UA Little Rock Receives $1.2 Million Gift to Restore Planetarium
A $1.2 million gift to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will bring new life to the university’s planetarium, restoring a longtime campus landmark and expanding access to immersive science education for students and the broader Little Rock community.
The gift from Leslye Shellam honors the legacy of her late father, Arkansas business leader L. Dickson Flake, and will name the facility the Shellam Flake Planetarium. Shellam said the naming honors both her father’s deep commitment to civic life in Arkansas and her own belief in education as a bridge between the university and the community it serves.
Closed for nearly 20 years, the planetarium will undergo a full renovation, including major technology upgrades, improvements to the roof and flooring, and the installation of a state-of-the-art projection system that eliminates the traditional central projector, creating unobstructed views of the dome. The renovated space will feature modern, home theater-style seating for up to 89 visitors.
Shellam said she hopes the restored planetarium will serve as a point of connection between UA Little Rock and the broader community, creating opportunities for people to learn more about one another through shared experiences. She also emphasized the importance of student involvement, envisioning the planetarium as a space where students gain hands-on, real-world experience while helping bring science, art, and storytelling to life for audiences beyond campus.
Once reopened, the planetarium will serve UA Little Rock students, faculty, and staff, as well as K–12 school groups and members of the general public.
Shellam also envisions the planetarium as a multidisciplinary learning space that extends beyond astronomy to provide hands-on experiences for students across multiple majors. For example, the space will feature student artwork in adjacent outdoor areas, support student involvement in developing the planetarium’s visual identity, and offer business students opportunities to create and implement marketing plans.
“The planetarium has long been a special place on campus, and I wanted to help bring it back for today’s students and families,” Shellam said. “It’s meaningful to be able to restore a space that encourages curiosity and a love of science and learning.”
The vision for the restored planetarium aligns closely with UA Little Rock’s mission and its emphasis on applied learning and community engagement.
“This investment allows us to reimagine the planetarium as an active learning environment that supports teaching and discovery across disciplines,” said Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. “It will provide UA Little Rock with increased engagement with our community. It is exciting to bring life back to a space that means so much to Little Rock, the University, and future generations of planetarium visitors.”
The restoration also supports the university’s broader investments in science education, which include the campus observatory and other spaces along the Trojan Way.
“We are incredibly grateful to Leslye Shellam for believing in UA Little Rock and in the vision we share for the future of the planetarium,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “This gift reflects a close partnership with Provost Bain and our academic leaders to reimagine the planetarium as a vibrant, interdisciplinary learning space. As we approach our centennial, the Shellam Flake Planetarium honors our past while opening new doors for student learning and community engagement.”
The planetarium is on target to open in Fall of 2026 and is a part of the university’s broader science-based investments which includes the campus observatory, the future UA Little Rock Museum of Natural History, and outdoor educational features such as the Solar System Walk along Trojan Way. Additional details about programming and public access will be announced as renovations continue and the planetarium is reimagined to support both student experiences and community engagement. To learn more about UA Little Rock’s Centennial Campaign and how supporters are making a lasting commitment to student experiences, visit ualr.edu/centennial.