Meet the PEAW (PErsonal AWareness) faculty:
Avestine Ward, PEAW Assistant Director & Instructor
Raised in a “shotgun” wood-frame house in Southeast Arkansas with 11 siblings and both parents, Avestine Ward is family-oriented. UA Little Rock is her alma mater. She received two baccalaureate degrees in psychology and in criminal justice, and a master’s degree in public administration. She also has graduate certificates in conflict mediation and in non-profit organization. Mrs. Ward is married to her soulmate of 22 years. The couple has two adult girls, 5 adult boys, 4 grandsons and 6 granddaughters. Harriet Tubman, Daisy Gatson-Bates and Jewel Ford (her mother) are three of her role models. Her hobbies include traveling, swimming, writing, and eating seafood.
What She Brings To You As Your PEAW Instructor: Mrs. Ward’s parents instilled in her the importance of getting an education. She committed most of her career to working with young adults and encouraging them to fulfill their dreams. She believes that all young people have gifts and talents that, when nourished properly, will allow them to live their dreams while contributing to society.
Mrs. Ward served as program director for the Watershed Inc. and as executive director of the College Station YMCA. She also served as childcare director and executive director of the Carver YMCA. In that position, she oversaw more than 10 programs, including The Future 500 program for students in 10th-12th grades.
Mrs. Ward taught College Seminar at UA-PTC and taught the Personal Awareness (PEAW) First Year Experience (FYE) course at UA Little Rock. She later became the FYE coordinator. While in this position, she and her team wrote the first edition of the book, “The Making of a Trojan: First Year Experience.”
Rosalie Cheatham
Rosalie Cheatham is a native of Little Rock and Assistant Professor of French. She is a graduate of UA Little Rock and the University of Illinois. In addition to full time teaching, she has served as president of the
University Assembly and held numerous leadership positions on the UALR campus. She served as UALR’s Concurrent Enrollment Coordinator for seven years; has been Executive Director of the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages; and has held leadership positions in other regional and national foreign language organizations. She won the campus Faculty Excellence Award for Service at the university level and at a later time again at the college level.
She currently serves as the president of the CHASSE college assembly and is Executive Director of the Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association. She has led numerous groups of students on study trips to France as well as a group of faculty supported by a federal grant. She received a Student’s Choice Award from the Student Government Association. Her published research on acquisition of French language includes articles on student-centered instruction, enabling real world oral communication and creating
and utilizing authentic assessment.
What She Brings To You As Your PEAW Instructor: Her years of engagement across the UALR campus and advocacy for students both individually and corporately help her be knowledgeable about ways to help students be successful in achieving both academic and career goals.