The Sister Cities Commission fosters global relationships between Little Rock and its international sister and friendship cities, promoting collaboration through arts, culture, youth education, business, and community development. Little Rock currently maintains sister city relationships with cities in Taiwan, Korea, China, England, and Brazil, along with friendship cities in Italy and China. New outreach efforts are also underway for cities in Ghana and Cameroon.

鈥淚 think they value having a university professor on the commission,鈥� Felan said. 鈥淲e bring an educational component that can connect visiting delegations with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and possibly create opportunities for student exchanges and cultural engagement.鈥�

Felan, who joined the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty in 2002, brings extensive international, educational, and business experience to the role. He has led five study abroad programs, including two consecutive trips with Dr. Otmar Varela, professor of management, to Argentina. He has also taught in Austria as part of a summer program sponsored by the University of New Orleans.

鈥淚 think my experience working with students abroad and my connections with the local business community put me in a unique position to contribute to all areas of the commission鈥檚 mission,鈥� he said.

Felan鈥檚 first meeting with the commission was in May, which he attended via Zoom from his study abroad trip in Argentina. His appointment continues 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 strong connection with the commission, following in the footsteps of former member Dr. Ashvin Vibhakar, Joe T. Ford Professor of Finance, whose term expired earlier this year.

Felan and Varela are now exploring the possibility of planning a future study abroad trip to one of Little Rock鈥檚 sister cities. They are especially interested in visiting Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, which has been a sister city since 2016, for its business and educational opportunities.

鈥淣ewcastle-Upon-Tyne has a port and a university we鈥檝e partnered with in the past,鈥� Felan said. 鈥淚t could offer great opportunities for our students to learn about international business, trade, and culture.鈥�

Beyond his academic work, Felan is a longtime community volunteer with a passion for education and youth development. He recently just completed his term as president of the Small Business Institute, an organization of professors from around the country that teach small business and entrepreneurship. He has previously served on the boards for Junior Achievement of Central Arkansas, Benton School Board, and Central High School Band Boosters.

鈥淚 want to be a good representative of Little Rock,鈥� Felan said. 鈥淲hether it’s welcoming visiting delegations or helping our students connect globally, I鈥檓 excited to help build relationships that strengthen cultural understanding and community ties. I want to be a good representative of Little Rock and show them some good Southern hospitality.鈥�

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The awards were created by the provosts from each OVC member institution to recognize their outstanding faculty members. Each OVC member institution had the opportunity to nominate a faculty member with the rank of associate or full-time professor who has been employed at the institution for at least five years.

鈥淟ittle Rock Athletics is happy to be able to honor Dr. Joe Felan with the OVC Faculty of the Year Award,鈥� said George Lee, director of Little Rock Athletics. 鈥淒r. Felan is committed to help all students succeed in his classes. His willingness to work with students to get the best out of each and every one makes him an excellent role model for student success.

The award recipients were chosen based on impacts of students, contributions made to the department, university and curriculum development, consistent professional development, as well as community involvement and institutional service.

鈥淚t was really exciting to receive this award,鈥� Felan said. 鈥淚 really enjoyed hearing from my students how much they appreciate my teaching. I think that the coaches and their assistants push the student-athletes to make sure they attend, participate, and do well in their classes. I can count on my athletes to be productive participants in class.鈥�

Felan has been teaching student-athletes ever since he joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as a professor 23 years ago. He said that many student-athletes pursue a business-related major since they have so many skills that translate well to business.

鈥淲e get a fair number of business majors that are student-athletes,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can see that our student-athletes are highly motivated, and I think some of those skills are required in business, particularly if you want to start your own business one day. Many of these attributes also translate to the area of entrepreneurship.鈥�

Since joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty in 2002, Felan has received two service awards and been named Who鈥檚 Who Among American Teachers. He received the Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service from the former 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock College of Business in 2020.

When working with student-athletes, Felan said he always keeps in mind that student-athletes have unusual schedules due to their athletic careers and that it鈥檚 important to be flexible.

鈥淚 am willing to work with their schedules, especially if they need to meet outside of their regular class,鈥� Felan said. 鈥淚 am very flexible with office hours and virtual meetings. If they need to meet with me in the early morning or evenings, I am happy to do that.鈥�

Felan only lives about 10 minutes away from campus, so he is able to attend many sporting events. While Felan enjoys watching basketball and baseball games, he鈥檚 also grown particularly fond of the university鈥檚 wrestling program.

鈥淚 do enjoy all sports, but I鈥檝e been particularly interested in watching the wrestling program grow over the last few years,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had many wrestlers in class over the years. This year, the coach invited me to sit on the sidelines next to the mat during the last home meet of the year.鈥�

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This resounding success not only showcases the collective spirit that defines the university but also highlights the enduring commitment of its community to invest in the institution’s mission and future.

鈥淭his accomplishment is a testament to the dedication and generosity of our campus community,鈥� said Dr. Aresh Assadi, director of Counseling Services and chair of the Campus Campaign. 鈥淩eaching this participation level is not only a numerical success but also speaks to the sense of unity and commitment among our employees. I believe that boosting internal participation is crucial as it positively impacts our external fundraising efforts, creating a strong foundation for the university’s growth and development.鈥�

Reaching this goal speaks to the shared belief in the transformative power of education and the collective impact of small acts of giving. Altogether, nearly 350 university employees donated to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock during 2023.

“The spirited engagement of our dedicated faculty and staff in the Campus Campaign goes beyond monetary contributions,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淭his wholehearted internal support significantly fortifies our university’s standing as we approach external donors for major gifts. It communicates a compelling message 鈥� that those intimately connected to the university are wholeheartedly committed to its mission. This collective investment not only enhances our credibility but also amplifies our appeal when seeking external funds. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the staff, faculty, and administrators who played instrumental roles in organizing this year’s campaign. With the capable assistance of Laterika Tooks and Kristi Smith, it became a total team effort. Witnessing such collaboration makes me immensely proud to be a Trojan.”

The university owes a special thanks to the dedicated employees who helped lead the Campus Campaign effort across campus. Campus Campaign Steering Committee members included Assadi, Mark Baillie, Shelia Brooks, Sikia Brown, Jessie Burchfield, Anthony Buttrum, Katrina Christopher, Reed Claiborne, Shannon Collier-Tenison, andre cummings, Joe Felan, Tyler Harrison, Carrie Phillips, Derek Slagle, Judy Staley, Joanne Matson, Brandy Dixon, and Emily Bell.

Campus Campaign Ambassadors included Katie Helms, Dawn Johnson, Sadie Lea, Monica Meadows, Leisa Myles, Vanessa Whitman, Angela Willis, April Chatham-Capenter, Mercades Parker, Bobbie Handcock, Salina Ables, Reteisha Byrd, Morgan Leyenberger, Mohammad Goodarzi, Keith Harris, Mary French, Rachel Mercado, Belinda Nix, Cynthia Dedner, Al Baker, Jennifer Lampkin, Anne Turner, Grace Zafasi, and Mary Tillman.

鈥淭he dedication of our Steering Committee and Campus Ambassadors was evident throughout the campus, and I had the opportunity to observe the effort they invested behind the scenes,鈥� said Laterika Tooks, director of annual giving at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚 feel fortunate to collaborate with numerous faculty and staff members who are enthusiastic about their roles and committed to the development and achievement of this university.鈥�

A total of 18 campus departments achieved 100 percent giving in 2023, which is 50 percent more than 2022.

Those departments include Alumni and Development, Applied Communication, the Bursar鈥檚 Office, the Chancellor鈥檚 Office, Concurrent Enrollment, Counseling Services, Disability Resource Center, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Financial Services, Institute of Chief Data Officers, Mail Services, Marketing and Communications, Office of Military Student Success, Sequoyah National Research Center, Study Abroad, Student Retention Initiatives, Testing and Student Life Research, and the Trojan Transition and Assistance Center.

Bobbie Handcock, a web content specialist who served as a campus ambassador, said that she likes to donate to causes like the Trojan Food Pantry or to help buy caps and gowns for graduating students.

鈥淚 work at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and I鈥檓 also a graduate student,鈥� Handcock said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to see things from a student鈥檚 perspective and talk with my classmates about challenges that they may face. I know how important it is to have support 鈥� both financially and academically. The Campus Campaign generates funds to help students succeed and reach their goals.鈥�

As a campus campaign ambassador, Handcock explained how a gift to the university is an investment in future leaders, innovators, and professionals.

鈥淏y donating, you can help provide scholarships, financial aid, and resources to students who might not otherwise have the means to pursue a college education,鈥� Handcock said. 鈥淏y contributing, you can help feed someone who is hungry or clothe someone who needs business attire for a job interview. I shared ways that they could support the campaign, including purchasing a legacy brick, giving to an area that means the most to them or giving a gift-in-kind such as to the Trojan Career Closet. I encouraged them to remember that it doesn鈥檛 matter what you give, as long as you give.鈥�

The gifts are a part of the Centennial Campaign, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 fundraising campaign to raise $250 million in celebration of the university鈥檚 100-year anniversary in 2027. The Campus Campaign was part of a cumulative fundraising year that netted more than $22 million for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Visit to learn more about the Centennial Campaign.

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