[{"id":94424,"date":"2026-07-16T13:42:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T18:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/?p=94424"},"modified":"2026-07-16T13:42:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T18:42:29","slug":"ua-little-rock-unveils-custom-street-signs-for-centennial-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/16\/ua-little-rock-unveils-custom-street-signs-for-centennial-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"UA Little Rock Unveils Custom Street Signs for Centennial Celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"\nAs the University of Arkansas at Little Rock celebrates its 100th anniversary, newly dedicated custom street signs are leaving a lasting mark on campus while honoring the university\u2019s century of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Campus and community members gathered Thursday, July 16, at the southeast corner of 28th Street and Campus Drive for the dedication ceremony. The event included remarks from UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina S. Drale and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., a graduate of the university, followed by the unveiling of the new signs. During the ceremony, Scott also presented a commemorative proclamation on behalf of the City of Little Rock recognizing UA Little Rock\u2019s centennial celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“One hundred years, a centennial, higher education, economic development, the fabric of a capital city: that is the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, (and) I’m a proud graduate of this university,” Scott said. “On behalf of the City of Little Rock, I share my appreciation for this university and its 100 years of steadfast service, 100 years of sacrifice, and 100 years of success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The signs not only recognize\u00a0 the university\u2019s centennial but also its longstanding place in Arkansas and the city of Little Rock. While UA Little Rock has occupied three locations throughout its history, it has called its current campus home for over 75 years, growing alongside the city it has served for a century.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can’t go to any public square, any pulpit, any process of progress across this entire state and not meet a UA Little Rock graduate,” Scott said. “That\u2019s the type of impact they have.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea for custom signage originated with dedicated UA Little Rock alumnus and Board of Visitors member Larry Golden, who envisioned using the university’s signature maroon color and Trojan head logo to create a more recognizable campus identity and to highlight UA Little Rock’s presence in the surrounding community.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStreet signs do more than direct traffic,\u201d Drale said. \u201cThey create a sense of place. They tell people they’ve arrived somewhere that matters. Beginning today, everyone who enters our campus will be welcomed by signs that proudly reflect this university.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The custom signs were made possible through a partnership with the City of Little Rock and the university’s facilities management team. In collaboration with the City of Little Rock and its Public Works Department, the university designed custom street signs and identified key campus intersections for the new signage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The street sign dedication is one of several centennial initiatives recognizing the people, places, and partnerships that have shaped UA Little Rock over the past century while looking ahead to its next 100 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“These signs now become part of that story,” Drale said. “They will welcome prospective students on their first campus visit, families celebrating graduation, alumni returning home, and countless others who will discover all that happens here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As the University of Arkansas at Little Rock celebrates its 100th anniversary, newly dedicated custom street signs are leaving a lasting mark on campus while honoring the university\u2019s century of … UA Little Rock Unveils Custom Street Signs for Centennial Celebration<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2906,"featured_media":94426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[33343,6730],"class_list":["post-94424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-centennial-campaign","tag-christina-drale"],"yoast_head":"\nUA Little Rock Unveils Custom Street Signs for Centennial Celebration - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/16\/ua-little-rock-unveils-custom-street-signs-for-centennial-celebration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Unveils Custom Street Signs for Centennial Celebration\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As the University of Arkansas at Little Rock celebrates its 100th anniversary, newly dedicated custom street signs are leaving a lasting mark on campus while honoring the university\u2019s century of ... 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Research also illustrates both the “immense impact childhood play has on us,” as well as that play is “essential to our well-being — necessary for physical and mental health.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exhibit, which officially opened July 10, remains on display through Dec. 15, and is free and open to the public Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an individual or group visit to the exhibit, located at 333 President Clinton Avenue, email\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:downtown@ualr.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">downtown@ualr.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“It’s great that this is available — I love it — I’ll be bringing some folks down here” to see this exhibit while it’s on display, said Aaron Rhoades, a native of Central Arkansas who attended the exhibit’s opening night. “There’s something for everyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rhoades spent 13 years in Myrtle Beach, S.C., but moved back to Central Arkansas last year because he “missed the sense of community,” a sense that was embodied by this exhibit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I really appreciate this type of local history,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The memories section of the exhibit, where individuals were invited to share their personal reflections on childhood play, is a favorite of Cieslak’s, as it demonstrates how “the community collaborates with us, and contributes to what we do at the university,” she said. “We work across disciplines to connect with the community,” and community members could also loan toys for the exhibit in addition to sharing their childhood play memories for the display, gestures that both require “a lot of trust.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nader Afsordeh contributed some of his childhood toys — he’s always “has a special place in his heart” for Star Trek — to the exhibit, so he wanted to see them displayed, along with the rest of the exhibition, he explained on opening night.\u00a0<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“It’s interesting, the history of play, and it’s really cool to see” the cross-section of toys, along with their context and explanations, he said. “The older toys are very different than toys today — it was a very different world — I’ve enjoyed” the exhibit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Americans actually preferred handmade toys over mass-produced items until the second half of the 20th Century, and “Play in Arkansas” has myriad examples of the former, including a pair of “handmade mountain dolls” from Arkansas, and even a handmade checkerboard from the Spencer Polk family that dates to the 1800s, said Cieslak, a historian and history professor. Another section of the exhibit, “Play in the Time of Hardship,” spotlights how toys aided individuals through trying circumstances, such as the handmade wooden snake crafted by a Russian Prisoner of War in France during World War I.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UA Little Rock Downtown collaborated with several partners on this exhibit, including: Arkansas State Archives (Julienne Crawford and Dr. David Ware), Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) Butler Center for Arkansas Studies (Danielle Afsrodeh and Brian Robertson),\u00a0Old State House Museum (Samantha Ashley and Lark Buckingham), and the\u00a0UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture (Emily Summers Yarberry and Dr. Jess Porter), Cieslak said. “Although loaning items across institutions is a fairly standard practice, let me stress that we never take it for granted, (as) it does require a substantial amount of work from the loaning curators and teams,” but all four organizations “are absolutely terrific to work with.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carlie Cowgill, programming and administrative assistant at UA Little Rock Downtown — and a graduate of UA Little Rock’s Master of Arts Public History program — is the exhibit’s co-author, participating in every stage of this exhibit’s development, Cieslak noted. Additionally, Stacey Griggs Matchett, a summer intern for UA Little Rock Downtown, was also involved in researching and developing labels for a section of the exhibit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cieslak has heard from several individuals who have explored the exhibit, then experienced memories of their own childhood play rush back to their minds, which “makes this all worth it,” she said. “Hearing that brings such a smile to my face.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite closing in the 1940s, McLeod\u2019s Amusement Park — more commonly known as Happy Hollow — remains fresh in the memories of many Arkansans who have visited “Play in Arkansas,” which highlights the attraction along with other “Arkansas Classics” in Hot Springs, such as Oaklawn Park, the city’s historic bath houses, an alligator farm, and an ostrich farm, as well as non-Hot Springs sites like Eureka Springs and Crater of Diamonds State Park, she said. “I learned so much about Happy Hollow through this process, and it’s one of the classics in Arkansas.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Located in the historic River Market District, UA Little Rock Downtown is where university students, faculty, and staff meet with the public to discuss, exchange, and implement ideas that aim to make the world a more just and equitable place for all. It\u00a0serves as a hub of learning, service, and collaborations across the lines of scholarly disciplines, fields of community activism, and individual backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following “Play in Arkansas” will be an exhibit — scheduled to debut in February 2027 — highlighting the history of UA Little Rock, as it celebrates its centennial year in 2026-27.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“We’re very excited to be part of the Centennial festivities and celebrate 100 years of UA Little Rock,” said Cieslak.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” Mark Twain observes (through his protagonist) that “work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and that play consists of whatever a <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/15\/new-ua-little-rock-downtown-exhibit-examines-history-of-play\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> New UA Little Rock Downtown exhibit examines History of Play<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3905,"featured_media":94423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1923,1925,1926],"tags":[36054,36053,36052,35495,12728],"class_list":["post-94419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-community","category-featured","tag-community","tag-education","tag-history-2","tag-innovation","tag-ua-little-rock-downtown"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>New UA Little Rock Downtown exhibit examines History of Play - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/15\/new-ua-little-rock-downtown-exhibit-examines-history-of-play\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New UA Little Rock Downtown exhibit examines History of Play\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” Mark Twain observes (through his protagonist) that “work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and that play consists of whatever a ... 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By the time he completely lost his sight, he was prepared and able to keep working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bhattacharyya not only taught the man braille, but also how to adapt to his new world. Moments like that have defined Bhattacharyya’s career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UA Little Rock alumnus serves as outreach director for the Helen Keller National Center\u2019s National Outreach Technology Development and Training Program. He travels across the United States helping deafblind individuals use adaptive technology to communicate, work, and live more independently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bhattacharyya was born in Kolkata and raised in Telari, a small village about 25 miles away. When he was growing up, the village had no electricity, running water, or paved roads. As someone who was born deaf and gradually lost his vision, Bhattacharyya\u2019s access to communication and information was limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I learned early to become resourceful and independent because many of the services and technology available today simply did not exist,” he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Helping others has become his life’s work. His journey took shape at UA Little Rock, where he found not only an education but the confidence to become a leader in accessibility, technology, and advocacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His father also impressed upon him the importance of becoming financially independent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“My father commanded that I needed to support myself financially because he would not be there forever to give me a hand,” Bhattacharyya said. “That message served as a guiding point in how I pursued all endeavors in life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After attending Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, in 1992, Bhattacharyya transferred to UA Little Rock because of its commitment to accessibility. At the time, universities with comprehensive accommodations for deafblind students were rare. He eventually graduated from UA Little Rock in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/publicaffairs\/politicalscience\/\">political science<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He learned that the university was willing to remove barriers instead of creating them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said UA Little Rock provided him with qualified interpreters, note-taking support, textbooks translated into electronic formats compatible with adaptive technology, orientation and mobility assistance, and faculty and staff committed to finding solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“The environment at UA Little Rock allowed me to focus on learning instead of constantly fighting for access,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bhattacharyya also became involved in improving accessibility for future students. Then-Chancellor Charles Hathaway invited students with disabilities to share ideas for making the campus more accessible, leading to the creation of an Americans with Disabilities Act committee. Bhattacharyya served on the committee, helping advocate for improvements such as ramps, elevators, accessible water fountains, and adaptive technology labs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“That experience became the foundation for my career in advocacy, accessibility, education without barriers, and technology,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although he earned degrees in political science and <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/rhetoric\/\">rhetoric and writing<\/a>, Bhattacharyya found a career that combined policy, communication, education, and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Political science taught me how laws, government, policies, and public systems affect people’s lives,” he said. “Rhetoric and writing taught me how to communicate ideas clearly and advocate effectively. Technology already was my deep passion, and it became the tool that makes independence with access to communication and information possible.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, no two days are the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He conducts technology assessments, teaches people to use screen readers, refreshable braille displays, smartphones, and computers, evaluates emerging accessibility tools, troubleshoots technology, and trains professionals across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the course of his career, he has watched smartphones, artificial intelligence, optical character recognition, GPS navigation, and cloud-based communication tools dramatically expand opportunities for deafblind individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He is particularly excited about artificial intelligence and its potential to improve image descriptions, navigation, access to printed information, and real-time communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I’m especially excited about artificial intelligence becoming more integrated into accessibility,” he said. “These technologies have dramatically increased independence and access to information.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His advocacy has extended beyond individual training. Bhattacharyya helped support national efforts that led to the creation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icanconnect.org\/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21172793217&gbraid=0AAAAAoX983cgXvTt14XDVevULYRbARYjz&gclid=CjwKCAjwmdLSBhANEiwAkREMN28by3JRlcawg3_7kWO5hJU03iS1daoLnf_s3zJ_WtG_yu0HVcwqkhoCHEEQAvD_BwE\">iCanConnect<\/a>, a federally-funded program that provides eligible deafblind individuals with free communication technology and training. Today, he manages that program in Florida and Iowa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the national scope of his work, Bhattacharyya says success is measured one person at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“What means the most to me is hearing someone say, ‘I can do this on my own now,'” he said. “Those words are more meaningful than any award or title. The most rewarding part is seeing someone realize they can do something independently that they never thought was possible. Whether it’s sending their first email, shopping online, communicating with family, applying for a job, or returning to school, those moments remind me why this work is so meaningful.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For families and friends of someone who is deafblind, Bhattacharyya encourages people to begin with a simple question, rather than assumptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Ask the individual how they prefer to communicate,” he said. “There is no single approach that works for everyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also hopes people remember that deafblindness does not define a person’s abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Never assume that deafblindness limits what someone can achieve,” he said. “With proper training, accessible technology, skilled support professionals, and high expectations, deafblind individuals can pursue education, careers, travel, raise families, and contribute to their communities.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bhattacharyya credits UA Little Rock with helping transform the trajectory of his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“(That) was a turning point in my life,” he said. “It gave me access to the education, accommodations, mentors, and opportunities that helped me realize my potential.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“The university didn’t simply provide me with a degree,” he said. “It gave me the confidence to become a leader and dedicate my career to helping others succeed.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A man who thought he would lose his job after gradually losing his vision learned braille at the encouragement of Anindya “Bapin” Bhattacharyya. By the time he completely lost his <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/15\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Alumnus Helps Others Find Independence Through Technology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2036,"featured_media":94415,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[35323,83,170,2218],"class_list":["post-94414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-political-science","tag-rhetoric-and-writing","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Alumnus Helps Others Find Independence Through Technology - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/15\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Alumnus Helps Others Find Independence Through Technology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A man who thought he would lose his job after gradually losing his vision learned braille at the encouragement of Anindya “Bapin” Bhattacharyya. By the time he completely lost his ... UA Little Rock Alumnus Helps Others Find Independence Through Technology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/15\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-15T17:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2026\/07\/Bapin.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Justin Bates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Justin Bates\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Justin Bates\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a8336890d544505fbdbb0f0e689814a7\"},\"headline\":\"UA Little Rock Alumnus Helps Others Find Independence Through Technology\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-15T17:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":946,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/Bapin.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Leaders in the Classroom and Communities\",\"Political Science Program\",\"Rhetoric and Writing\",\"Student Success\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Community\",\"Featured\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/\",\"name\":\"UA Little Rock Alumnus Helps Others Find Independence Through Technology - News - UA Little Rock\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/Bapin.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-15T17:00:00+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-alumnus-helps-others-find-independence-through-technology\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/Bapin.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/Bapin.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"UA Little Rock alumnus Anindya \\\"Bapin\\\" Bhattacharyya serves as outreach director for the Helen Keller National Center\u2019s National Outreach Technology Development and Training Program. 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They walked out believing in themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Helping students gain confidence in their own abilities defined Newton’s 38-year career in education. Recently, the UA Little Rock alumna was recognized with the 2026 Lifetime Educator Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“It was such a special day, and I was deeply honored by the recognition,” Newton said. “There are so many outstanding teachers across our state who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities and their students. I wish every one of them could experience the feeling of being appreciated the way I did that day.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During her career, Newton served as a teacher, library media specialist, curriculum coordinator, adjunct professor, and mentor. She also led professional development for educators across Arkansas, served on the Arkansas State Board of Education, and was named Arkansas Teacher of the Year in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the moments she remembers most happened during interaction with her students inside her classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Some of my favorite moments were watching students who believed they ‘weren’t good at math’ leave my class confident in their abilities,” Newton said. “Seeing that transformation was incredibly rewarding.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also cherishes reconnecting with former students years later and hearing about the lives they built after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I meet them as adults, and they proudly tell me about their families, their careers, and how they are contributing to their communities,” Newton said. “Every student’s journey is different, and celebrating those journeys has been one of the greatest blessings of my career.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Newton’s love for teaching started early. Her mother was a teacher and also her first-grade teacher. Other educators helped shape her path as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“My high school math teacher, Mrs. Pat Heard, showed me that math wasn’t just a subject. It was something you could truly enjoy,” Newton said. “My high school librarian, Mrs. Sudie Lamb, introduced me to a love of reading and opened the door to so many different genres.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Newton said her education at UA Little Rock gave her the knowledge and confidence to begin her career as a K-12 library media specialist and provided a foundation she relied on throughout her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“We are so proud to call Mrs. Ouida Newton a UA Little Rock alumna,” said Dr. Rachel Eells, director of the School of Education at UA Little Rock. “She represents excellence and dedication to teaching, and has positively influenced the lives of countless Arkansas children in her schools, and our teacher candidates are fortunate to have her as a role model.”<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another mentor, her high school English teacher, Mrs. Ruby Riggan, taught Newton a lesson she never forgot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“She taught me that teaching isn’t just about delivering content,” Newton said. “It’s about knowing your students, caring about them as individuals, and letting them know every day that they matter.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That lesson shaped the way Newton approached teaching and mentoring throughout her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I hope they remember that they don’t simply teach content. They teach children,” Newton said. “Content is important, but the needs of the child must always come first. When students know they are valued and cared for, learning becomes possible.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Serving as Arkansas Teacher of the Year and later on the Arkansas State Board of Education gave Newton a broader view of education across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I had the privilege of meeting dedicated educators from every corner of Arkansas,” Newton said. “While we often had different ideas and approaches, we all shared the same goal of providing every child with the best education and opportunities possible.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After nearly four decades in education, Newton believes one thing has never changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“The teacher is still the most important part of any classroom,” she said. “A teacher who believes in a child can change that child’s life forever.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When she looks back on her career, Newton hopes people remember something much simpler than the awards she received or the positions she held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“More than anything, I hope people remember that I loved their children with all my heart and always wanted what was best for them,” Newton said. “If they remember that, then I will consider my career a success.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ouida Newton recalls a time when a group of students walked into her classroom convinced they simply weren’t good at math. They walked out believing in themselves. Helping students gain <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/14\/ua-little-rock-alumna-honored-with-lifetime-educator-award\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Alumna Honored with Lifetime Educator Award<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2036,"featured_media":94410,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[35323,2218],"class_list":["post-94409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Alumna Honored with Lifetime Educator Award - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/14\/ua-little-rock-alumna-honored-with-lifetime-educator-award\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Alumna Honored with Lifetime Educator Award\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ouida Newton recalls a time when a group of students walked into her classroom convinced they simply weren’t good at math. 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They apply informatics concepts in simulated healthcare environments that mirror real-world scenarios.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“The launch of the Health Informatics Certificate Program reflects the increasing need for professionals who can connect healthcare and technology in meaningful ways,” said Dr. Ahmed A. Halimeh, interim director of the School of Computer and Information Sciences and interim director of the Emerging Analytics Center at UA Little Rock. “This program is designed to give students practical experience alongside a strong academic foundation, ensuring they are ready to step into roles that improve patient care, strengthen data systems, and drive efficiency across healthcare organizations.”<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The graduate certificate provides a foundation in healthcare data systems, analytics, and informatics while emphasizing programming, database management, ethics, and project management. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students will explore how healthcare data is collected, analyzed, and applied to improve both clinical and operational outcomes.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Health informatics continues to grow as healthcare systems increasingly rely on data and technology to improve quality, reduce costs, and support patient care. The program is designed to attract students from a range of backgrounds, including health professions, computer science, data analytics, engineering, and related fields.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduates will be prepared for careers in healthcare data analytics, clinical informatics, health information management, and related fields.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about the new program, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/informationscience\/graduate-cert-health-informatics\/\">https:\/\/ualr.edu\/informationscience\/graduate-cert-health-informatics\/<\/a>.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will launch a new graduate certificate in health informatics this fall, equipping students with the skills needed to improve healthcare delivery through data, <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/13\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> New Graduate Certificate Program in Health Informatics Launches This Fall<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":90408,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[25799,122,35323,2218],"class_list":["post-94398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-donaghey-college-of-stem","tag-graduate-school","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>New Graduate Certificate Program in Health Informatics Launches This Fall - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/13\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New Graduate Certificate Program in Health Informatics Launches This Fall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will launch a new graduate certificate in health informatics this fall, equipping students with the skills needed to improve healthcare delivery through data, ... New Graduate Certificate Program in Health Informatics Launches This Fall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/13\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-13T14:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2025\/03\/Nursing-Walker-scholars-2024_106.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"UA Little Rock\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"UA Little Rock\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"UA Little Rock\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/841beab92c4de6b8988cb3708c29b192\"},\"headline\":\"New Graduate Certificate Program in Health Informatics Launches This Fall\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T14:30:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":298,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/Nursing-Walker-scholars-2024_106.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Donaghey College of STEM\",\"Graduate School\",\"Leaders in the Classroom and Communities\",\"Student Success\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Community\",\"Featured\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/\",\"name\":\"New Graduate Certificate Program in Health Informatics Launches This Fall - News - UA Little Rock\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/Nursing-Walker-scholars-2024_106.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T14:30:00+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/13\\\/new-graduate-certificate-program-in-health-informatics-launches-this-fall\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/Nursing-Walker-scholars-2024_106.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/Nursing-Walker-scholars-2024_106.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"Nursing students learn more about patient care by practicing with robotic SIM Lab mannequins. 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The CLN extends cybersecurity services to more communities than any one institution could alone, while fostering collaboration, shared expertise, and experiential learning. Through this network, the CORE Cybersecurity Clinic is expanding to Ouachita Baptist University, the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana, and North Arkansas College of the University of Arkansas this fall.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Every partner site is another place where our students get to apply what they\u2019re learning to a real problem with real stakes,” said Dr. Sandra Leiterman, director of cybersecurity education and outreach. “That kind of experience is hard to replicate in a classroom, and it\u2019s what makes our graduates ready to contribute on day one.”<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CORE Cybersecurity Clinic\u2019s goal is to make cybersecurity expertise available to organizations such as small nonprofits, school districts, health clinics, rural utilities, and small businesses that provide essential services but lack their own cybersecurity staff. These organizations face increasing cyber threats and lack access to costly risk assessments or enterprise security programs.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CORE Center teams, made up of students and faculty experts, work directly with organizations to evaluate their systems, identify vulnerabilities, and deliver actionable recommendations. The clinic identifies the most likely ways hackers could attempt to gain access, then provides prioritized recommendations and safeguarding strategies to help organizations anticipate the top threats and proactively strengthen their defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Nathan Thomason, a student researcher at the CORE Center, those experiences helped launch his career.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“UA Little Rock’s CORE Center provided me with a foundation of excellence to rely on throughout my studies as an undergraduate student and at the beginning of my cybersecurity career,” Thomason said.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said working directly with Arkansas organizations and emerging cybersecurity technologies gave his education a deeper sense of purpose.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“The opportunities to engage with my local community and pursue bleeding-edge cybersecurity technologies that I was presented with as a researcher allowed my studies to have a measurable impact on my community,” he said.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The clinic\u2019s work is also shaped by ongoing research at the CORE Center, where faculty and students are developing new approaches to cybersecurity defense. Rather than remaining in the research phase, many of these ideas are tested and refined through the clinic\u2019s work, allowing researchers and students to evaluate new methods while providing clients with recommendations informed by the latest cybersecurity research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the center\u2019s newest research projects explores how artificial intelligence can help organizations identify the most likely paths a cyberattack could take through their systems and prioritize the security improvements that will have the greatest impact. The CORE Center is also collaborating with the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy, a national nonpartisan AI policy think tank, on initiatives that support cybersecurity policy and the protection of the nation\u2019s critical infrastructure, helping connect the center\u2019s applied research with broader national conversations about emerging cyber threats.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The clinic also provides students with valuable, real-world experience beyond the classroom. Working with organizations across Arkansas, they learn not only how to identify cybersecurity risks but also how to explain technical concepts in ways that help non-technical leaders make informed decisions. Those communication skills are just as critical as technical expertise in preparing students for careers in cybersecurity.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Working at the CORE Center has been wonderful because it’s given me real-world experience in my field,” said Divija Vijay, a sophomore double majoring in computer science and cybersecurity. “On the projects I get to work on, I’m always learning new concepts and technical skills. It’s a really supportive environment that genuinely cares about our growth.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through the CLN, the CORE Center is helping schools, nonprofits, utilities, and businesses better understand their cybersecurity risks while giving students opportunities to gain practical experience addressing the challenges organizations face every day.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Arkansas has cracked the code for making these partnerships work,” said Dr. Philip Huff, director of the CORE Center and assistant professor of computer science. “Communities across the state need practical help defending against cyberattacks, and our students are ready and able to meet that need. Now our job is to clear the path so these partnerships can thrive and strengthen cybersecurity across Arkansas.”<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Cyberspace Operations Research and Education (CORE) Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will now reach more Arkansas communities through the Cyber Learning Network (CLN). By expanding <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/10\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Expands Cybersecurity Support for Arkansas Communities<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2906,"featured_media":94406,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1926,1922],"tags":[25799,35495,35323,35322,2218],"class_list":["post-94404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-research","tag-donaghey-college-of-stem","tag-innovation","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-program-excellence","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Expands Cybersecurity Support for Arkansas Communities - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/10\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Expands Cybersecurity Support for Arkansas Communities\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Cyberspace Operations Research and Education (CORE) Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will now reach more Arkansas communities through the Cyber Learning Network (CLN). By expanding ... UA Little Rock Expands Cybersecurity Support for Arkansas Communities\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/10\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-10T13:15:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-13T15:25:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2026\/07\/CORE-Center-work-for-CORE-CLN-story.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"341\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Samantha Koros\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Samantha Koros\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/10\\\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/10\\\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Samantha Koros\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/4d2d71db64fc5dad90eaff1ce9387967\"},\"headline\":\"UA Little Rock Expands Cybersecurity Support for Arkansas Communities\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-10T13:15:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T15:25:46+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/10\\\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":767,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/10\\\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/CORE-Center-work-for-CORE-CLN-story.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Donaghey College of STEM\",\"Innovation\",\"Leaders in the Classroom and Communities\",\"Program Excellence\",\"Student Success\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Featured\",\"Research\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/10\\\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/10\\\/ua-little-rock-expands-cybersecurity-support-for-arkansas-communities\\\/\",\"name\":\"UA Little Rock Expands Cybersecurity Support for Arkansas Communities - 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She succeeds Stephanie Purifoy, who retired earlier this year.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before joining UA Little Rock earlier this year, McKinnis spent more than two decades as owner of The Pilates Studio of Little Rock, where she built a successful business while developing lasting relationships across central Arkansas. Earlier in her career, she served as business director for Ballet Arkansas, helping lead fundraising, community outreach, and organizational operations.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Sheila has a genuine love for this university, and people see that the moment they meet her,” said Christian O’Neal, vice president of advancement. “She’s done an incredible job leading campus tours for prospective donors and partners. With her family’s ties to the university, this role is both professional and personal, and I can’t think of a better person to help tell CHASSE’s story.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jeremy Ecke, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, said McKinnis’ background and passion for the arts and education make her an ideal fit for the college.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“CHASSE prepares educators, artists, communicators, social workers, public servants, and community leaders who make a difference across Arkansas and beyond,” Ecke said. “Sheila understands the transformational impact of these disciplines, and her passion for building relationships will help create new opportunities for our students, faculty, and programs.”<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McKinnis said she looks forward to working with alumni, donors, and friends of the university to strengthen the college’s impact.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I’ve spent much of my career working alongside people who believe education, the arts, and community engagement can transform lives,” McKinnis said. “I’m excited to connect alumni and supporters with opportunities to invest in our students and help expand the college’s impact for years to come.”<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McKinnis earned a Bachelor of Arts in dance from the University of North Texas. To learn more about the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/ualr.edu\/chasse\" type=\"link\" id=\"ualr.edu\/chasse\">ualr.edu\/chasse<\/a>.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has named Sheila Wold McKinnis director of development for the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE), effective July 1. McKinnis, <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/08\/ua-little-rock-promotes-sheila-wold-mckinnis-to-lead-development-for-chasse\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Promotes Sheila Wold McKinnis to Lead Development for CHASSE<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":94393,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[28389,35323],"class_list":["post-94391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-college-of-humanities-arts-social-sciences-and-education-chasse","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Promotes Sheila Wold McKinnis to Lead Development for CHASSE - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/08\/ua-little-rock-promotes-sheila-wold-mckinnis-to-lead-development-for-chasse\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Promotes Sheila Wold McKinnis to Lead Development for CHASSE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has named Sheila Wold McKinnis director of development for the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE), effective July 1. 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Support Builds for Shellam Flake Planetarium Seat Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Community support continues to grow for the return of the Shellam Flake Planetarium at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since launching the planetarium seat sponsorship program this spring, alumni, friends, and community partners have sponsored 26 seats, generating $65,000 to provide long-term support for the planetarium’s maintenance and future enhancements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm we’ve seen so far,” said Lloyd Webre, director of development for the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. “Every sponsorship represents someone who believes in creating opportunities for students and our community to experience science in a hands-on, inspiring way. We’re grateful to everyone who has stepped forward to ensure the Shellam Flake Planetarium is a UA Little Rock staple for generations to come.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Provost Ann Bain became the program’s first supporter, sponsoring two seats in honor of her grandchildren, Sadie and Henry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate curiosity and discovery than by supporting a space like the planetarium,” Bain said. “Knowing Sadie and Henry will have a connection to this experience, and that so many other children will be inspired here, makes this especially meaningful.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Centennial Co-Chair Alfred Williams has been instrumental in securing many of the campaign’s seat sponsorships. Campaign cabinet members Mike Williams, James Bobo, RJ Martino, Courtney Little, and Thomas Dickinson have also demonstrated their support by purchasing seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each $2,500 sponsorship includes a personalized nameplate displayed on a planetarium seat for five years. Sponsors may recognize an individual, family, organization, or honor the memory of a loved one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Proceeds from the program provide long-term support for the Shellam Flake Planetarium’s maintenance and future enhancements, helping ensure it remains a premier destination for student learning and community engagement for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When open in the spring, the restored Shellam Flake Planetarium will serve as a multidisciplinary learning space welcoming K-12 students and community members for educational programming and public shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seat sponsorships remain available. To learn more or sponsor a seat, visit <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/ualr.edu\/planetarium\">ualr.edu\/planetarium<\/a><\/strong> or contact Lloyd Webre at <strong>501-951-1794<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Community support continues to grow for the return of the Shellam Flake Planetarium at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Since launching the planetarium seat sponsorship program this spring, <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/08\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Community Support Builds for Shellam Flake Planetarium Seat Campaign<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":94396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[35323,36040,2218],"class_list":["post-94385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-planetarium","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Community Support Builds for Shellam Flake Planetarium Seat Campaign - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/08\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Community Support Builds for Shellam Flake Planetarium Seat Campaign\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Community support continues to grow for the return of the Shellam Flake Planetarium at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Since launching the planetarium seat sponsorship program this spring, ... Community Support Builds for Shellam Flake Planetarium Seat Campaign\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/08\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-08T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-08T19:23:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2026\/07\/planey.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"UA Little Rock\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"UA Little Rock\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"UA Little Rock\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/841beab92c4de6b8988cb3708c29b192\"},\"headline\":\"Community Support Builds for Shellam Flake Planetarium Seat Campaign\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-08T13:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-08T19:23:03+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":355,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/planey.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Leaders in the Classroom and Communities\",\"Planetarium\",\"Student Success\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Community\",\"Featured\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/\",\"name\":\"Community Support Builds for Shellam Flake Planetarium Seat Campaign - News - UA Little Rock\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/planey.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-08T13:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-08T19:23:03+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/community-support-builds-for-shellam-flake-planetarium-seat-campaign\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/planey.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/planey.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"The expansive dome of the UA Little Rock Planetarium is part of the the newly renovated space, where students, faculty, and community members will experience immersive astronomy programming and science education. 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Personal Loss to Purposeful Healing: UA Little Rock Alumna Advocates for Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As July marks Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumna Kimberly Robinson is encouraging people to seek support without shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by her mother’s illness, Robinson has spent the last 26 years helping individuals navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges as a licensed certified social worker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Little Rock native, Robinson earned a Bachelor of Arts in <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/sociology\/\">sociology<\/a> with a minor in <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/academics\/undergraduate\/psychology\/\">psychology<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/socialwork\/master-social-work\/\">Master of Social Work<\/a> from UA Little Rock. When her mother became ill, Robinson wanted to connect her with the resources she needed to get well. Although her mother passed away before Robinson received her acceptance to graduate school, that experience shaped a career dedicated to helping others through life’s most difficult moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I will say it once, and I will say it again. There is no shame in seeking support,” Robinson said. “We seek support for physical health, but somehow think mental health can be treated by being positive and keeping it to ourselves.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Robinson credits UA Little Rock with preparing her to serve her community by connecting her with organizations and mentors who shared her passion for advocacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her journey to graduate school, however, wasn’t easy. After not being accepted the first time she applied, Robinson enrolled in a post-baccalaureate social work course before applying again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I did not get accepted the first time, but I was determined to get into the program,” Robinson said. “I applied the second time and got in. My life was never the same.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout her time at UA Little Rock, faculty members also helped shape Robinson both professionally and personally. As an undergraduate, the late Dr. Doug Buffalo encouraged her to become a teacher’s assistant after recognizing her talent in social statistics. During graduate school, the late Judith Faust left a lasting impression by emphasizing the importance of communication, writing, and advocacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“She believed that social policy can change the world, and I agreed with her,” Robinson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Robinson once dreamed of becoming a singer or dancer, encouragement from her father ultimately led her to social work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“My father, Ocie Robinson, told me I should be a social worker when I was a kid because I always listened to my friends and offered advice,” Robinson said. “I did not want to do that and wanted to be a singer or dancer. However, I began to think about how I enjoyed helping others and seeing the lightbulb go off when they made decisions that were healthy for them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Twenty-six years later, Robinson remains passionate about social work because of its flexibility and the opportunity to make a lasting impact. Throughout her career, she has embraced new opportunities whenever she felt ready for a change, allowing her to continue serving others while avoiding burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I am proud of the longevity of my career,” Robinson said. “There is nothing wrong with pivoting if it keeps you vibrant and continuing to work in your field.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the course of her career, Robinson has also witnessed a significant shift in conversations surrounding mental health, particularly in communities of color. While stigma still exists, she said more people are willing to seek help than when she first entered the profession, a change she believes accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Mental health was considered taboo when I graduated from the MSW program, especially with African Americans and other minorities,” Robinson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those considering therapy, Robinson encourages people to keep searching until they find someone who feels like the right fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“If you do not feel comfortable with the person you picked, try again,” Robinson said. “We try on clothes until we find the right fit, right? The same goes for therapy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The greatest reward, Robinson said, has been watching people transform their lives and gain the confidence to navigate difficult seasons on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“I get satisfaction knowing that the people I work with are improving their lives and that they know how to handle the bad days based on the tools we have worked on in treatment,” Robinson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As she reflects on the journey that began at UA Little Rock, Robinson hopes current students remember to use the resources available to them, including the university’s counseling services, and never let setbacks define their future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Stay encouraged. Be of good cheer. This journey will lead to many other roads. Please do not give up on your dreams,” Robinson said. “I was not accepted the first time I applied to the graduate program. But I knew that I wanted to help others and applied again. If you get a no, that is fine. If you believe you are chosen for something, you keep going.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As July marks Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumna Kimberly Robinson is encouraging people to seek support without shame. Inspired by her mother’s illness, <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/08\/from-personal-loss-to-purposeful-healing-ua-little-rock-alumna-advocates-for-mental-health\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> From Personal Loss to Purposeful Healing: UA Little Rock Alumna Advocates for Mental Health<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":94375,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1923,1925],"tags":[28370,35323,36050,2218],"class_list":["post-94374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-community","tag-college-of-business-health-and-human-services","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-psychology-2","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>From Personal Loss to Purposeful Healing: UA Little Rock Alumna Advocates for Mental Health - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/08\/from-personal-loss-to-purposeful-healing-ua-little-rock-alumna-advocates-for-mental-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From Personal Loss to Purposeful Healing: UA Little Rock Alumna Advocates for Mental Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As July marks Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumna Kimberly Robinson is encouraging people to seek support without shame. Inspired by her mother’s illness, ... 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This July, classrooms across UA Little Rock will transform into laboratories, design studios, fantasy worlds, and musical stages as students gather for the annual program. For two weeks, the campus will buzz with curiosity as young learners from across Arkansas explore subjects that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and discovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Summer Laureate is designed for curious and motivated learners in grades K\u20136 who thrive when given opportunities to ask questions, solve complex problems, and pursue topics in depth. The two-week summer program, hosted by the UA Little Rock Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, offers a uniquely engaging mix of science, engineering, mathematics, language arts, history, and much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Summer Laureate is one of the longest-running campus enrichment programs in the U.S.,” said Dr. Ann Robinson, center director. “Yet, each year, the creativity and innovation of the teachers, the program administrators, and the students make the learning experience fresh for everyone. For nearly half a century, UA Little Rock has embraced the program and celebrated its contributions to our community. We are delighted to be a part of the university’s centennial year.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each summer brings a new lineup of classes, allowing students fresh opportunities to explore new passions, strengthen their talents, and discover new interests to carry with them long after summer ends. This year’s program features 21 new classes designed to spark curiosity through subjects and themes not typically found in traditional classrooms. Inspired by children\u2019s interests and current trends, the curriculum is reimagined each year to keep students engaged and excited to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many classes blend multiple subjects into one hands-on course, encouraging students to make connections across disciplines. Young learners might investigate insects through art and science or explore world cultures through music and language. Older students can combine engineering and artificial intelligence, travel through ancient civilizations and mythology, or develop strategic thinking through chess and coding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSummer Laureate gives young learners the freedom to explore new ideas, take creative risks, and discover new interests alongside peers who share their curiosity,\u201d said Dr. Monica Meadows, assistant professor in the School of Education. \u201cIt is exciting to watch students engage with topics they may not encounter during the regular school year through fun, meaningful learning experiences. During Summer Laureate, students are not simply learning about a topic; they are designing, creating, questioning, and bringing their ideas to life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The program\u2019s influence extends beyond its students. What sets the program apart is its team of instructors, which includes graduate students in gifted and talented education, experienced classroom teachers, and subject-matter experts who bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the classroom. For graduate students, the program provides hands-on experience designing curriculum, teaching alongside veteran educators, and translating gifted education theory into classroom practice, helping build a strong pipeline of gifted and talented education teachers for Arkansas classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond academic enrichment, the program fosters a vibrant community where advanced learners can connect with peers who share their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. As Summer Laureate enters its 47th year, it continues to inspire young learners while helping cultivate the next generation of gifted and talented educators, strengthening gifted education across Arkansas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For 47 years, the Summer Laureate\/University for Youth program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has provided gifted elementary students with unique summer learning opportunities. This July, classrooms <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/07\/summer-laureate-returns-to-ua-little-rock-with-21-new-classes-for-young-learners\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Summer Laureate Returns to UA Little Rock with 21 New Classes for Young Learners<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2906,"featured_media":94370,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1923,1925,1926],"tags":[2651,28389,335,35323,3350,29159],"class_list":["post-94369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-community","category-featured","tag-ann-robinson","tag-college-of-humanities-arts-social-sciences-and-education-chasse","tag-jodie-mahony-center-for-gifted-education","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-summer-camps","tag-summer-laureate-university-for-youth-slufy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Summer Laureate Returns to UA Little Rock with 21 New Classes for Young Learners - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/07\/summer-laureate-returns-to-ua-little-rock-with-21-new-classes-for-young-learners\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Summer Laureate Returns to UA Little Rock with 21 New Classes for Young Learners\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For 47 years, the Summer Laureate\/University for Youth program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has provided gifted elementary students with unique summer learning opportunities. 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