Hodge, a native of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Manatt, a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas, were both introduced to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock through athletics. Hodge competes in jumps for Little Rock Track and Field, while Manatt is a pole vaulter.

The couple will compete on the day of the university’s official commencement ceremony but plan to participate in the Athletics ceremony the following Monday. Their wedding is set for Thursday, May 21.

“I am absolutely stoked to start this new chapter. I’m going to miss vaulting and running track, having a team, etc., but this new chapter is so exciting! Having a degree and chasing another, and getting to do that with my wife—sign me up!” Manatt said.

Hodge learned of the Donaghey Scholars Program and decided to apply to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock.

“I was drawn to the scholarship opportunities, the chance to compete in track and field at the collegiate level, and the opportunity to study abroad through the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program,” Hodge said. “Because of the DSHP funding and study abroad, I was able to continue studying Spanish in addition to my biology and pre-med studies, which has opened so many doors and allowed me to pursue new volunteer opportunities in the medical field that I would otherwise not have been able to.” 

Manatt said his understanding of the university expanded during his athletic visit.

“It wasn’t until I came on my athletic visit that I learned about all the opportunities like Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC), Chi Alpha, and so much more. I fell in love with how close-knit the track team was and how much the coaches and admin really cared for the program and all the athletes,” Manatt said. “����Vlog��ý Little Rock has so many opportunities for students to graduate with no student loans, and with grad school in mind, that was huge for my family,” 

Hodge is graduating with a double major in Spanish and biology, while Manatt is graduating with a degree in biology.

“Through personal and volunteering experiences, I came to see a significant need for compassionate, culturally competent healthcare in our communities and realized that medical school will give me the opportunity to one day fill this need,” Hodge said.

Sutton was inspired to pursue physical therapy during his time at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock.

“I wanted to help people like me who have had injuries, back problems, health issues—all of the above. I want to be someone who can make a difference. In my years here at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, I’ve had so many different injuries, but each one of them I’ve been able to come back stronger because of our ATs (athletic trainers) and PTs (physical therapists),” Manatt said.

Both Hodge and Manatt reflected on moments during their time at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock that made them especially proud. For Hodge, studying abroad in Valencia, Spain, stands out as a defining experience.

“One moment that has made me especially proud academically and personally was when I studied abroad in Valencia, Spain. After a couple weeks, I was able to confidently navigate the city and get to class, and I realized that I was actively living in a dream that I never thought I would be brave enough to make a reality,” Hodge said. 

“My time at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock greatly increased my confidence in my abilities, thanks to every professor who poured into me and encouraged me along the way,” she said.

Manatt pointed to his success with the track and field team as a source of pride.

“One thing that I’m especially proud of is the three Track and Field championship rings that I get to wear. Being a part of a winning team was always something I dreamed of, especially on the D1 level.” Manatt said.

“The bond that I’ve created with my guys on the team is something I’ll cherish and never forget,” he said.

They shared that the close bond with their team will be what they miss most after graduation.

“I am definitely going to miss getting to live and train and study with this group of people that are more like family than friends at this point, and I think it will be a big transition to not always have my workout and study buddies with me everywhere I go,” Hodge said.

“My circle of guys that I’m around most are so influential in my life. A few are going to be in my wedding, and many more are guys I know I can call at any time, and they will have my back or be there for me in an instant,” Manatt said.

After graduation, the couple will be moving to Oklahoma. Both have been accepted into the University of Oklahoma, where Hodge will attend medical school and Manatt will pursue physical therapy school.

As they prepare for their move to Oklahoma, both reflect on the significance of being closer to family in this next chapter.

“During our time here at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, we have been able to spend more time with Sutton’s family, and it has been such a joy and blessing to have their support and get to know them over the past four years. I am really excited now to have that same opportunity with my family during our next chapter of life, and I hope that Sutton will be as encouraged by the support and love from my family during PT school as I was by his family during undergrad,” Hodge said.

“I joked with Sutton a couple of years ago that we would spend our undergraduate years here in Little Rock, in his home state and near his family, and then it would be his turn to live in my home state near my family for the next four years, so it is pretty funny to me that that is exactly how it has worked out,” she said.

“I’ve been so lucky to be close to home these past four years, being from Hot Springs. I’ve gotten to be at family events and watch my little brother grow up and be at his baseball games. It’s been really nice having them just an hour away, but I know Ragen has missed her family so much. Any chance we get to go up to OK and see her family, we always come back to school so rejuvenated and relaxed. I’m so happy that we get to spend the next four or so years closer to her family so we can give her family the same thing my parents have had the last four years,” Manatt said.

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The six-film series runs through April and will feature guest speakers at each screening. Each film will be shown at 1 p.m. in Room 205G of the Donaghey Student Center.

The festival is free and open to the university community and the public, with snacks and drinks available.

Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo, an assistant professor of Spanish at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, said the series reflects two central components of the university’s mission: to foster humane empathy among students and to empower them to utilize knowledge to contribute to society.

“This is precisely the foundation of the film series’ purpose,” she said. “To better understand the relevance of sustainable practices, we must become more knowledgeable about what is occurring in different parts of the world.”

Sotelo said each of the selected films communicates realities where nature and humanity are interconnected and impacted.

“The goal is to encourage comprehension and reflection on the effects and transcendence of our footprints in different spaces,” she said. “Furthermore, through conversations with our guest speakers, we will discuss the complexities of the films and articulate actionable steps that can be taken.”

Below is the schedule for the film festival: 

Event 1: February 13, 2026

Theme: Extractivism in South America

Film: Chevron vs. The Amazon (2016) by Abby Martin

Guest Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo (University of Arkansas at Little Rock)

Event 2: February 27, 2026

Theme: Extractivism in South America

Film: When Two Worlds Collide (2016) by Mathew Orzel and Heidi Brandenburg

Guest Speaker: Dr. Meloddye Carpio Rios (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

Event 3: March 13, 2026 

Theme: Environmental justice in Central America

Film: Berta Didn’t Die, She Multiplied!  (2017) by Sam Vinal

Guest Speaker: Dr. Rex Wilkins (University of Arkansas at Little Rock)

Event 4: April 3, 2026 

Theme: Environmental justice in Central America

Film: Treasure of the Caribbean (2023) by Ana Salceda

Guest Speaker: Dr. Cornesha Tweede (Arizona State University)

Event 5: April 17, 2026 

Theme: Crisis and impact in North America

Film: El tren y la península (2023) by Sky Richards & Andreas Kruger Foncerrada

Guest Speaker: Dr. Bri Romanello (University of Arkansas)

Event 6: April 22, 2026

Theme: Crisis and impact in North America

Film: The Gods of Mexico (2022) by Helmut Dosantos

Guest Speaker: Dr. Romy Cerón Canché (Texas State University) 

Dr. Rex Wilkins, a visiting assistant professor of Spanish at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, said the film series also supports a broader goal of strengthening connections between the university and the local community — students, friends, and neighbors alike.

“Watching films together and talking about them is one of the best ways to build bridges of understanding between nations, cultures, and people,” he said. “Learning, like so many other things in life, has a social component.”

Organizers hope to reinforce the idea that in-person conversations can foster greater understanding, respect, and care in an increasingly divided world,” Dr. Wilkins added.

“We invite all of Little Rock to come and experience that for themselves by attending this film series,” he said. “We hope this will become an annual film series centering on other Latin American issues such as immigration and family life.”

For more information, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo at esotelo1@ualr.edu or Dr. Rex Wilkins at rrwilkins1@ualr.edu.

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Through the partnership, Spanish majors, minors, and certificate students at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock are placed at Seis Puentes, where they assist with English and Spanish language classes, food drives, youth programs, and health and legal workshops. Interns typically work 80 to 100 hours during the semester and receive a $1,600 stipend through University Career Services.

“This internship demonstrates that learning a language is more than a resume builder. It bridges gaps and connects people in meaningful ways,” said Dr. Rex Wilkins, assistant professor of Spanish at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock. “This has become a model for what experiential learning should look like: students using their education to directly serve the community.”

Since launching in spring 2025, the program has grown from four interns to six this fall, providing a total of 14 student internships over three semesters. Interns have translated materials for city and law enforcement agencies, taught language classes, assisted patients in medical clinics, organized food drives, and helped run youth camps.

“Seis Puentes is a small nonprofit with only one full-time employee,” said Raul Fernandez, a member of the organization’s board of directors. “Having interns really strengthens our work by bringing more hands on deck to do anything from administrative work to client services to managing our social media.”

Fernandez, a ����Vlog��ý Little Rock mass communication graduate, said his own internship experience at K����Vlog��ýR, a station of Little Rock Public Radio, gave him an appreciation for the value of experiential learning.

“I had an internship at K����Vlog��ýR while I was in school, and I learned a lot from it. It was one of the best experiences I ever had,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to give that kind of real work experience back to these students. The interns definitely add to their resumes by doing professional and community work.”

Students describe the program as transformative. Lizbeth Renteria, a junior majoring in social work from Little Rock who interned over the summer, said the program strengthened her calling to help others.

“I worked at a youth summer camp and taught English as a second language,” she said. “It showed me how much of an impact consistent support can make. Translating for families reminded me how language can divide us but also connect us. This experience shaped me as a future community leader.”

Ragen Hodge, a senior biology major with a pre-med focus and a student-athlete, used her Spanish skills to translate for patients at a medical clinic in Oklahoma. For the first time, she accompanied Spanish-speaking patients through the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system.

By the end of the summer, she had guided dozens of patients through everything from filling out paperwork to talking with doctors about diagnoses to picking up prescriptions at the pharmacy. One patient, a woman suffering from lupus and kidney failure, especially touched her.

“I was nervous at first, but when I met her and her family, that nervousness disappeared,” Hodge said. “I stayed with her through the entire process, helped entertain her children while she waited, and made sure she understood her care. As they were leaving, her little girl turned around and blew me a kiss. I almost cried. That moment showed me the power of language and compassion in healthcare.”

Eric Brown, executive director of Seis Puentes, said the interns have brought new energy and expanded the nonprofit’s impact.

“These students dedicate themselves to community service, and their contributions make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors,” he said. “This program bridges the university and the community in powerful ways. It’s relatively new, but it’s already making an impact. I’m excited to see it grow and to give students long-term resources that will help them in their professional and personal journeys.”

Michelle Marshall, career specialist with ����Vlog��ý Little Rock University Career Services, emphasized the professional benefits students gain by completing internships.

“By funding internships like this, we’re able to provide access for students who might not otherwise have these opportunities,” she said. “They gain skills, confidence, and real-world experience that will help them in their future careers.”

The program also reflects ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s mission to connect higher education with the community it serves.

“Our interns are ambassadors for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock and for Arkansas,” Wilkins said. “They’re showing how language and service can transform lives.”

For Jennifer Camacho, a junior double majoring in nursing and Spanish, interning at has been a life-changing experience.

“I would describe getting the opportunity to be an intern at Seis Puentes as one of the biggest highlights of my life,” Camacho said. “When I was offered the internship last December, I recall feeling as though it was an answered prayer. I saw numerous ways I could help.”

Inspired by the experience, Camacho returned this fall for a second internship. She said the lessons she’s learned go far beyond translation or tutoring.

“I learned how to listen to people who couldn’t speak for themselves, how to communicate more effectively, and how to be more outgoing and confident in what I know,” she said. “The biggest thing that my mentor, Raul Fernandez, taught me was that being bilingual is like having a superpower, which I am very lucky to have.”

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“My wife and I have both fallen in love with the area, and we already love ����Vlog��ý Little Rock,” Wilkins said. “Little Rock has big town amenities with a small-town feel. I look forward to helping students not only master the Spanish language but also connect with the rich cultures and histories of the Spanish-speaking world. It’s an exciting opportunity to inspire a deeper appreciation for global communication and cultural understanding.”

Wilkins has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in Hispanic literature, both from Brigham Young University, as well as a Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Arizona.

“A lot of people don’t know what cultural studies is. Simply put, I look at different kinds of entertainment, media, and artistic expression and study them like literature,” Wilkins said. “Most people don’t read books like they used to, but a lot of people watch videos and movies, listen to music, and have art in their homes. I like to incorporate different kinds of media to help students gain greater literacy. I want people to think about what they consume and what it means to them.”

His research areas include Spanish American literature and cultural studies, Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Latino culture and representation, Latino popular culture in the transnational music industry, Latin American and North American religious studies, and Mormon studies.

His dissertation, “Latinos at the Border of Identity in the LDS Church,” explored the challenges of maintaining a Latino identity within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wilkins is teaching an Afro-Latino Literature course and a Spanish for Heritage Speakers course this fall. In the spring 2025 semester, Wilkins is looking forward to teaching a new course on Latin American Soundscapes, which will explore Latin American music and artists of the 20th Century.

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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-Solórzano 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 ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, her nomination letter states “she is the heart and soul” 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.

“Her years-long work with LULAC, El Zócalo Immigrant Resource Center, Mamas Unidas in Little Rock, the Hispanic Women’s 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,” her nomination letter states. “And 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.”

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 ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, Harris has made significant impacts in the research field.

“Her three primary research areas involve online instruction… online writing program development and administration, and archival research on the writing and publication process of the novella ‘A River Runs Through It’ by Norman Maclean,” states her letter of nomination.

“In 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),” her letter continues. “In addition, she collaborated with faculty and students from across disciplines and across the country. Her work appears in seminal books, like “Foundational Practices in Online Writing Instruction” and in some of the top journals in the field, including “Technical Communication Quarterly,” “Computers & Composition,” and “Communication Quarterly.” 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.”

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.

“[Dr. Shafeek Amin] is well versed in scientific teaching and uses evidence-based methods to improve her students’ learning outcomes,” her nomination letter continues. “She uses several pedagogical strategies with her students to encourage active learning, which has been shown to improve students’ 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.)”

Her work in teaching and learning continues outside the School of Human Inquiry as well. Her nomination letter states, “This 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 ����Vlog��ý 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.”

����Vlog��ý 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 ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s inaugural eLearning Fellow.

According to his nomination letter, “[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… In essence, his programming has a lasting impact that promotes and defends social justice in the form of access to education.”

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

����Vlog��ý 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: “In addition to his considerable teaching load, Prof. Thorlton also serves as the coordinating producer for ESPN+ in conjunction with ����Vlog��ý Little Rock athletics. In this capacity, he is responsible for all student crews for roughly 100+ broadcasts in an academic year.”

In addition to his service to the university and in the larger community, he also continues to thrive in scholarship/creative activity. “Since 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,” his nomination letter continues. “Perhaps the most notable of the work his company has produced is the feature film ‘A Place Called Home,’” which was released worldwide on Dec. 20, 2022. Thorlton served as the writer, director, and co-producer of the movie.

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