糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock earned national recognition in four undergraduate programs:

路   Business 鈥� No. 194

路   Computer Science 鈥� No. 245

路   Nursing 鈥� No. 160

路   Psychology 鈥� No. 297

The evaluated more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success. 

These rankings reflect the university鈥檚 strong academic programs and its commitment to providing students with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in today鈥檚 workforce. U.S. News & World Report evaluates programs using a variety of factors, including faculty expertise, graduation rates, research activity, and career readiness.

Chancellor Christina Drale said the recognition is a reflection of the university鈥檚 focus on both academic quality and student success.

鈥淭hese rankings demonstrate the strength of our academic programs and the dedication of our faculty and staff,鈥� Drale said. 鈥淲e are committed to ensuring our students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and experiences that prepare them to be leaders in their field.鈥�

The School of Business saw a rise of nearly 30 spots, earning a place at No. 194 in the national rankings compared to No. 222 in the 2025 rankings. As one of only two AACSB-accredited business schools in central Arkansas, the program provides students with access to internships and partnerships with top employers in the region.

鈥淲e are proud that our programs are once again recognized nationally,鈥� said Dr. Mark Funk, director of the School of Business. 鈥淥ur faculty focus on partnering with the business community to give students both the academic foundation and the applied experience they need for lifelong professional success.鈥�

The Department of Computer Science, ranked No. 245, continues to grow as a regional leader in cybersecurity and emerging technologies. The program offers a variety of pathways, including a bachelor鈥檚 degree and master鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity as well as a Ph.D. in computer and information science. The department is also home to multiple new certificate programs that are helping to upskill Arkansas鈥檚 workforce. Enrollment in the department has increased to about 480 students this year, an increase of 10 percent over last year, with about 150 students enrolled in a cybersecurity certificate or degree program. 

鈥淥ur faculty are committed to keeping curriculum cutting-edge and involving students in real-world research and development,鈥� said Dr. Ahmed Abu Halimeh, interim chair of the Department of Computer Science. 鈥淏y the time they graduate, our students have the skills and experiences that employers demand.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 School of Nursing, the university鈥檚 largest undergraduate program, offers multiple respected degree pathways, including the traditional RN, the RN-to-BSN, and the LPN/Paramedic-to-RN programs. The school has a strong focus on student-centered learning and hands-on clinical training. The Center for Simulation Innovation, which provides essential simulation education for all nursing majors, has earned international recognition for excellence, including the 2023 Frontline Simulation Champion Excellence Award.

鈥淥ur students, faculty, and staff continue to shine year after year,鈥� said Dr. Sloan Davidson, director of the School of Nursing. 鈥淭his ranking reflects the hard work they put into advancing nursing education and preparing highly skilled nurses for Arkansas鈥檚 healthcare workforce.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 psychology program was ranked No. 297. The program prepares graduates for a wide variety of fields, including counseling, research, healthcare, and education.

鈥淲e are excited to see psychology recognized nationally,鈥� said Dr. Elisabeth Sherwin, chair of the Department of Psychological Science. 鈥淔or the past several years, we have been updating our curriculum to better align it with the goals articulated by the American Psychological Association for undergraduate training as well as highlighting the workforce readiness skills that are embedded in our discipline and program. This recognition suggests that we are doing something right.鈥� 

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock remains focused on strengthening the quality of its academic programs and the support it provides to students. By emphasizing faculty development, practical learning opportunities, and the use of new technologies, the university is preparing graduates to meet the needs of Arkansas and beyond. Learn more about academics at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock by visiting ualr.edu/academics.

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Dr. Tusty ten Bensel, associate dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services and professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Robert Lytle, associate professor of criminal justice, received a three-year $324,987 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant in 2021 to study anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crimes in Arkansas.

The Research Experience for Undergraduates program provided 10 talented undergraduate students with a funded opportunity to engage in research. During the final summer of the program, student researchers studied the perceptions of lawmakers as to the extent of hate crimes against Muslims as well as the obstacles in passing hate crime legislation in Arkansas.

鈥淲e spent this summer talking with policy makers and looking at some of the transcripts of public hearings related to the hate crime bills that were passed in Arkansas a few years ago,鈥� Lytle said. 鈥淭he goal was to learn about the policy process and to look at how we as a state respond to hate crimes. The first two years of the study we focused on understanding what hate crimes and anti-Muslim sentiment looks like. This year, we were able to talk with some legislators. The students also transcribed videos of committee and floor meetings in which legislators debated the hate crime bill. The videos are publicly available on the state’s General Assembly website.鈥�

This year鈥檚 summer researchers included Sophia Atwell of George Mason University, Emily Flesher of the University of Oklahoma, Brandon Goetz of Wartburg College, Maya Hwang of Los Angeles Pierce College, Aneesha Lawrence of Howard University, Alexandra Kazen of the University of Texas at Austin, Justin Paolino of Bard College, Star Purchase of Indiana University-Indianapolis, Marybeth Sloat of Husson University, and Ayshe Yeter of the University of Kentucky.

鈥淚 am really interested in research in the social sciences,鈥� said Goetz, a senior psychology and criminal justice major. 鈥淚 think my future career interest is in counseling psychology and graduate school will be research oriented. I wanted to take a summer to home in on these skills and get involved in a research project. I wanted to learn skills that will help me in my career.鈥�

This year鈥檚 cohort built upon the work of the previous two summer cohorts. Last year, the students studied the extent and scope of anti-Muslim hate crimes in Arkansas. The 2022 group analyzed qualitative interview data with members of the Muslim community in Central Arkansas to identify common patterns and themes in experiences with anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crime.

Yeter, a senior political science major, was especially interested in exploring the political side of things as she is interested in practicing public service law in the future.

鈥淭he most interesting thing for me was to see how much the legislative process can change from state to state,鈥� Yeter said. 鈥淲e got to visit the Arkansas State Capitol, sit in on a committee hearing, and interview legislators. This summer is like a boot camp for research. We basically did everything a Ph.D. student does in their first year during our eight weeks here.鈥�

During the summer program in June and July, the student researchers participated in research and content workshops, alumni presentations, experiential activities, collecting and analyzing data, writing a research brief on findings, and participating in a final presentation for internal and external stakeholders.

鈥淚 am originally from Arkansas so being able to do research in my home state was really cool,鈥� said Flesher, a junior public health and art therapy major. 鈥淕etting to study communities that are near and dear to my heart has been great. My university research experience is primarily focused on quantitative skills so getting to focus on qualitative skills has been great as I hope to become a mixed-methods researcher.鈥�

Flesher remains grateful for the summer research opportunity because of all the valuable skills she learned as well as the insight she learned about applying to graduate school.

鈥淭he program has been really helpful in terms of my future career,鈥� Flesher said. 鈥淢y dream job is to be a college professor at a research institution. I鈥檝e really fallen in love with the process of research and what it can do for the world around us.鈥�

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Tooks has been appointed to a two-year term as the Director of District IV Awards Co-chair, where she will be responsible for overseeing the district鈥檚 award programs, including chairing the Hall of Fame Award, Rising Star Award, and E. Joseph Savoie Chief Executive Leadership Award, and Top Hand Award.

鈥淚 am very excited about my new role with CASE,鈥� Tooks said. 鈥淚 think this will be a good opportunity for me to grow professionally, and I am grateful for the opportunity.鈥�

Among her new duties, Tooks will be responsible for recruiting judges, securing nominations, spotlighting winners, developing a stewardship program, supporting membership engagement, and coordinating with the communications and social media director to highlight people and program awards on social media.

Tooks received a scholarship for new professionals to attend the 2023 CASE District IV Conference. She also served as a member of the Program Committee for the 2024 Conference, where she helped to select speakers and plan this year鈥檚 conference.

Tooks, a native of Camden, joined the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Office of Alumni and Development in 2022. As director of annual giving, she is responsible for the management and implementation of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Foundation鈥檚 annual giving program.

She has made great strides since she took over the Campus Campaign and even presented about the success of the program during a session called 鈥淓mployee Giving 101: Revitalizing the Program鈥� at the 2024 CASE District IV Conference in San Antonio, Texas. She also participated in a panel discussion about the future of advancement in the next 50 years.

鈥淚 had the opportunity to meet some really great people during the conference,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing a speaker at this year鈥檚 CASE Conference gave me the opportunity to learn and to grow personally and professionally. I am looking forward to growing those connections and building more relationships with professionals in advancement and higher education.鈥�

Tooks is an active member of the community, serving as a member of the Alliance Ambassadors Program for Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate, the Hope (Helping Overcome Poverty through Education) scholarship committee at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Children International, and the Friends of City Parks Conservancy. Last year, she was named to Arkansas Business鈥� 2023 Class of 20 in Their Twenties, which puts the spotlight on talented young leaders in the state鈥檚 business and nonprofit community.

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The contest winners include Angelita Faller, news director, Josie Lenora, politics and government reporter for Little Rock Public Radio, Dr. Carrie Phillips, chief marketing and communications officer, Whitley Small, editorial intern and junior at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Charla Tozer, graphic design intern and junior at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and Klansee Tozer, senior graphic designer.

Phillips earned four awards from the national contest. They include first place in the advertising-television category for 鈥淭rojan Guarantee-College Scholarship鈥� and first place in marketing program or campaign for the Trojan Guarantee Campaign. She also received second place in writing-publications regularly written by entrant for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 2023 Annual Report and third place in the advertising campaign category for the Trojan Guarantee Campaign.

鈥淭he Trojan Guarantee announcement was a significant milestone for our university as it works to continue advancing affordability for students in the state,鈥� Phillips said. 鈥淭o see the team be recognized nationally for the efforts that went into this initiative is an exciting and special moment.鈥�

Faller received first place in information for the media-news or feature release for 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock Receives $5 Million from U.S. Army to Combat Adversarial Information Campaigns鈥� as well as first place in editing for print or online publications for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Now.

Additionally, Tozer received second place in graphics and design-book designed by entrant for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 2023 Annual Report as well as an honorable mention in the brochure-nonprofit, government, or educational category for 鈥淭aste of Little Rock Save the Date Invitation.鈥�

At Little Rock Public Radio, Lenora took home first place in radio and television-prepared report in radio for 鈥淎rkansas Drops AP African American Studies Course.鈥�

鈥淚 only had a few days to put that report together,鈥� Lenora said. 鈥淚 am really happy with how it turned out.鈥�

In the collegiate contest, Tozer earned two second place awards in art and design for graphics/illustration for Best Robotics illustration and design for a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock summer camps advertisement. Additionally, Small earned second place in collegiate feature writing for 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock Graduating Student Follows Childhood Dreams of Becoming a Teacher.鈥�

The winners advanced to the nationals after receiving first-place awards in the . The awards were announced this summer during the National Federation of Press Women Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

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