The poetic love story, called 鈥淏efore We Knew,鈥� was filmed over the summer in Columbus, Georgia, and surrounding counties. Thorlton, the award-winning writer and director of 鈥淎 Place Called Home,鈥� spent nearly eight weeks on location, while 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students Zachary Farmer, KeaLea Graham, Adrian Rogers, and Jonathan Leath joined the crew for more than four weeks. With the support of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, the students received travel, lodging, and accommodations as they worked alongside industry professionals on their first major film production.

The film is a romantic drama that follows two young adults who fall in love before they are emotionally ready. The film explores themes of fate, choice, and love from opposing perspectives, incorporating poetic narration and introspection throughout the story. Thorlton co-wrote the film with his wife, Elizabeth, drawing some inspiration from their real-life love story, which began when they were teenagers.

鈥淚t really was a great experience,鈥� Thorlton said. 鈥淚t was hot, we got caught in thunderstorms, but that鈥檚 all part of film production. The students got a chance to be part of a professional network, to live and work in a different environment, and to see what it really takes to craft a film.鈥�

Each student was assigned to a different team on set鈥攃amera, grip and electric, production design鈥攚here they gained hands-on experience in the day-to-day responsibilities of film crew work.

Zachary Farmer, a senior from Wrightsville, worked with the Grip and Electric team, helping set up lights and mirror boards and assisting the gaffer.

鈥淲orking on set was a hands-down 10/10 experience,鈥� Farmer said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never worked on a production before, but now I pray I have the chance to again. I learned how to work under the pressure of time. We had such little time to get things done on set, and that experience will stick with me.鈥�

Adrian Rogers, who graduated with a degree in mass communication in May, worked on the film as the second assistant camera operator, responsible for building the camera body, handling lenses and filters, slating shots with a clap board, and working with the director of photography and first assistant camera operator.

鈥淎s this was my third experience on a film set, I definitely learned quite a bit and grew from this month in Georgia,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淚t was my first time in the camera department, and I was really honored to have been trusted with an important role. Even though the Georgia sun and heat was critical, the crew I worked with made this an awesome learning experience for me. Overall, I would definitely do it again with the same crew I worked with. Everyone was so talented on set, and I really cannot wait to see where everyone goes next!鈥�

KeaLea Graham, a senior from Little Rock, was also part of the grip team. It was her first time on a film set, and she valued the close mentorship that came from working with a small crew.

鈥淢y experience was honestly great,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淚 learned a lot more about lighting and the grunt work side of the industry. I鈥檓 forever grateful to Professor Thorlton for the opportunity. I learned a lot and met some great and very creative individuals. I would love to work with them again.鈥�

Thorlton said the hands-on project was modeled after a valuable opportunity he received during his own film school education and hopes to bring similar work opportunities for more students in the future.

鈥淲e鈥檙e now in post-production鈥攅diting, music, color, and sound design鈥攚hich will take about a year,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut having our students be part of this process from the ground up is incredibly valuable. If I can provide that experience for more students, that鈥檚 what I want to do.鈥�

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The commencement ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Jack Stephens Center. Doors will open at 8 a.m. to the public, and graduates should arrive at Fisher Court by 8:30 a.m. A clear bag policy will be in effect for all attendees, and no outside food or beverages will be allowed in the Jack Stephens Center.

The ceremony will feature undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, and the William H. Bowen School of Law.

Kiel Thorlton, assistant professor of mass communication and winner of the 2024 Faculty Excellence Award for Rising Faculty, will serve as the main speaker for the commencement ceremony.

The William H. Bowen School of Law will hold a hooding ceremony and reception to celebrate its graduating law students on Friday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. in the Friday Courtroom at Bowen. The address will be delivered by Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Barbara Womack Webb, a proud graduate of Bowen.

Additionally, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will hold a contest on the university鈥檚 Facebook page where the public can vote on the best-decorated graduation cap.

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock commencement ceremony will be live-streamed on the commencement website and the .

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Armed with a degree in mass communication with a concentration in journalism and a wealth of hands-on experience, Santana is ready to make his mark in the fast-paced and dynamic field of broadcast journalism.

鈥淚 am super grateful for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the journey I鈥檝e gone through,鈥� Santana said. 鈥淐oming here was the best decision I made in my academic career. I can鈥檛 wait to see where my career takes me.鈥�

As he prepares to take the next step in his career, Santana reflected on the inspiration and skills he has learned through three internships. He spent two summers interning with the Dumas Clarion newspaper through the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation鈥檚 Summer Internship Program. His internship was specially sponsored by donations from the Arkansas Press Women, the Dumas Chamber of Commerce, Dumas Economic Development, and Merchants & Farmers Bank of Dumas in memory of Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder, who owned and published The Dumas Clarion for 44 years with her husband Melvin.

鈥淭he Dumas Clarion built my journalism knowledge, and they created a stepping stone for me to enter the journalism field, and I will forever be grateful for them,鈥� Santana said. 鈥淚 learned how to find local news, how to network, and how to attend press conferences. The last two summers went very well. I learned everything I needed to learn as a young journalist.鈥�

During the fall 2023 semester, Santana had the opportunity to intern at KATV, where he worked with Brenda Lepenski and decided that he wanted to work in broadcast journalism.

鈥淚t was a really exciting internship. I learned how the everyday life of a broadcast journalist works,鈥� he said. 鈥淭ime management is really important. Brenda taught me a lot and gave me so much great advice. I鈥檓 very excited about going into broadcasting.

Now that his college career is coming to an end, Santana expressed gratitude to Linna Jones and Rick Wright from the Dumas Clarion, as well as Professors Tim Edwards, Jamie Byrne McCollum, Kiel Thorlton, and Sonny Rhodes from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 School of Mass Communication for helping him build his skills as a journalist.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Santana also serves as a reporter and photographer for the student newspaper, the Forum, as well as co-vice president and social media chair for the Hispanic/Latinx Initiative. He was recently inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha honor society, where he received the Top Scholar Award for having the highest GPA of a graduating student.

For other students who are thinking about going to college, Santana鈥檚 advice for them is to get involved in campus life.

鈥淭his is what I learned during my first year of college when I was really stuck at my dorm,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel like college is about more than just receiving a degree. You need to make friends, network, participate in student organizations, and connect with people who will help you in your journey.鈥�

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Anastasia Boles, professor of law, won the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching, sponsored by the Bailey Family. Skurat Harris, associate professor of rhetoric and writing, has won the Faculty Excellence Award in Research and Creative Endeavors, sponsored by Dr. Jaafer Golzar and Renee Golzar, while Siraj, associate professor of chemistry, received the Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service, sponsored by the Chancellor鈥檚 Circle.

In the university鈥檚 newest Faculty Excellence categories, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock honored Kiel Thorlton, assistant professor of mass communication, as the second recipient of the Rising Faculty Excellence Award, sponsored by Dr. Scott Bowen, as well as Rockwell, associate professor of marketing and advertising, as the second recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award in Social Justice, sponsored by Just Communities of Arkansas.

鈥淥ur recipients’ unwavering commitment to scholarship, teaching, research, public service, and social justice has significantly enriched both our institution and the wider academic sphere,鈥� Provost Ann Bain said. 鈥淥n behalf of the university, I extend heartfelt congratulations to each award recipient, expressing gratitude for epitomizing the essence of excellence that defines our institution.”

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock annually celebrates the achievements of the top professors of the year who are making a difference in the community through their contributions in teaching, research and creative works, public service, and social justice. This is the highest honor 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock awards its faculty members. Each university-level award winning faculty member will receive a $5,000 prize.

Created in 1989, the Faculty Excellence Awards has provided a way to recognize the great work of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty for the past 35 years and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Chancellor鈥檚 Circle, and the Bailey Foundation.

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Board of Visitors selected the university-wide winners from the 19 faculty members who were selected as the top faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year in each of the five categories in their respective colleges and the William H. Bowen School of Law.

鈥淚 want to give a special thank you to the Board of Visitors,鈥� Bain said. 鈥淲e very much appreciate their dedication to this and the positive comments we鈥檝e seen from them about the dedication of our faculty members.鈥�

Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching

Anastasia Boles is a professor of law at the William H. Bowen School of Law and co-director of Bowen鈥檚 Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform. She has been noted by fellow faculty, students, and alumni as an example of the teacher-mentor model. Boles鈥� background is in large law firm litigation, and she brings her civil litigation experiences to her classes and incorporates culturally proficient legal instruction into her courses.

鈥淧rofessor Boles exemplifies the qualities that this award recognizes,鈥� Bowen Dean Emerita Theresa Beiner said. 鈥淪he is a master teacher; an innovative teacher who incorporates culturally proficient legal instruction in her courses, creating a more inclusive and engaging experience for all of her students; and a mentor to the students in her classes as well as those who participate in her projects in Bowen鈥檚 Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform.鈥�

Unlike most law classes, which use the Socratic method, Boles uses a panel system to call on students. This allows students to know what day they will be questioned in class and helps build student confidence.

鈥淚 am extremely honored and humbled to win this award,鈥� Boles said. 鈥淥ur students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock are so talented. My goal as a Bowen law professor is to help them develop the lawyering skills necessary to become competent, equity-informed, and culturally competent leaders. Many students come to law school wanting to change the world, so I focus on keeping my classes interactive, grounded in social context, and full of opportunities for formative assessment.鈥�

Boles received a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.A. (double major) in political science and sociology from Stanford University.

Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Creative Endeavors

Dr. Heidi Skurat Harris is an associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. With a decade of experience at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Harris has made significant impacts in the research field.

Her research areas of online instruction and online writing program development allow her to use her research data to improve her teaching and advising. She is also a recognized national expert on online writing instruction, editing the Bedford Bibliography of Research in Online Writing Instruction and co-authoring important works such as 鈥淢ultimedia in the College Classroom: Improve Learning and Connect with Students in Online and Hybrid Courses.鈥� She developed 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Graduate Certificate for Online Writing Instruction, the only certificate of its kind in the nation.

鈥淚 am deeply passionate about online education and continually strive to enhance the student experience,鈥� Skurat Harris said. 鈥淲hether in the classroom or engaging with students online, I am committed to fostering meaningful interactions that remind students of the human connection behind the screen. When working with online students, it’s especially important to be present in the classroom and interact with students so they know there is a human behind the screen that cares about them.鈥�

Her experiences in teaching and advising online students drive her research agenda. In the last five years, Skurat Harris has published four book chapters, 12 journal articles, a bibliography, and two co-edited books. Her research further appears in books such as 鈥淔oundational Practices in Online Writing Instruction鈥� and in some of the top journals in the field, including Technical Communication Quarterly, Computers & Composition, and Communication Quarterly.

Skurat Harris received her Ph.D. in English and an M.A. in English from Ball State University, an M.A. in writing from Missouri State University, and a B.A. in English from the College of the Ozarks.

Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service

Dr. Noureen Siraj is an associate professor of chemistry at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She is involved in numerous organizations within and outside the university. At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, she serves on the Awards Committee in the Chemistry Program, the Chemical Safety Committee, the Faculty Senate Honors and Awards Committee, and the Student Research and Creative Works Committee. Outside the university, she serves as a grant proposal reviewer for many state and federal agencies including the National Science Foundation and NASA.

Since 2020, she has served as the Chemistry Olympiad Coordinator for the American Chemical Society. The Central Arkansas American Chemical Society honored her with two prestigious awards in 2023 – Central Arkansas Professor of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

Siraj has played a significant role in the community by helping build pathways to STEM careers for underserved children in Little Rock, as well as encouraging students, especially female students, to follow their STEM-related interests. Over the past five years, Siraj has mentored 22 middle and high school students for their science fair projects, three of whom have won awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

鈥淚t feels wonderful to be recognized for the efforts I鈥檝e been putting in with students for many years,鈥� Siraj said. 鈥淚 try to do my best to provide students with as many opportunities as possible. I have seen many undergraduate students in Arkansas who don鈥檛 know the future of STEM majors during their studies. I work with my students very closely so that they can see the big picture and the opportunities that await them. I am very proud that some of my minority and first-generation college students who have graduated are now working at national laboratories and making a big difference for their families and in the world. I have received many blessings in my life, and I enjoy public service activities because I want to share my blessings with others.鈥�

She received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Graz University of Technology in Austria and a bachelor鈥檚 degree and master鈥檚 degree in chemistry from the University of Karachi in Pakistan.

Faculty Excellence Award for Rising Faculty

Kiel Thorlton, assistant professor in the School of Mass Communication, joined the university in 2020 and has become well known for his film work and mentoring students.

Thorlton鈥檚 film work includes writing, directing, and co-producing a feature film called 鈥淎 Place Called Home鈥� and writing episodes for the animated series, 鈥淕abriel and the Guardians.鈥� He is currently in preproduction on a second feature film, 鈥淭he Invisible,鈥� where he serves as writer, director, and co-producer.

鈥淚 am so thankful to receive this award because there are some really talented people in the rising faculty pool. In the classroom setting, I try to emphasize working with my students outside of the classroom as much as possible,鈥� said Thorlton, adding that he was headed straight to the set to help a student with his capstone project. 鈥淭here is a lot that can be learned outside the classroom when you have the opportunity and take the initiative to learn new skills.鈥�

Additionally, he is also the coordinating producer for ESPN+ and manages a student crew responsible for over 100 broadcasts a year. Thorlton received a M.F.A in film & television from Regent University and a B.A. in mass communication and theatre from Campbellsville University.

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The university-level Faculty Excellence winners will be announced at the April 4 ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the EIT Auditorium in the Engineering and Information Technology Building.

More information on the CHASSE winners and excerpts from their nomination letters are below:

Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service

Dr. Edma Delgado-Sol贸rzano is an assistant professor of Spanish who is deeply involved in service in her program, at the university, and in our larger community.

In highlighting her work at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, her nomination letter states 鈥渟he is the heart and soul鈥� of supporting Spanish heritage speakers through recruiting students to the program, supervising Spanish language testing requirements, writing memos to the registrar, and advising and mentoring these students.

鈥淗er years-long work with LULAC, El Z贸calo Immigrant Resource Center, Mamas Unidas in Little Rock, the Hispanic Women鈥檚 Organization of Arkansas in Springdale, and El Centro Hispano in Jonesboro are a testament to a hard-working individual who strongly believes in setting an example for her community,鈥� her nomination letter states. 鈥淎nd these organizations have awarded her efforts with the 2023 Mentor of the Year Prize from Mamas Unidas, as Arkansan of the Day (July 17, 2023) by THV Channel 11 News, and Recognition for Community Service (October 13, 2023) from Univision Arkansas.鈥�

Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Creative Endeavors

Dr. Heidi Skurat Harris is an associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. With a decade of experience at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Harris has made significant impacts in the research field.

鈥淗er three primary research areas involve online instruction鈥� online writing program development and administration, and archival research on the writing and publication process of the novella 鈥楢 River Runs Through It鈥� by Norman Maclean,鈥� states her letter of nomination.

鈥淚n the last five years alone, Dr. Harris has published in four edited collections and book chapters, a bibliography, twelve journal articles, and two co-edited books (Routledge 2024),鈥� her letter continues. 鈥淚n addition, she collaborated with faculty and students from across disciplines and across the country. Her work appears in seminal books, like 鈥淔oundational Practices in Online Writing Instruction鈥� and in some of the top journals in the field, including 鈥淭echnical Communication Quarterly,鈥� 鈥淐omputers & Composition,鈥� and 鈥淐ommunication Quarterly.鈥� She has maintained this research pace while simultaneously developing and coordinating the Graduate Certificate for Online Writing Instruction (the only of its kind in the nation and recipient of the CSSC 2017 Curricular Innovation Award) and serving as the graduate coordinator for [the] department.鈥�

Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching

Dr. Neveen Shafeek Amin is the coordinator of the sociology program and an associate professor of sociology who emphasizes mentoring and student-oriented service.

鈥淸Dr. Shafeek Amin] is well versed in scientific teaching and uses evidence-based methods to improve her students’ learning outcomes,鈥� her nomination letter continues. 鈥淪he uses several pedagogical strategies with her students to encourage active learning, which has been shown to improve students鈥� retention. For instance, in her Introduction to Sociology classes, she has her students engage in service-learning activities and write reflective papers about the experience (for this work, she was named a Service-Learning Advocate by the College of Social Science and Communications in 2020.)鈥�

Her work in teaching and learning continues outside the School of Human Inquiry as well. Her nomination letter states, 鈥淭his year she was selected to serve as one of the three co-directors for the Academy of Teaching and Learning (ATLE). [Dr. Shafeek Amin] is extraordinarily well suited to this role. She has regularly attended ATLE programming since she began working at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and has received numerous recognitions from the group, including a curriculum innovation award, numerous teaching fellow awards, and a Lifetime Participation award. Her leadership in this organization demonstrates her commitment to ongoing improvement in teaching, not just for herself, but also for her colleagues. Through this work she is working to improve the classroom experience for all students by providing continuing education for the educators.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Social Justice Award

Dr. Daryl Tate, associate professor in the School of Education, coordinates the Learning System Technology Education Program. He is also 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 inaugural eLearning Fellow.

According to his nomination letter, 鈥淸Dr. Tate] has been a much sought-after person to address equity for all in the online environment; he has done so via his publications, scholarly presentations, media interviews, grants, and direct action with students to facilitate programming. On his grants, two of them focused on how to provide open educational resources (OER) to his students as a student retention effort鈥� In essence, his programming has a lasting impact that promotes and defends social justice in the form of access to education.鈥�

Regarding Tate鈥檚 entire body of work, his nomination letter goes on to state: 鈥淒r. Tate鈥檚 pivotal work to provide educational access using technology and pedagogy innovatively approaches student success. It also exemplifies his commitment to ensuring 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock remains relevant in producing student scholars who will function with this same focus on inclusionary access for all to learn.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Rising Faculty Award for Excellence

Professor Kiel Thorlton, assistant professor in the School of Mass Communication, joined the university in 2020. Since that time, he has taught 11 different classes in the area of video production.

His nomination letter states: 鈥淚n addition to his considerable teaching load, Prof. Thorlton also serves as the coordinating producer for ESPN+ in conjunction with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock athletics. In this capacity, he is responsible for all student crews for roughly 100+ broadcasts in an academic year.鈥�

In addition to his service to the university and in the larger community, he also continues to thrive in scholarship/creative activity. 鈥淪ince 2010, Kiel has been the director, cinematographer, and owner of Falling Leaf Productions, a company that specializes in video production ranging from narrative film to commercial work,鈥� his nomination letter continues. 鈥淧erhaps the most notable of the work his company has produced is the feature film 鈥楢 Place Called Home,鈥欌�� which was released worldwide on Dec. 20, 2022. Thorlton served as the writer, director, and co-producer of the movie.

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