Dale Doughtery is said to be the godfather of the maker movement after founding “Make Magazine” and the first Maker Faire in 2006. The maker movement expands do-it-yourself culture by encompassing technology, coding, 3D printing and prototyping products that propel entrepreneurship. It encourages people to think differently about having a “throwaway mentality,” as they pick up skills and learn most objects can be repaired or repurposed. The movement has blossomed into maker workshops, Maker Faires and makerspaces, like the one on the 51��¥’ campus in Donaghey Hall.

The UCA Makerspace, powered by the Conductor, is a public-private partnership between Startup Junkie Consulting and UCA. At no cost, students, faculty, staff and community members receive access to a multitude of machines and technology to learn, create and become a part of the maker movement.

To keep the movement thriving, makers must have access to resources like equipment, space, experts and collaborators. At the UCA Makerspace, makers can use anything from carpenter tools, sewing machines and an embroidery machine to more advanced technology like laser engravers, 3D printers and stereolithography (SLA) printers. (SLA printers use liquid resin and a powerful laser to 3D print objects.) The space also has computer numerically controlled – or CNC – machines which are able to process material quickly and efficiently.

In addition to equipment, community members can access the expertise of the UCA Makerspace team. Master Maker Jason Huselton ’96 and other maker fellows spend their days teaching people how to use the equipment and tools. They create an environment for makers to meet and collaborate. Amateurs, professionals and even those who do not yet identify as makers, can walk into the space and jump right into creating.

Subject matter experts come into the Makerspace to host webinars, workshops and demos. Clients can learn how to program with Arduino microcontrollers (which are used to build digital devices), or how to use an oscilloscope, cast in resin, make paper and much more.

“We have a unique opportunity to serve the community and provide no-cost resources,” Huselton said. “We want the space to be a place for anyone to feel welcome, to learn something new and to make their vision come to life with their own hands.”

The Conductor has a mission of empowering makers and entrepreneurs, and the UCA Makerspace has a top-of-funnel approach to supporting and bolstering entrepreneurs and small businesses. Members of the maker movement come from a variety of backgrounds ranging from hobbyists to experts or someone who is just getting started. Anyone can bring a product idea or invention into the Makerspace and work with the staff to develop a prototype and receive guidance on next steps.

The Makerspace has been home to many new innovations and business start-ups. Former Conway resident Jessica Jones prototyped a new product called Zipper Genie which helps women zip their own dresses. She then secured a patent to protect her idea. Matthew Pearson ’11, ’20 received a patent for an invention he protyped called Rollie Pollie, a clamping device used to fasten IV poles to hospital beds, stretchers and other patient transportation devices.

The Makerspace can serve as a cost-effective way to support entrepreneurs and promote their businesses. The laser engravers can be used to create signage or add logos to products.

The embroidery machine can be used to brand staff uniforms, and other machines can be used to create products to stock shelves or start an Etsy store.

Another central tenet to the maker movement is collaboration across disciplines, age groups and skill levels. A designated group of maker mentors frequent the space and serve as collaborators. The mentors have backgrounds in various fields including art, electrical engineering, physics and ccoding, and they provide their expertise to Makerspace clients.

Justin Rowan ’11 participated as a mentor since 2017 and was also a regular Makerspace client. In 2019, Rowan and his wife Jessica (Stonesifer) Rowan ’13 launched their own maker-centered business called Valley Meadows Workshop in Greenbrier. Valley Meadows uses many of the same types of tools found in the Makerspace and creates custom woodworking, personalized decor and handcrafted gifts.

The maker movement and spirit of collaboration can also be found in the classroom. Conway Public Schools educators Sharon Cone ’09 and Anita Reynolds ’96 serve as maker educators in the UCA Makerspace to bring STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) education to children and introduce them to the world of making. Cone and Reynolds host Youth Maker Mondays, STEAM camps and other outreach events.

“STEAM education is more than math and science skills,” Reynolds said. “STEAM also has a focus on hands-on learning and creativity. It teaches skills like empathy, critical thinking and problem solving while allowing students to explore and create on their own.”

At the Makerspace, young makers take in concepts of coding and robotics, oftentimes without even realizing they are learning new skills. Casie Sachse ’09, an educator and homeschooling mother, finds value in the Makerspace and its programs for children. She takes her daughters, Mallory, 10 and Tessa, 8, to Youth Maker Mondays. Last summer, they attended a STEAM camp.

“I feel fortunate to live in the same town as the Conductor and UCA Makerspace,” Sachse said. “It provides opportunities for my daughters to explore their interests in science, engineering, technology and the arts, while enriching their education. Plus, the fact it is free and easily accessible truly makes it a prized resource to our community.”
Maker collaboration expands across the UCA campus as it is used by students from all the colleges to finish projects or decompress from class. Art students can add to and enhance their portfolios; film students can create backdrops or costumes; and occupational therapy students can prototype medical devices for their patients.

The Makerspace is also a place for creative collisions: a computer science student can collaborate with a business student on a new app idea, or a physics student can collaborate with an exercise science student to calculate the correct angle or velocity on an innovative piece of training equipment.

Overall, the maker movement is a social movement that can provide everything from a creative outlet to a new business venture. Makers are not defined by age, skillset, discipline or background, but rather their intent to recycle, innovate, create and collaborate. There are new opportunities every day.

It was nearing the end of the spring 2016 semester when Susanna Post ’17 walked into her Analysis and Practice of Teaching class and saw something surprising: The tables were covered with items that looked more fitting to a second-grade art class than a masters-level education course.

“There were all these fun, random things like marbles, drinking straws and Play-Doh,” Post said. After a short lesson, the professor instructed the students to work in groups to create a visual representation of what they learned that semester.

For Post – who would later be named 2021 Arkansas Teacher of the Year – this was a moment of revelation.

“All of sudden, I realized that student assessment doesn’t have to involve a pen and paper. I saw how to get students involved at a higher level of thinking, and that was a big moment for me,” she said.

While still in the process of earning her master’s degree from the 51��¥, Post was already putting innovative strategies such as this one into practice as a math and business technology teacher at Belle Point Center in the Fort Smith Public School District.

“When I tried these incredibly practical strategies in my classroom, they worked. I remember thinking that these UCA professors really know what they’re talking about,” said Post, a nontraditional student and mother of three, who stressed the college’s ability to meet the needs of students from all walks of life.

“I started the Master of Arts in Teaching program in January and was offered a full-time teaching job the following July. The fact that you can be employed as a teacher and earn a salary while you’re getting your master’s degree is a big deal,” she said.

As Arkansas’ largest producer of teachers in the state, the College of Education evolved from UCA’s founding in 1907 as the Arkansas State Normal School, an institution dedicated solely to teacher training. In 1925, the school was renamed Arkansas State Teachers College before ultimately transitioning to UCA in 1975.

The college now emphasizes innovative and realistic approaches to both teacher education and K-12 instruction. From undergraduate teacher preparation programs to graduate degrees in areas such as school counseling, library media, and school leadership, management and administration, the College of Education funnels hundreds of highly trained professionals into frontline education positions each year.

UCA has had at least three alumni who were named Arkansas Teacher of the Year since the program began in 2015, and several alumni have received prestigious awards from the Arkansas Library Association.

“For us, it is all about improving Arkansas’ K-12 education. It’s a passion for our faculty members, and I think that’s what really sets us apart,” said Victoria Groves-Scott, dean of the College of Education.

Since accepting the position in 2015, Groves-Scott has spearheaded a number of successful initiatives she credits to the leadership team and faculty members who she says “are not afraid of big ideas and the hard work it takes to accomplish them.”

Among those big ideas is the college’s iPad Mobile Learning Initiative, which earned the college international recognition as a highly regarded Apple Distinguished School.

Defined as “centers for leadership and educational excellence that demonstrate Apple’s vision for learning with technology,” Apple Distinguished Schools number only 690 worldwide. The College of Education is the only teacher education program in Arkansas to hold this honor.
“It is a highly competitive process to be named an Apple Distinguished School, and very few applicants are selected. What it means for us is that we are using technology – in our case the iPad – to transform the classroom experience,” Groves-Scott said.

According to the college’s publication titled “Digital Age Teaching & Learning: Our Story,” available on Apple Books, the iPad Mobile Learning Initiative is focused on “empowering student voices in their learning, providing increased choice in curriculum and assessment, and developing a framework for access and accessibility.”

“This transformative initiative requires students in certain degree programs to obtain and use an iPad in the classroom, but “it’s not about swiping through PowerPoint presentations,” Groves-Scott said. “Instead, the iPad is a key both to increasing student engagement and interaction within the College of Education and preparing students to use the power of technology in their own classrooms.”

Active learning strategies that incorporate the iPad are extensive and include the ability for students to create videos explaining their understanding of course material, develop digital portfolios, create illustrations and animations and delve deeply into content through interactive experiences. It also opens the door to quicker and more efficient feedback between professors and students.

As a former special education teacher, Groves-Scott also truly values the initiative’s emphasis on accessibility.

“When our students get into the classroom, they use the iPad as a way to make sure that all of their students, regardless of their physical or developmental ability, are engaged in that lesson to the greatest extent possible. That’s why the iPads have been transformational for us,” said Groves-Scott, who was also one of five in the College of Education to have been named Apple Distinguished Educators for their focus on academic excellence, leadership and innovation.

As the iPad initiative continues to expand into other areas of the college, she and fellow leaders also are ramping up an ongoing emphasis on educational equity to ensure all children in Arkansas are supported and have access to the resources they need to succeed.

“Educational equity is vitally important to us, and we are actively engaged in intense and difficult discussions about these issues. When you are a teacher, you must be able to identify barriers and serve as an advocate for every child, whether they are LGBTQ, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, gifted or living with a disability,” she said.

Work on a yearlong residency program to address statewide teacher shortages is underway thanks to a $100,000 grant to the college as part of Forward Arkansas’ Educator Preparation Program Design Collaborative. The residency, which will place students in paid teaching positions prior to graduation, is intended to attract future educators while also filling immediate classroom needs.

“Districts are struggling with teacher shortages and retention. We think this will make a difference in the teacher pipeline and in our ability to attract more students to the education field,” she said.

With so many opportunities to improve education in Arkansas, it is ultimately the willingness of the college’s faculty and students to take risks and engage in new educational strategies that makes Groves-Scott most proud.

“It’s hard to do something new and innovative, but we are really invested in change that supports education in Arkansas,” she said.

“Academically, they’re getting premier opportunities, traveling abroad, studying at elite partner institutions and working on capstone projects that truly teach them to develop an interdisciplinary outlook,” Smith said. “Personally, our graduates have a vision for their future that is rooted in their values and beliefs. They can – and do – make a difference in the world.”

Smith and Honors College Associate Dean Leah Horton ’97, ’17 both received medallions of their own as Honors College graduates in 2001 and 1997, respectively. They are in good company as this spring the college is due to celebrate its 2,000th graduate. Ricole Warren, a pre-med major from Little Rock, will be among the graduates in 2022. Warren serves as president of the Honors Council for the college. She appreciates the camaraderie she has built with her classmates.

“My roommates and friends would lean on each other and help each other push through when things got challenging,” Warren said. “I’ve made lifelong friends who, like me, were heavily invested in learning and experiencing the world from different perspectives. I’ve found my voice to speak up for what matters to me.”

Honors College graduates are all over the world, making their mark in many fields and putting that legacy of excellence into daily practice. It is difficult to quantify the impact, but one metric Smith looks at is the number of alumni who report back to the 51��¥ to add the title of “Dr.” or “Ph.D.” to their names. Compared to the result of the general UCA alumni body, Honors College grads are 3.5 times more likely to have earned a doctorate, and that clocks in at five times the national average for graduates from any institution. While that is just one way to frame the college’s impact, Smith said it gets at something that is part of the program’s core.

“When you think about it, those students come from the same communities in Arkansas that the rest of the UCA student body comes from – including rural and underserved,” Smith said. “Our founder, Norb Schedler, saw potential in those students, even when no one else did – and he was right.”

Legend has it that Schedler was daydreaming under a tree near McAlister Hall about starting the Honors College when then-UCA President Jefferson D. Farris Jr. ’50 happened to walk by. “Norb” – as faculty and students alike affectionately call him – took a chance on pitching the idea. Farris agreed, and the rest is history.

Much of Schedler’s original vision remains intact, continuing beyond his death in 2019. The program focuses on developing interdisciplinary skills that can be used for any profession. The curriculum includes a mix of small group, discussion-based seminars and large-group lectures, along with an interdisciplinary capstone. Students have opportunities for travel and research grants. They end the four-year program with a minor in interdisciplinary studies.

“Whenever we’re considering a change, we look back at the founding documents that set forth this challenge and this lively experiment,” Smith said. “Of course, we react to the latest research about how students learn, we’re contemporary, but at its core, this program still remains true to the impact Norb wanted it to have for its students and beyond.”

“Being part of the first Honors class was an amazing experience. It felt like students and faculty were on a team searching out excellence together. The faculty embraced our journey and helped change the way I see the world and use the knowledge I gained.”

— Judi Altstatt ʼ86

“After 40 years, I think the Honors College still embodies the vision of Norbert: To enable students to teach themselves as well as others. Not all of us became teachers as a profession, but among those with whom I remain in contact, they have practiced this vision in their chosen profession.”

— Gerald Plafcan ʼ86

“My time at the Honors College was the most formative years of my life. Without the mentorship of Norb and the entire gang, I would not be who or where I am today. I will be forever grateful for that experience. Thank you, Norb!”

— Bill Myers ʼ86

“As a current student, this 40 Years of Excellence is a reminder that the seed Norbert O. Schedler planted in 1982 has continued to grow and bloom in each of the Honors College matriculants, and it’s a clear indication of the rich legacy he left behind through scholarship, leadership and civic duty.”

— Ricole Warren, senior

“The notion of arete, ‘virtue’ or ‘excellence,’ is so central to my 22 years in the Honors College. I can remember Norb and Rick referencing and explaining it countless times, keeping it forefront in our minds both as students and faculty. The concept points us toward the highest capabilities of the human being — to inquire, to know, to act, and to be in relationship. Those virtues form a framework for an Honors education, and more so, for the whole life that proceeds outward and onward from that education.”

— Donna Bowman

The Next Chapter

“As a current student, this 40 Years of Excellence is a reminder that the seed Norbert O. Schedler planted in 1982 has continued to grow and bloom in each of the Honors College matriculants,” Warren said. “It is a clear indication of the rich legacy he left behind through scholarship, leadership and civic duty.”

With so much history to be grateful for, Smith is looking forward to welcoming alumni back to campus for the official anniversary celebrations planned for fall 2022. Events will likely include an alumni retreat, student service projects, social gatherings and a special edition of the book club, in addition to events associated with Challenge Week and Homecoming.

While many of those plans are in development currently, especially with the uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on in-person events, one thing is for sure: The big change that alumni from all cohorts can celebrate is the unveiling of the new Honors College space in Schichtl Hall.

Previously home to the Department of Art and Design, the space is being remodeled as a Center for Honors Education and Center for Global Learning and Engagement. The plans will be revealed in 2022, and the move is slated for summer 2023. One unique feature will be an outdoor sensory garden where students can retreat to study, think and explore in a rich and calming natural environment.

Alongside the excitement of the new is the bittersweet sensation of change. Up to this point, the entirety of Honors College history has taken place inside the walls of McAlister Hall.

“We expect part of the celebration will be giving alumni a chance to say goodbye to McAlister Hall,” Smith said. “These walls hold a lot of memories.”

Those who visit will discover there is more than one way to be an Honors College student these days. The college opened a second track called Honors Scholars four years ago because leadership was tired of turning away Arkansas’ best and brightest and wanted to find a way to serve more students than the 75 they were able to admit each year. Now they welcome an additional 30 scholars annually.

Embracing the Old and New

Despite the changes, many things about the Honors College are still the same. There is still a student forum honoring longtime administrator Glenda Middleton, who retired in 2010. Farris Hall still houses many Honors College students, providing that private residence hall experience that is a hallmark of the program. Many familiar faces remain among the faculty including Donna Bowman, Doug Corbitt, Adam Frank and Allison Wallace.

Students, scholars and alumni alike can appreciate the nod to another legacy that is part of the remodel design for Schichtl Hall: There will still be a window seat.

The Honors College is still a place where each student is reminded at graduation that they have joined the ranks of excellence, and scholarly-minded people can still step outside and daydream about how to change the world.

“Our students leave here and confront the problems of the world with an ability to think creatively and in an interdisciplinary way,” Smith said. “They think more broadly. They find solutions. Whether it’s making a difference in their everyday workplace or going out and trying to do really big things, our alumni are out there making a difference. That’s the impact that the Honors College and Norb have had.”

When Maleka Momand ’16 sees a problem, she works aggressively and consistently to find a solution. Her resilience, kindness and intelligence did not go unnoticed while she was studying at the 51��¥, as many of her professors fondly remember her as a gifted student eager to participate and learn.

“She sat in the front of the class, and she had a presence – assertive and engaged,” said Gizachew Tiruneh, an associate professor of political science. “From the first day I had her in class, I knew she would be somebody. But founding a successful company at such a young age? It happened earlier than I expected. I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Momand is co-founder and chief executive officer of a growing technology company called Esper, which allows policymakers to efficiently manage the workflow of policies. Momand and co-founder Lilli Oetting were listed on the 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 list for social impact.

Momand, who now lives in Austin, Texas, grew up in Fort Smith. She earned her political science degree from UCA and was a Schedler Honors College scholar. She credits her “always encouraging but never too pushy” professors for cultivating her innovative spirit and fostering a culture of independence.

Mary Sullivan is an associate professor of political science and a former professor of Momand. One of her courses focuses on political theory, which explores justice and efficacy of systems.
“I tell my students the difference between political science and a lot of other fields is that politics is created by people, so we have the ability to change it,” Sullivan said.

Momand’s brilliant writing also made her a standout student among her professors. Both Sullivan and Tiruneh said she is among few to earn perfect and nearly-perfect scores on essay-based assignments. When she was not studying, Momand found playing the bassoon was a “necessary creative outlet.” She was a member of the Conway Symphony Orchestra while in school.

“She wasn’t a music major, but she certainly could have been,” said Lorraine Duso Kitts, a UCA music professor. “She was very driven. When she wanted something, she put her mind to it and accomplished it.”

Momand’s political philosophy classes fed her desire to bridge political theory and public administration.

After her graduation in 2016, Momand moved to San Francisco and began working in venture capital. She noticed many of the innovative technology companies in which they were investing faced high barriers to entry because of regulations. She started to take a closer look at regulatory practices and found it was common for entrepreneurs and companies to be blocked by policy hurdles.

To make regulations more efficient, Momand started a nonprofit organization called Argive, which focused on researching and understanding best practices in government regulations and policymaking. Through Argive, Momand soon had 18 months of user research from several federal, state and local organizations.

She discovered agencies produced thousands of policies every year, but there was no coordinated operating system to manage the work. Using data she had collected through Argive, Momand envisioned an opportunity for specialized software that would save time and resources. That is how the concept for Esper was born.

“Philosophy that is not grounded in practicality becomes a bunch of words and ideas on paper,” Momand said. “I was interested in bridging that divide, and I knew technology could help.”

Esper launched in 2018 with the state of Kentucky as its first project. Clients call it a long-overdue, invaluable tool that allows them to collaborate quickly and easily with other policymakers. The technology also produces data, which enables officials to see what is working and what needs to change.

Momand says professors at UCA influenced her management style. The culture at Esper is one of autonomy where each team member has latitude to make decisions. She prefers “bottom-up, individual action” and is quick to credit her team for the company’s success. In four years, Esper has earned recognition, referrals and press coverage from across the country.

When she learned of the Forbes recognition, Momand was grateful and honored, but a few hours later, it was business as usual for the 27-year-old CEO.

“I found out at 8 o’clock that morning, and I was really elated. By 8 p.m., I’d forgotten it happened because so much happened between those times. It is an honor to be recognized, but at the end of the day, I still have to run a company with a lot of challenges to tackle. It was cool validation to be listed among other well-respected founders, but I’m not letting it get to my head. There’s too much to do.”

UCA has dedicated itself to putting excellence into action since the very beginning. The dictionary defines “excellence” as “the quality of being outstanding or extremely good,” and, fittingly, it is one of the four pillars of the UCA Now fundraising campaign.

“We are constantly trying to improve, and that shows at UCA when you look at all of the programs we have across campus,” said Shelby Fiegel, director of the UCA Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) and Community Development Institute (CDI) Central. “Our holistic approach to knowledge, consistent engagement and the understanding across campus that we all buy into the vision – that is what makes us excellent.”

51��¥ is the only university in Arkansas that offers a film degree in which every required major class is a film course, and it is the only university in the state that offers a Master of Fine Arts in film. The UCA digital film program is what stopped Nathaly Moreno ’19 from attending another university for graduate school.

“What stands out for me about life at 51��¥ is the community,” Moreno said. “Everyone is here to help each other and make each other better – students, graduate students and professors. We all want to deliver an experience for each other that nurtures our filmmaking abilities.”

Bruce Hutchinson, UCA film professor and program coordinator, speculates that the program’s dedication to the student experience significantly influences gaining and retaining students. He often brings in professional filmmakers who can network and mentor the students through the program.

If a student remains in Arkansas after graduation, they become part of a filmmaking community.

“Once you graduate, you kind of drift off and hopefully stay in touch, but here in the film department, we stay in touch with most of our alumni because we’re all still making movies together,” said Hutchinson. “A lot of our students continue to work on projects together after graduation. It’s a very special experience.”

The trend of fostering a culture of excellence is not limited to one program or area on campus. 51��¥ is also proud to offer students many different career-focused internships. Yiling “Caroline” Deng, an assistant professor in UCA’s College of Business, detailed the multiple opportunities provided for students in the insurance and risk management program.

“More than 95% of the students in this program land a job before they graduate,” said Deng. “Many of our students get internships while they are juniors, so they begin early and can either return to that position or even get promoted after they graduate.”

UCA offers the state’s only insurance and risk management degree. The program is rigorous and provides students with a variety of career options. Sierra Camp, a Marine Corps veteran and UCA senior, has already had three internships. She says the professors and her involvement with Gamma Iota Sigma, the insurance industry’s collegiate talent pipeline, have propelled her towards success.

“It is something I will hopefully be doing until retirement,” she said. “You can literally apply anything to insurance, and they have so many different job opportunities available. It is an awesome field to get into. With Gamma Iota Sigma, we get to go to conferences and meet and network with insurance professionals from all over the country. It is a great opportunity to have here at UCA.”

UCA houses the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame, which inducts a new class of insurance professionals each year bringing more than 500 visitors to campus.

51��¥ is also set apart by being the only university in Arkansas with a freestanding geography department.

“Freestanding means that even though we are a smaller department on campus, we are the Department of Geography,” said Stephen O’Connell, associate professor and chair of the Department of Geography. “There are other geographers at other universities across the state, and some of those [programs] offer minors only, or they are housed inside a history or sociology program.”

Geography focuses on three broad categories: human geography, physical geography and overarching geographic techniques. Each of the six faculty members in the UCA geography department identifies as a geographer. They teach how each category influences the other. Students learn there are a variety of career paths for their futures. Marisol Filares, a senior geography major, enjoys the flexibility of the field.

“We concentrate a lot on geospatial technology, and one of them is GIS [geographic information system]. Many geographers actually get jobs in emergency management, natural resources or even the environmental fields,” Filares said. “You see a lot of different titles, and geography is a component of all of it.”

Filares’ interest in geography comes from her wanting to help people make informed decisions. GIS programs help determine flood-prone areas, for example. She is interning at the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s environmental division in GIS data management.

“I want to explore the GIS world and learn as much as I can,” Filares said. “Emergency management is something that I’m leaning towards as I grow and learn in my career.”
There are several reasons a student would want to choose UCA, including its nationally-recognized Honors College, educational cyber range and the fact that 51��¥ is an Apple Distinguished School. There is a common trend across campus in that each student is set up for success – not only while earning their degrees, but also after they graduate and become community members. The CCED is standing evidence of that.

“The university is not only intentional about setting students up for success; it also plays a pivotal role in community and economic development,” said Dylan Edgell, assistant director for the CCED and program and project manager. “There’s not really anyone else in the state that does what we do in the center.”

In 2020, CCED partnered with UCA Service-Learning to create several AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) positions to serve in communities across Arkansas including Hot Spring and Lonoke Counties.

Alyssa Frisby ’21, has always been involved in community activities in Lonoke, particularly those involving nutrition and exercise. As a running coach, dietitian and volunteer with the food pantry, Frisby noticed there was a need to connect some residents to available resources in the city. She knew the community development VISTA position would be a perfect way to help.

“It’s been an eye-opening experience so far, but having the support from UCA from the community development and economic development aspect has been amazing because they’ve seen this before,” Frisby said. “They have worked in small communities all over Arkansas. They have great resources and advice. They believe Lonoke can grow and be a better place for all its residents.”

The CCED offers internships, graduate assistantships and fellowships for students. It also houses the Community Development Institute (CDI), a three-year training program enrolling 150 professionals from across Arkansas and the mid-south gather to learn about community and economic development. After completing the program, attendees receive a Professional Community and Economic Developer certificate.

“We are the first CDI site in the United States,” said Fiegel. “It’s a robust look at how a university can use its resources to support communities. We try to create a complete view of the development process through the work we do here. When we are working in our community, we are working with the thought leaders and decision makers. It comes with a lot of weight, and it’s very important work. The impact is huge because we are positively portraying UCA to all of these community leaders.”

The UCA vision centers on student success. The institution prepares students to engage in complex issues and express informed opinions through critical thinking, writing and speech. This foundation inspires all five colleges to work together to ensure faculty, staff and students promote excellence and lifelong learning.

“It’s not only about training students through classroom learning, but it’s also about looking at how we can support local economies all over the state,” said Fiegel. “We are boots on the ground making sure rural and midsized areas of Arkansas have access to the tools they need to improve their communities for a better place to live, work and play; and that, in turn, helps our graduates.”

51��¥ is home to the Interprofessional Teaching Center (ITC) inside the newly built Integrated Health Sciences Building established within the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. The ITC is another example of how UCA uniquely serves the Conway area. It is an innovative and educational health care facility for the community, meant to meet specific health care needs for the general population while also providing students opportunities to gain clinical experience. It is the first of its kind in the region.

51��¥ is also the state’s only university to offer a bachelor’s degree in addiction studies. The program is ranked 10th in the nation on Addiction Counselor’s list of top addiction counseling bachelor’s programs.

In addition to the examples listed above, students, professors and administrators from one end of the campus to the other can talk about different aspects that make UCA exceptional.

“Students are not just attending UCA because it is close to home,” said Hutchinson. “They’re coming to UCA because they are excited about the community that we’ve built. They’re excited about the access they will have to the equipment, opportunities, and facilities that are only found at UCA, and they want to be a part of it.”

Starting her career, Karen Freeman Shaw ’94 simply wanted to work hard, serve others and find a job she would love. She thought she was meant to do her work behind the scenes; instead, she has gone on to significantly impact Arkansas as a successful leader, community activist and mentor to young business leaders.

When Shaw came to the 51��¥ more than 30 years ago, she already knew she wanted to pursue accounting. She had worked part-time during high school for a small tax preparation business and was confident about what she wanted to do with her life.

The College of Business was housed in the Burdick Business Administration Building then, now called Burdick Hall. Shaw remembers sitting in hallways to study with friends there. Active in several student organizations on campus, she was a charter member of Beta Alpha Psi— an honor society for finance, accounting and other students —which continues to engage business students today. Looking back, she says she is proud of the education she received.

“The college was accredited when I was there. It is still accredited today. Few business schools achieve AACSB [Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business] accreditation, which indicates that UCA succeeds in offering one of the best business programs in the state and probably in the nation,” Shaw said. “Dean [Michael] Hargis and the College of Business have done an outstanding job adding in-demand programs of study and additional ways to give students leadership opportunities and hands-on experience.”

In spring 1994, Shaw earned her business administration degree with a focus on accounting from UCA and later achieved the status of Certified Public Accountant (CPA). But Shaw believes she learned more than accounting principles and practices during her four years in the college.

“At UCA, I learned the importance and value of collaboration, teamwork and how to work through difficulties. That provided me with a foundation to be successful in both business and in my personal life.”

Shaw began working at the Little Rock office of Ernst and Young, now one of the largest accounting firms in the world. She enjoyed her work as an accountant and expected a long career in the industry. However, the skills she gained during her eight years at the firm ultimately prepared her for a career change.

When her family moved to Batesville in 2003, she transitioned to the banking industry as vice president and loan review officer at Citizens Bank. Shaw’s hard work was rewarded after 10 years at the bank when she was promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) – the first female to be named to either role in the bank’s 60-year history. She has excelled in the role for nearly a decade.

“I’m proud to have been the first woman promoted to CFO and executive vice president at Citizens Bank and to have been part of the leadership team that grew this bank. When I came to the bank, it had $400 million in assets, and since then, we’ve grown to a $1.2-billion-dollar institution.”

Shaw is not only a successful CFO and working wife and mother, she is a community leader, serving at her church and on the boards of several Arkansas nonprofits over the years. She recently co-founded Professional Organization of Women Empowering Relationships (POWER) in Batesville.

“My passion is developing and empowering others to be leaders. We can do amazing things when we don’t care who gets the credit. The professors in the College of Business really instilled this foundation in me through team collaboration.”

Shaw also influences future business leaders by serving on the Board of Advisors for the college, which she sees as a tribute to those who have mentored her. As an alumna, Shaw knows where the college has been, and as an advisor, she helps to shape its future.

When asked about the keys to a successful career, Shaw answers without hesitation, advising students and young professionals to choose a job they love, work hard, live with integrity, find ways to give back and surround themselves with diverse people who can offer different perspectives.

Shaw was honored in 2021 by Arkansas Business when she was named CFO of the Year for the Arkansas bank industry. She says she was humbled to be recognized and is quick to point out that she shares the award with her talented accounting and finance team at Citizens Bank.

“I love what I do. I love who I work for. I love who I work with. It was an honor to be recognized,” Shaw said. “I’ve been blessed with so many people who invested in me, and giving back opened up a world of opportunities I never expected.”

With all of his savings and a will to succeed, Felix Milton ’14 almost immediately went from the 51��¥’ commencement stage to Los Angeles, California, to begin his career. The public relations graduate had been working for a national company in Little Rock and transferring to California felt, for him, like a great move.

The job transfer took longer than anticipated as he needed to meet certain California regulations that were not required in Arkansas. The process took more than six months.

“I moved out here with $3,200, and $3,200 in L.A. is not a lot of money at all,” Milton said.
When the transfer was complete, he learned that even though he had been an assistant manager in Arkansas, his new role would be part-time and nonmanagerial.

With the pay cut and dwindling savings, Milton began to rely on a side gig he had developed in college: designing clothing.

The Little Rock native would shop at resale clothing stores, buy inexpensive garments and then “upcycle” to sell. He began to do the same thing in Los Angeles, but he used the skills he learned as a public relations major at UCA to market his goods and skill level through social media.

“I was working out of my bedroom. I had my sewing machine, my embroidery machine,” he said. “On Instagram, I was posting all the time, hashtagging, and just trying to get my face out there.”

He used “LA wardrobe stylist,” “LA fashion designer” and other hashtags to get noticed, and it worked.

“After a while, I started gaining traction, and people started reaching out to me ‘Do you do alterations? Do you do custom? Do you do consignment pieces?’ Then people started to invite me to show sets, and I was able to build my rapport and contacts with the people at the shows.”

Fast forward 10 years and Milton is now the fashion designer and owner of ROPES Clothing. The name is an acronym that means “Respect other people’s edgy styles.” Through his business, Milton has worked with celebrities and stylists, on high-profile television and video shoots and partnered with global brands. He has contracts with CoolKicks — a Los Angeles-based casual and streetwear apparel and shoe store — and Shein, an online clothing retailer. At the time he spoke with UCA Magazine, he was working to establish a contract with an international work-wear apparel company.

He recently shared his story with UCA students and the larger community through a speaker series in the Office of Diversity and Community called “Networking with a Pro.” The series connects UCA alumni who are minority or from underrepresented groups back to current students through a panel or Q&A session.

Angela Jackson ’88, ’90, director of ODC, started the program in 2021 and works to host at least two sessions in fall and spring. The sessions feature minority alumni from technology, social media, entrepreneurship, legal, sales and several other career industries.

“Some of our attendees are in awe that former students who look like them have gone on to have extremely successful careers in the fashion industry as designers or consultants, become their own bosses or travel extensively after obtaining a degree from UCA,” Jackson said. “Some students seem to gain a renewed confidence in hearing the stories from alumni who are on a career path that does not match their degree.”

Besides Milton, other series speakers have included Dewan Clayborn ’12, president and CEO of the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce in Texas; Sage Raphael ’12, who works in sales for a Dubai-based health and beauty company; and Candace Stewart ’10, a social media consultant who formerly worked on the social team at Prada in New York and counts celebrities such as Beyoncé as a client.

After Milton’s presentation, the designer sent a box of sample clothes from Shein to UCA. Jackson shared the items with several campus students, who then took photographs of themselves and posted to social media, making sure to tag Milton for his generosity.

Ky’Shaun Bradford was one of those students. The senior from Arlington, Texas, is majoring in addiction studies with a focus on counseling. He plans to graduate in May and has been busy applying to and interviewing with graduate schools, he took time to attend Milton’s session at the suggestion of Jackson.

Bradford was familiar with Milton as they both were initiated to Kappa Alpha Psi through the Iota Gamma chapter on UCA’s campus; however, he was not fully aware of Milton’s accomplishments.

“As a student, we really don’t know where life is going to take us,” Bradford said. “It just shows that anything is possible as long as you put the best work in it, and you keep striving.”