Women to Watch at UA Little Rock: Dr. Kristin Mann

In celebration of Women’s History Month, UA Little Rock is highlighting women who are making a difference at the university and in the community.

The next Woman to Watch at UA Little Rock is Dr. Kristin Mann, a professor of history. What began in her course on the history of objects, Mann has conducted extensive research on bells, their history, and their importance. She is also the coordinator of the Central Arkansas History Day regional competition, which was held at UA Little Rock on March 1.

Tell us about yourself and your background.

I began my career as a high school history and geography teacher in San Antonio, Texas. When we moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, for my husband’s job, I returned to graduate school and completed my Ph.D. in History in December 2002. My areas of specialty are Colonial Latin America and the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. 

While I was at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, I taught Latin American History, supervised social studies student teachers, and worked for Cline Library’s Special Collections and Archives Department. I enjoy reading, gardening, hiking, kayaking, making music, traveling, watching sports, and spending time with family.

What is your current position and professional duties at UA Little Rock?

I am a Professor of History and Social Studies Education Coordinator at UA Little Rock. I teach courses in world, U.S., and Latin American history. I enjoy working with teachers, pre-service teachers, and middle and high school students through the Arkansas Council for the Social Studies and as a National History Day regional coordinator. 

What brought you to UA Little Rock?

We moved to Little Rock in 2002 when I was offered a position at UA Little Rock. When we visited Little Rock and the university as part of my job search, we were impressed by the cordiality and cooperation in the History Department, which is still an amazing group of colleagues. We were also attracted to the outdoor recreation opportunities in Arkansas.

What are some of the exciting projects that you are working on at UA Little Rock?

I’m currently working on several projects. I spent the fall 2024 semester researching the Replica Liberty Bells that were part of the U.S. Treasury Department’s 1950 Independence Savings Bond Drive. There are so many interesting stories surrounding the bond campaign and the afterlife of the bells. Arkansas’s Replica Liberty Bell is part of the Bicentennial Monument at the State Capitol, and I have created a digital exhibit telling its story. I’m working with the Truman Presidential Library, the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources initiative, and the UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture to disseminate educational materials about these Replica Liberty Bells and other American symbols. I’ll be designing an exhibit about American symbols for the Arkansas State Capitol which will be on display in the summer of 2026 as part of the America 250 celebrations. 

I’m also continuing my research on the soundscapes of early America, especially what is the U.S. Southwest today. Listening to the past, based on available historical documents, archaeology, and natural history, gives us a wider frame for thinking about interactions among individuals and groups, as well as human-environment interactions.

Recently, I began conducting research with UA Little Rock colleagues about the use of large language models in teaching and learning in higher education. I am interested in student perceptions of the ethics of using generative artificial intelligence inside and outside the classroom. I’m also interested in how to design effective courses and assignments in this time of rapidly changing technology and limited attention spans.

What woman has inspired you the most and why?

So many women have inspired me; it’s difficult to choose one. Fannie Lou Hamer, who fiercely advocated for voting rights for African Americans, is one of my favorites. She was driven by her convictions, she loved and cared for her family, and she was fearless. I would like to be that strong and steadfast. Authors Robin Wall Kimmerer and Barbara Kingsolver inspire me to be present in my surroundings. They encourage me to think about my relationship to the world in different ways. My mother, who faced many challenges as a young woman, and who gains so much joy from helping others, inspires me to be a helper.

What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned in your career?

You can’t be a good leader if you don’t care for yourself physically and mentally. Learning how to say no is difficult, but you can’t do everything. Find the places where you can make the biggest difference and focus on those things.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Be kind and empathetic. Stay grounded. A little bit of time management goes a long way.

Name something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn.

I’m a huge college gymnastics fan. I was hit by lightning as a teenager, and I am a survivor of triple-negative breast cancer. I love participating in theater, but I haven’t had a chance to be involved in a production in over 25 years. When I lived in Flagstaff, I played the roles of Maria in “The Sound of Music” and Princess Winifred in “Once Upon A Mattress.”

What is your favorite quote and why?

“The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof. What I want is so simple I almost can’t say it: elementary kindness. Enough to eat, enough to go around. The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be neither the destroyers nor the destroyed. That’s about it.” — Barbara Kingsolver

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I think UA Little Rock is such a unique place. I appreciate working with students, staff, and faculty from all over the world and right around the corner who are different from me in many ways but who share the drive to learn, discover, and give back.