Stevie Nielson has been named the new editor for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

“I am really excited to join UA Little Rock,” Nielson said. “I was working in journalism before, so I think this is a great way for me to use those skills and also bring the technical writing skills I learned in my master’s program together. I am excited to put that degree to use, and I look forward to getting people excited about the research taking place at UA Little Rock.”

In the new position, Nielson will be responsible for writing research articles, editing grant proposals, social media management, website maintenance, and serving as editor for Research in the Rock, UA Little Rock’s annual research magazine produced by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

“ORSP is very excited to have Stevie on board,” said Lydia Perry, ORSP grant writer. “Stevie will be a great asset to principal investigators at UA Little Rock, and be able to showcase the wonderful research, creative projects, and community service programs that happen at UA Little Rock.”

Nielson joins the university from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where they worked for 14 years as the city desk clerk, copy editor, online editor, and newsletter editor. Nielson helped design and launch the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Sunday Digest and Coronavirus Update newsletter.

A graduate of Little Rock Central High School, Nielson earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a writing concentration from Rhodes College. They will also graduate from UA Little Rock this semester with a Master of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing. During the graduate program, Nielson served as a technical writing intern with Affirmative Risk Management and the university’s IT Services.

Nielson, who has been writing since childhood, is looking forward to using their skills to share tales of innovative research at UA Little Rock, an R2 research university.

“I was often writing stories growing up, and since I’ve gone out in the working world, the opportunity to tell the stories of real people has been fascinating,” Nielson said. “I’m very excited to talk to people doing research at the university and share those wonderful stories in Research in the Rock.”