Dr. Raymond Ortega, assistant professor in the School of Counseling, Human Performance and Rehabilitation, was recognized for his outstanding service to the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 

Ortega received the Faculty Above and Beyond award at the college’s annual awards ceremony April 7 in Dickinson Hall.

In addition to teaching four classes and coordinating the second-largest graduate program on campus, Ortega took on additional administrative responsibilities due to the departure of the program support person.

“Dr. Ortega is extremely humble and has continued to go above and beyond for his students, peers, the program, the college, and UA Little Rock,” Jason Kushner, professor of counselor education, wrote in his nomination letter. “He is highly regarded as a motivated, professional, detail-oriented, inspiring professor who uses his extensive knowledge of the field of rehabilitation in informing the next generation of practitioners in the area of disability students and rehabilitation.”

Linda Stauffer, associate professor of interpreter education and program coordinator of the Interpreter Education Program, received the Faculty Excellence in Teaching award for the college.

“Dr. Stauffer’s commendable record of teaching exemplifies the caliber and type of individuals many universities desire among faculty members,” said Dr. Glenn Anderson, Stauffer’s co-worker and assistant professor of the American Sign Language and English Interpreter Education program.

Cari Reeves, director of the Environmental and Spatial Technology program, received the Trojan Excellence Award, which goes to an outstanding College of Education and Health Professions staff member.

Sara Fruechting, assistant professor of nursing, and Catherine Crisp, associate professor of social work, were the recipients of the Dean’s Awards.

The student award winners include:

•      Outstanding Associates Degree Seeking Student: Dawn Moline, nursing major
•      Outstanding Bachelors Degree Seeking Student: Josh Gray, interpreting major
•      Outstanding Master’s Degree Seeking Student: Suzanne Rogers, communications and speech disorders major
•      Outstanding Doctoral Degree Seeking Student: Lindsey Sloan, audiology major

At the ceremony, departmental friends were recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to the College of Education and Health Professions, including:

•      Friend of the Audiology and Speech Pathology Department: Little Rock School District
•      Friend of the School of Counseling, Human Performance and Rehabilitation: Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
•      Friend of the School of Education: Dr. Danyell Crutchfield Cummings, director of testing and evaluation at Little Rock School District
•      Friend of the Jodie Mahony Center: Family of Martha Gaunt Bass
•      Friend of the School of Social Work: Dave Hoffpauir
•      Friend of MidSouth: Shelia Garrett, cessation section chief for the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program at the Arkansas Department of Health
•     Friend of the UA Little Rock Speech and Hearing Clinic: Martha Alman