Paleontological Society, presented at conferences, and became a Learning Assistant. Each experience strengthened her confidence and deepened her foundation in both paleontology and science communication. 

It鈥檚 a trajectory she hopes other students will pursue for themselves, following their passions and believing in themselves.

鈥淒o it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he opportunity to show people what you鈥檙e doing can get you new connections, but it also helps you to feel proud of yourself and the work that you鈥檝e done.鈥� 

That growth shows. As a Trojan Tutor and Learning Assistant, Joheim has made a practice of translating complex ideas into accessible ones, a skill that carries directly into the social media entries that caught judges鈥� attention two years running.

鈥淚t鈥檚 often my job to turn complex ideas into easy-to-understand concepts for beginners. Participating in the social media contest requires that you communicate your project effectively, and those are skills I use every day in these positions,鈥� says Joheim. 

The display also serves a forward-looking purpose, generating excitement for the upcoming 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Natural History Museum. For many in the Little Rock community, it will be a rare opportunity to view specimens like ancient sea creatures, prehistoric mammals, and fossils, some even pulled from Arkansas soil. Planned for the fifth floor of Ottenheimer Library, the museum will serve as both a public-facing space where community members can explore the university鈥檚 natural history collections, and a working museum where faculty and collaborating researchers from across Arkansas and beyond can come to study, curate, and build the collection. For 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, it represents a chance to deepen its role as a cultural and scientific resource for the region, bringing world-class natural history education to the community. This summer, faculty will begin cataloging a variety of nearly 25,000 different specimens in preparation for the opening. 

With graduation approaching, Joheim remains committed to the public-facing science that has defined her time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She is hopeful that her display will find a home at the Natural History Museum and hopes to play a role in bringing the museum to life 鈥� continuing to make big ideas approachable and inspiring the next generation to ask questions about the world beneath their feet.

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The renovation is made possible through a $1.2 million gift from Leslye and Ray Shellam honoring Leslye’s late father, Arkansas business leader L. Dickson Flake, and her late mother, Linda Blaine Flake. The Shellam Flake Planetarium will soon reopen after nearly two decades. But for faculty and students, the reopening is about far more than renovation and technology upgrades. It signals a new era of immersive, interdisciplinary learning.

For Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy, the planetarium represents a fundamental shift in how students experience complex scientific ideas.

鈥淲hat excites me most is the opportunity to transform how students experience physics,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淭he planetarium allows abstract ideas 鈥� whether dynamical systems in classical mechanics or quantum state evolution in quantum computing 鈥� to become immersive and intuitive.鈥�

In fields such as quantum computing, many ideas are highly abstract. Guisbiers envisions the planetarium as a way to transform his teaching by making difficult core concepts and invisible phenomena more accessible. The dome鈥檚 immersive capabilities allow students to visualize challenging processes such as wavefunctions, carrier dynamics, and structure-property relationships.

鈥淚 would also integrate research data into the learning experience, allowing students to explore simulations and experimental results interactively,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淭his connects coursework with research, strengthens undergraduate research opportunities, and helps students develop both scientific intuition and communication skills.鈥�

The planetarium will also elevate 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 role as a public-facing science institution. Rather than science existing primarily in classrooms and labs, the dome creates a shared space for research visualization, interdisciplinary programming, and community engagement.

Guisbiers notes that the planetarium is not just a site of education but a hub for the community.

鈥淭he 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock planetarium can become a bridge between the university and the broader Little Rock community by serving as a hub for STEM education, public science literacy, and interdisciplinary engagement,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eyond astronomy, it can function as a cultural and creative space where science, art, and storytelling intersect, strengthening the university鈥檚 role as a regional center for education and community connection.鈥�

Guisbiers sees the planetarium reopening as representative of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 broader investment in science infrastructure and education. Alongside the observatory reopening in March 2025, the planetarium showcases the university鈥檚 commitment to hands-on learning and expanding access to STEM education.

Dr. Michael DeAngelis, associate professor of geology, sees equally transformative potential in the planetarium鈥檚 reopening.

Currently, the geology department offers field experiences to locations such as the Bahamas for the Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas course, excursions to Colorado and New Mexico for Field Geology II, and local trips across Arkansas to the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains. The planetarium’s immersive capabilities unlock new opportunities for students to explore different regions of the world.

鈥淎s a geology professor, I consistently seek opportunities to expose our students to diverse global environments,鈥� DeAngelis said. 鈥淲ith the planetarium鈥檚 digital projection system, I can now envision taking our students on virtual expeditions: to the peaks of the Himalayas, the frozen depths of Antarctica, inside the giant crystal caves of Mexico, or even to never-before-visited locations like the Moon or Mars to explore their geology.鈥�

The planetarium鈥檚 versatility creates an interdisciplinary space for learning that extends beyond the sciences. DeAngelis sees potential for immersive experiences such as virtual art shows for art and design students, concert performances for music students, and visualized global supply chains for economics students.

For DeAngelis, the reopening is especially significant for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 science programs.

鈥淔or science programs, the planetarium will allow for the visualization of phenomena at scales beyond human perception,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his includes viewing microscopic interactions, such as microbial life, mineral structures, and simulated chemical reactions. It also encompasses the immense, like solar system formation, supernovae, and the expansion of the universe.鈥�

Concepts that once existed only in textbooks or on flat screens can now unfold across the dome in full scale, placing students inside the systems they study.

When asked what he hopes visitors will take away from their experience, DeAngelis answered with a single word:

鈥淎we,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd all of its synonyms 鈥� wonder, astonishment, reverence, and amazement.鈥�

As the university approaches its centennial, the reopening of the Shellam Flake Planetarium signals forward momentum in science education and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In reopening the planetarium, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is not just restoring a beloved space 鈥� it is strengthening its role as a regional hub for education, innovation, and opportunity.

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The AWG President鈥檚 Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service and support for the organization鈥檚 mission of empowering women in the geosciences. Shroat-Lewis was honored for her six years of service as the South-Central Delegate and her continued commitment to advancing diversity and mentorship in the field. 

Shroat-Lewis has been with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock since the fall of 2012 as an instructor and moved into the tenure track in 2015. She is active in community and statewide initiatives, such as serving as the state director for the Arkansas Science Olympiad. She is the first recipient of the Accomplished Alumni Award from University of Tennessee鈥檚 Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences Department. 

The award was presented by her former advisor, Dr. Colin Sumrall. Shroat-Lewis is deeply committed to student research and teaching, both of which she views as essential to inspiring the next generation of scientists. 

鈥淚 was genuinely shocked when my name was announced,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a meaningful surprise. The Association for Women Geoscientists is very near and dear to my heart, and I am always happy to support its mission of empowering women in the geosciences. Both of these honors remind me how important it is to stay engaged in teaching, mentorship, and service to our scientific community.鈥� 

Shroat-Lewis plans to continue serving in the roles that have allowed her to support students, colleagues, and the broader geoscience community. She has also been invited to run for President of the Association for Women Geoscientists 鈥� a challenge she is excited to pursue within the next few years. She鈥檚 also looking forward to continuing to advocate for mentorship, inclusion, and opportunities that help others succeed in the geosciences. Shroat-Lewis credits her grandparents for instilling in her a strong work ethic and commitment to service.

鈥淢y grandparents raised me to work hard and give back to others,鈥� she said. 鈥淣either of them had more than a high school education, but they made sure I knew the importance of striving for excellence and making a difference whenever possible.鈥�

She thanked 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for supporting its faculty and encouraging growth.

鈥淚 am truly grateful to work at an institution that values innovation, service, and student success,鈥� she said.

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Dr. Ren茅 Shroat-Lewis, associate professor of geology, has received the 2024 Mid-Career Excellence Award in Academia and Research from the Association for Women Geoscientists.

鈥淲inning the Mid-Career Excellence Award from the is an incredible honor that reflects the work I’ve done in geology up to this point in my career,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the research I鈥檝e contributed, but also the effort I鈥檝e put into mentoring others and fostering an inclusive environment in the classroom and in the field.鈥�

Shroat-Lewis was selected for the award for her innovative teaching, scientific accomplishments, efforts on behalf of students with disabilities, and outreach efforts.

鈥淔or me, this award highlights the importance of supporting and encouraging future generations of women in geoscience, ensuring that they have the opportunities and resources to succeed. It鈥檚 a proud moment that recognizes both the scientific and community-building aspects of my career, and I鈥檓 grateful to be acknowledged in this way.鈥�

She joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as an instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences in 2012, moved into a tenure-track assistant professor position in 2015, and earned tenure in 2021.

Her service at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has included mentoring three graduate students, 11 undergraduate students, and overseeing 16 students through internships. She鈥檚 also served as a co-director for the Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence and a facilitator for the Mobile Institute on Science Teaching. Additionally, she鈥檚 worked with the university鈥檚 Disability Resource Center to create introductory geology laboratory materials for students who are visually impaired as well as created active learning materials for introductory geology courses.

鈥淚鈥檓 extremely fortunate to work at an academic institution that actively supports and encourages faculty to engage in meaningful endeavors that benefit both our students and the broader community,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he freedom and support to pursue opportunities beyond the classroom鈥攚hether through research, outreach, or mentorship鈥攅nables me to make a greater impact within the scientific community. This backing creates a dynamic environment where all faculty can contribute not only to academic excellence, but also to initiatives that help shape the future of our field.鈥�

In her community service, Shroat-Lewis serves as State Director for Arkansas Science Olympiad, a member of the Geological Society of America Joint Technical Program Committee, a leader for the Climate Reality Project, and an instructor for the Boy Scouts of America Oceanography Merit Badge University.

Shroat-Lewis has been involved with the Association for Women Geoscientists since 2003, serving as a committee member of the Jeanne E. Harris Chrysalis Award, a scholarship she once received, since 2009 and the South-Central Delegate since 2019.

鈥淭he Jeanne E. Harris Chrysalis Scholarship is very near and dear to my heart because it offers critical financial support to women geoscience graduate students whose education has been significantly disrupted by life circumstances, helping them complete their degrees and continue pursuing their goals,鈥� she said. 鈥淪erving on the Chrysalis Committee is incredibly humbling because of the powerful stories we hear from applicants.鈥�

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