The University of Arkansas at Little Rock introduced 33 new faculty members as well as 12 visiting faculty members to campus during the Faculty and Staff Convocation on Aug. 17 in the University Theatre. 

“I want to welcome to the university 46 new full-time faculty members,” said Dr. Velmer Burton Jr., executive vice chancellor and provost of UA Little Rock. “This occasion is important because what matters the most for any university is the vitality of our academic programs. These individuals joining our community are the result of the hard work of our academic departments and colleges to yield such a fine group of new faculty.”

The new UA Little Rock faculty members include:

•      Andrew Amstutz, assistant professor of history
•      May Atkins, coordinator of the Bachelor of Social Work Program
•      Allen Austill, assistant professor of accounting
•      Mark Baillie, assistant professor of chemistry and director of STRIVE/STEM Education Center
•      David Baylis, assistant professor of geography
•      Deborah Borman, assistant professor of law
•      Alan Boss, assistant professor of management
•      Karen Bristow, instructor of nursing
•      Jacqueline Burse, assistant professor of social work
•      Joseph Colvin, assistant professor of mass communication
•      Andre Cummings, assistant professor of law
•      Chris Etheridge, assistant professor of mass communication
•      Stephen Kapp, professor of social work
•      Richard Lewis, assistant professor of criminal justice
•      Nathan Marvin, assistant professor of modern European history
•      Robert Minarcin, assistant professor of law
•      Bailey Oliver, assistant professor of speech communication
•      Joseph Otundo, assistant professor of health and physical education
•      Michael Pelts, assistant professor of social work
•      Abbas Quamar, assistant professor of counseling, adult, and rehabilitation education
•      Kathleen Richardson, instructor of social work
•      Lindsey Ruhr, assistant professor of social work
•      Soheil Saedi, assistant professor of systems engineering
•      LaQuana Smith, instructor of nursing
•      Rhet Smith, assistant professor of economics and finance
•      Jan Springer, assistant professor of computer science
•      Anne Turner, assistant professor of structural engineering
•      Wenjun Wang, assistant professor of business information systems
•      Kyle Webb, instructor of nursing
•      Don Willis, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology
•      Kensuke Yamada, instructor of 3D ceramics
•      Katrina Yeaw, assistant professor of Middle Eastern studies
•      Yue Zhao, assistant professor of management

Additionally, UA Little Rock welcomes 12 visiting faculty members, including:

•      Albert Baker, computer science
•      John Barbuto, counseling, human performance, and rehabilitation
•      Benjamin Dory, art
•      Jennifer Dostert, nursing
•      Stefanie Leacock, biology
•      Jian Liang, math
•      Veronica McClane, social work
•      Lydia McDonald, education
•      Cassaundra Sanderson, art
•      Rick Sikes, art
•      Natalie Szabo, music
•      Justin Turner, math