UA Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services Announces Faculty Excellence Winners
The UA Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services has named Yue Zhao, Theresa Flowers, Raphael James, Casey Rockwell, and Mackenzie Lee as the college-level winners of the 2024 Faculty Excellence Awards.
The university-level Faculty Excellence winners will be announced at the April 4 ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the Schueck, McCarty, Lexicon Inc. Auditorium in the Engineering and Information Technology Building.
More information on the CBHHS winners and excerpts from their nomination letters are below:
Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Creative Endeavors
Dr. Zhao is an assistant professor of management at UA Little Rock. Zhao has published seven peer reviewed journal articles, five of which were co-authored with other UA Little Rock faculty members. Her research explores international business and strategic management areas and produces insights on complex topics such as corporate social responsibility and multinationality.
The influence of Zhao’s work is reflected in the 111 citations it has received from scholars around the world. She has been invited to review for eight prestigious international journals and three major international conferences on 31 occasions. Zhao’s peers hold her to a high esteem, as evidenced by her election as the representative-at-large for the teaching community of the Strategic Management Society.
As a teacher, Zhao is determined to provide an excellent experience to students by integrating real-world business scenarios into her curriculum. She ensures that students have practical application skills in addition to the theoretical knowledge that is built into the curriculum. She has also integrated her own research in the classroom, giving students an opportunity to get a more comprehensive understanding of business strategies and ecosystems.
Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service
Dr. Flowers is an assistant professor of social work at UA Little Rock, as well as the chair of the diversity committee. Flowers has demonstrated dedication to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the social work program. As chair of the diversity committee, she led a review of the program’s curriculum, identifying areas where DEI could be strengthened. The study revealed a lack of diverse perspectives, which led Flowers and her peers to advocate for and implement recommendations to ensure more diverse perspectives in the curriculum, better preparing students to serve diverse populations as social work practitioners.
Flowers has also been involved with the Association of Social Work Boards Practice Analysis Task Force from 2021-2023. As a member of this task force, Flowers advocated for the national licensed master social work exam to be unbiased and fair for all students.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Flowers has also demonstrated her dedication to public service through her “Bags of Love for the Homeless” project, where she coordinated with other faulty, staff, and students in the social work program to assemble 60 hygiene bags for unhoused individuals in Little Rock and the surrounding areas.
Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching
James is a senior instructor of interpreter education at UA Little Rock, as well as the
Office of Special Education Programs project director. During his time at UA Little Rock, James has had an incredible impact on student success and on the Interpreter Education program. His students have gone on to work in the White House, in multiple federal departments, and in public and private schools nationwide.
James has a far-reaching reputation as a leader in interpreter education. Each year, James teaches seven different courses. In the classroom, James creates a learning environment that prioritizes hands-on learning and aims to bridge the gap from school to work. One way he does this is by producing simulations for Interpreter Education Program (IEP) students that mimic situations they would experience in the profession once they graduate. James has proven a dedication to learning new skills and consistently adapting and improving his teaching style to produce qualified interpreters.
Faculty Excellence Award for Social Justice
Dr. Rockwell is an associate professor of marketing and advertising at UA Little Rock. During her time at UA Little Rock, Rockwell has demonstrated her dedication to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of academic life.
As a teacher, Rockwell goes above and beyond to make each student feel heard and valued. She incorporates diverse perspectives into her curriculum and challenges students to examine issues of inequality and injustice to inspire them to become agents of positive change.
Additionally, Rockwell serves marginalized communities and vulnerable populations by amplifying their voices and advocating for their rights. She has served at programs such as the Junior League of Little Rock, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, and the Arkansas Bar Association Board of Trustees. Rockwell has shown her commitment to serving others and opening doors of opportunity through her volunteer work, community partnerships, and advocacy campaigns.
Faculty Excellence Award for Rising Faculty
Dr. Lee is an assistant professor of social work at UA Little Rock, as well as the coordinator for the graduate social work program. In her three years at UA Little Rock, Lee has excelled in teaching, research, and service.
In the spring of 2023, faculty unanimously voted for Lee to be the Master of Social Work (MSW) program coordinator. Lee has excelled not only in that position, but also as a teacher. Lee’s passion and productivity in the classroom stand out, and she has demonstrated an ability to make difficult courses like statistics more manageable and relatable for students. She takes great care to ensure that each of her students is equipped with an understanding of each concept she teaches. Students have recognized her dedication to their learning and often request to be in her sections of the courses.
Lee has five peer reviewed publications and one manuscript currently under review. She has given presentations at international conferences and has been awarded internal funding from the School of Social Work.
