Dr. James A. Levernier, a noted scholar and professor of English, received UALR’s most coveted faculty honor, the Bailey Teaching Award at the university’s annual Faculty Excellence Awards ceremony Thursday evening, April 12.
A UALR professor and scholar who has published quintessential texts in his field, Levernier was honored for the impact of his life’s work – mentoring students, particularly those whom statistics predicted would never reach their true potential. He received a $10,000 monetary award.

Dr. Anne Robinson, whose work has made UALR an international leader in gifted education, won the $5,000 Faculty Excellence Award in Research sponsored by the UALR Society of Philanthropy. Her most recent empirical work focuses on the effect of school intervention on students and teachers, research that led to two multiple-year field studies funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Mark Giese, associate professor of mass communication who embodies the spirit of UALR’s commitment to “walk the walk” of service to the community, won the $5,000 Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service sponsored by PepsiAmericas. He was credited for working tirelessly and successfully, going far beyond the bounds of UALR to engage students in educational experiences, helping secondary teachers broaden their technical expertise, and aiding community organizations.

The celebration of UALR’s top faculty has been a tradition since 1988 when the university set aside an evening to honor the contributions and achievements of the faculty. The university winners, selected by a panel of national judges from college-level winners, were announced at a ceremony at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall.

College-level winners were:

TEACHING:

Dr. Radu F. Babiceanu, Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
Michael Flannery, William H. Bowen School of Law
Dr. Larry C. Holland, College of Business
Christy L. Jackson, College of Science and Mathematics
Dr. James Levernier, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Dr. L. Carolyn Pearson, College of Education
David Weekley, College of Professional Studies

RESEARCH

Dr. Laura M. Amrhein, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Dr. Daniel Berleant, Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
Dr. Jeffrey S. Gaffney, College of Science and Mathematics
Dr. Nannette Nicholson, College of Professional Studies
Dr. Ann Robinson, College of Education
Robert Steinbuch, William H. Bowen School of Law
Dr. Thomas R. Tudor, College of Business

PUBLIC SERVICE

Dr. John Burgin, College of Education, College of Education
James K. Carr, Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
Dr. Mark Giese, College of Professional Studies
Ken Gould, William H. Bowen School of Law
Dr.  Eric R. Kaufmann, College of Science and Mathematics
Dr. Lawrence “Lars” S. Powell, College of Business
Dr. Elisabeth Sherwin, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences