Cooper Justus

The 51��¥ will host Cooper Justus, manager of Post Production Services & Restoration at Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO, for a one-day residency on Thursday, Oct. 1, featuring events focused on post-production, the entertainment industry and careers in Hollywood.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cooper Justus to UCA as part of our Artists in Residence program,” Kuysik Gam, assistant professor of film, Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing, said. “His visit offers our students a rare opportunity to learn directly from a Hollywood post-production professional and gain insight into the workflows behind major film and television projects.”

Justus’ residency will feature a student event exploring the global media landscape, a public event focused on getting hired in Hollywood, and a student discussion about the post-production workflow at HBO and Warner Bros. All events are located on the UCA campus and are open to the public and free of charge, with no tickets required for entry.

The full schedule for Justus’ residency Thursday, Oct. 1, is as follows:

• 12:15 p.m. – Student Event: “The Next Chapter of the Global Media Landscape,” Stanley Russ Hall 109.
• 1:40 p.m. – Public Event: “Getting Hired in Hollywood,” Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce Street, Room 167.
• 5 p.m. – Student Event: “Inside Studio Postproduction Workflow: HBO and Warner Bros.,” Stanley Russ Hall 103.

Justus is the manager of Post Production Services & Restoration at Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO, where he collaborates with a bicoastal team of production and post-production professionals to help deliver some of television’s most celebrated and record-setting series, including “Succession,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Last of Us” and “Euphoria.” In addition to supporting current productions, Justus has played a key role in remastering HBO’s iconic library, contributing to high-profile projects such as “Sex and the City” and the recent 4K HDR Dolby Atmos restoration of “The Sopranos.”

Beyond his work in post-production, Justus is an active participant in the creative community. He has served as a screenplay competition judge for festivals such as Cinequest and continues to develop his own writing. His short script “Shadows” has earned multiple awards and recognition from organizations including ScreenCraft, the Nashville Film Festival and the Creative World Awards.

Justus holds an MFA in Cinema Directing from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Missouri.

More information about the residency is available by contacting assistant Gam at kgam@uca.edu.

The UCA Artists in Residence program is funded by the Fine and Performing Arts Fee paid by all students, with additional support from Engage Management and Pyramid Art, Books, and Custom Framing. More information about the Artists in Residence program is available at uca.edu/go/artistsinresidence or by contacting Dr. Gayle Seymour, associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, at gayles@uca.edu.

Doreen Ketchens

The 51��¥ will host internationally celebrated jazz clarinetist Doreen Ketchens for a four-day residency Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 4, with events showcasing her mastery of Dixieland and traditional jazz and her work as a performer and educator.

“We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to host the ‘Queen of Clarinet’ — Ms. Doreen Ketchens,” Dominic Talanca, associate professor and director of bands, Department of Music, said. “Don’t miss your chance to experience a performance by the UCA Wind Ensemble featuring this American icon who has made her mark in music, television and film.”

Ketchens’ residency will feature a series of student-focused events, including a session with the Studio Jazz Ensemble, a clarinet master class and an open rehearsal with the UCA Wind Ensemble. The residency will also include a public performance and meet-and-greet in downtown Conway, as well as a public concert featuring Ketchens as guest soloist with the UCA Wind Ensemble. All events are located on or near the UCA campus, open to the public and free of charge.

The full schedule for Ketchens’ residency is as follows:

• Thursday, Oct. 1, 12:15 p.m. – Student Event: Session with Studio Jazz Ensemble, Recital Hall, Snow Fine Arts Center.
• Friday, Oct. 2, 11 a.m. – Student Event: Clarinet Master Class, Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
• Friday, Oct. 2, 2:30 p.m. – Student Event: Open Rehearsal with Wind Ensemble, Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
• Friday, Oct. 2, 5:45 p.m. – Public Event: Performance and Meet-and-Greet, “Neighbors, An Art Show,” The Brick Room, 1020 Front St., Conway. This event is presented in collaboration with Engage Management’s annual community art exhibition and Create Conway’s October Art Walk.
• Sunday, Oct. 4, 5 p.m. – Public Event: UCA Wind Ensemble in Concert Featuring Guest Soloist Doreen Ketchens, Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce Street. While this is a free event, reservations are required. Tickets are available at uca.edu/go/doreenketchens.

Born in New Orleans’ historic Tremé neighborhood, Doreen Ketchens is an internationally celebrated jazz clarinetist renowned for her mastery of Dixieland, or traditional jazz, with a vibrant style that emerged in the early 20th century. She has often been called “Lady Louie,” “Miss Satchmo” and “The Female Louis Armstrong,” and Ketchens channels Armstrong’s virtuosity, charisma and exuberant stage presence while forging a musical voice entirely her own.

Her performances combine extraordinary technical skill, emotional depth and infectious energy. Equally at home in gospel, blues, R&B, classical music and jazz, Ketchens brings remarkable versatility to the clarinet. Her work has appeared in HBO’s “Treme,” Comedy Central’s “Drunk History,” Tyler Perry’s “Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, and “CBS News Sunday Morning.” A recent Instagram video of Ketchens performing “You Are My Sunshine” for her grandchildren received more than 18 million views.

More information about the residency is available by contacting Talanca at dtalanca@uca.edu.

The UCA Artists in Residence program is funded by the Fine and Performing Arts Fee paid by all students, with additional support from Engage Management and Pyramid Art, Books, and Custom Framing. More information about the Artists in Residence program is available at uca.edu/go/artistsinresidence or by contacting Dr. Gayle Seymour, associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, at gayles@uca.edu.

from left: Akropolis Reed Quintet members Matt Landry, saxophone; Tim Gocklin, oboe; Ryan Reynolds, bassoon; Kari Landry, clarinet; Andrew Koeppe, bass clarinet. Photo/Jason Walker

The 51��¥ will host the Grammy Award-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet for a two-day residency Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 22 and 23, featuring performances and educational events highlighting classical chamber music and the unique possibilities of the reed quintet.

“We are so excited that the Grammy-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet will perform at UCA,” Dr. Kelly Johnson, associate professor in the Department of Music, said. “Just last year, students were studying Akropolis’s recordings while preparing for performances, and this year they will get to work with them and hear them in person!”

The Akropolis Reed Quintet’s residency will feature a student presentation on entrepreneurship and building a brand in the music world, a Woodwind Studios master class and a public concert Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce St.

All events are located on the UCA campus in Conway and are open to the public and free of charge, with no tickets required for entry.

The full schedule for the Akropolis Reed Quintet’s residency is as follows:

• Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1:40 p.m. – Student Event: Presentation by the Akropolis Reed Quintet, “Entrepreneurship and Building a Brand in the Music World,” Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
• Wednesday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m. – Student Event: Woodwind Studios Master Class with the Akropolis Reed Quintet, Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
• Wednesday, Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m. – Public Event: Akropolis Reed Quintet in Concert, Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

Founded in 2009, the Grammy Award-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet is a sonically daring ensemble that specializes in performing new works with charisma and integrity. The ensemble has been described by BBC Music Magazine as a “sonically daring ensemble” and by the San Francisco Chronicle as “pure gold.” Akropolis has graced the Classical Billboard charts with each of its last three albums and has won seven national chamber music prizes, including the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal.

Having premiered and commissioned more than 200 works by living artists and composers, Akropolis has helped establish and champion the reed quintet as a new voice in classical music. The ensemble has remained together with its original five-member lineup since its founding and is known for its collaborations with young musicians. Akropolis performs more than 120 concerts and educational events worldwide annually at venues and institutions including Tanglewood, Bravo! Vail and Chamber Music Northwest.

More information about the residency is available by contacting Johnson at kjohnson@uca.edu.

The UCA Artists in Residence program is funded by the Fine and Performing Arts Fee paid by all students, with additional support from Engage Management and Pyramid Art, Books, and Custom Framing. More information about the Artists in Residence program is available at or by contacting Dr. Gayle Seymour, associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, at gayles@uca.edu.

Dr. Elrod joined the department in 2014 after teaching political science courses at Harding University in Searcy for nearly three decades. At UCA, Dr. Elrod taught sections of the introductory U.S. government & politics course, along with upper-division courses on the United Nations, international law, and American foreign policy. In addition, Dr. Elrod coordinated the annual Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference for hundreds of high school students from Arkansas and neighboring states each November. In his capacity as a co-faculty advisor for the UCA Model United Nations student organization, Dr. Elrod advised numerous UCA students who participated in collegiate Model UN conferences in Arkansas and Missouri.

Dr. Elrod earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Lipscomb College in Nashville in 1984 and a Ph.D. in political science at Vanderbilt University in 1995. Previously, Dr. Elrod served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation anti-submarine warfare operator from 1976 to 1980. Among his many roles on UCA’s campus, Dr. Elrod proudly served on the university’s veterans affairs committee in 2020-2021 and 2023-2026. Dr. Elrod was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe and served as a member of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB) Commission from 2014 to 2020. He was also an active member of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) for nearly four decades, including serving as president of the association in 2002-2003.

Dr. Elrod was a valued member of our university community, and we share in the grief of his family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who knew and cared for him. His colleagues and students in the department will especially miss his sense of humor and dedication to higher education and public service.

A service for Dr. Elrod will take place at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home in Little Rock, Saturday, Sept. 5, with visitation at noon and the service at 2 p.m.

The 51��¥ (UCA) Film Program has been named to . Noting the impressive films by its students and faculty, top-notch equipment and facilities, its track record of visiting artists, and its affordable and competitive tuition, the magazine has included UCA’s film program with much larger and well-known programs, including those at the American Film Institute (AFI), University of Southern California (USC) and New York University (NYU).

“Being included on MovieMaker’s top 30 list of film Schools in the United States and Canada is a major honor, placing UCA in the same company as well-known film schools like AFI, USC, UCLA, NYU and Columbia,” UCA Film Program Coordinator Bruce Hutchinson said. “Our inclusion as a smaller state school attests to our focus on developing the voice and vision of our students, the dedication of our students to commit an incredible amount of time and effort to becoming practicing filmmakers, and a faculty that cares deeply for the students while maintaining active creative and scholarly careers.

“Additionally, UCA Film has accomplished this with one of the lowest tuition rates of any school on the list.”

UCA’s Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing offers a BA program focused on production, and a three-year MFA program oriented toward writers-directors that emphasizes technical skills and film studies. The 48-credit major consists entirely of film courses, and the university offers the only MFA Film Program in Arkansas. On average, UCA Film has approximately 200 majors, minors and graduate students in the program.

The current issue of MovieMaker () also features Hutchinson discussing . He notes that whatever directions AI may take the film industry, UCA remains committed to developing the unique voice and vision of each of its students.

The magazine describes UCA student films as “strikingly daring and well-made.” UCA student films have played at a wide range of festivals from the Madrid International Film Festival, to top-quality American film festivals like the Austin Film Festival, and a wide range of regional and state festivals, including the Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland. Many faculty members are also practicing filmmakers and have screened at festivals around the world from London, Paris and Berlin, to major American festivals in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles, among others.

The 51��¥ Public Appearances will present “Ann Wilson the Voice of Heart and Tripsitter” Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at Reynolds Performance Hall.

Ann Wilson, known the world over as a founder and the lead singer-songwriter of the barrier-breaking band Heart, is here to stay. Widely praised among the greatest singers in the history of rock, Wilson’s extraordinarily powerful voice has helped form the bedrock of modern music for over five decades, earning record sales of more than 35 million, an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. As one of the first women to front a hard rock band at arena scale, Wilson helped redefine the possibilities for female artists in rock, delivering era-defining hits like “Barracuda,” “Magic Man” and “Crazy on You.”

In addition to her work with Heart, Wilson has built a dynamic solo career that highlights both her range and restless creative spirit. Her solo albums, including “Hope & Glory,” “Fierce Bliss” and “Another Door,” blend rock, folk and orchestral influences while pairing her unmistakable voice with bold reinterpretations and original material. Her newest album, “Consecrated Ground,” is to be released in September of this year. The album was created in collaboration with her band Tripsitter. Tripsitter is composed of guitarist Ryan Wariner, bassist Tony Luciod, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Moak and drummer Sean T. Lane.

She further connects with audiences through her podcast “After Dinner Thinks,” where she reflects on music, culture and the artists who have shaped her journey.

In 2026, Wilson unveils her most intimate project to date: “In My Voice,” a documentary directed by Barbara Hall that traces her extraordinary life through rare archival footage, personal journals and candid storytelling, offering an unprecedented look at the artist behind one of rock’s most enduring voices.

Tickets range from $34.50 to $57.50 for adults and $11.50 for children/students. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Reynolds box office or Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts box office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., online at uca.edu/publicappearances, or by calling UCA Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 or toll free at (866) 810-0012. Student and children’s tickets are only available by contacting the box office.

UCA Public Appearances has continued to grow each year and now offers five unique series: Broadway, POPS, Night Out, An Evening With, and the Windgate Collection. Reynolds Performance Hall has also welcomed over 70,000 pre-K-12th grade students from across the state of Arkansas to experience live performing arts through the Main Stage Education Series. This series educates while entertaining and provides arts accessibility to all students.

As department chair, Schmidt will collaborate with faculty and supervise department activities that support the college’s mission to provide an innovative and relevant curriculum combined with hands-on student experiences in the business community. He will teach courses related to human resources, leadership and organizational behavior. Schmidt will also continue his research in the future of work, virtual leadership, neurodiversity and how leadership differs across contexts.

“Dr. Schmidt brings a vast knowledge of leadership gained during his 20-year career,” Dr. Timothy Bisping, dean of the College of Business, said. “In his books, he skillfully engages his readers to examine management practices through popular culture references.

“I look forward to the creative ways he will help guide our college in the future.”

Before assuming this role of department chair at UCA, Schmidt served as the director of the David and Sharon Turrentine School of Management at the University of Louisiana Monroe. His longest tenure was nearly 12 years of leadership and teaching roles at Purdue University Fort Wayne, the largest university in northeast Indiana.

In addition to teaching and administrative roles, as well as authoring books, Schmidt has offered his expertise as an organizational consultant for the last 10 years and is currently serving as a book series editor for Emerald Publishing, a global academic press focusing on scholarly journals, books and teaching case studies.

“I’ve been very impressed by the quality of teaching and research happening here at UCA for a number of years,” Schmidt said. “When I saw an opportunity to join the amazing team here, I jumped at it.

“I’m pleased to be a part of the team here at UCA that helps prepare our students for success both today and in the workplace of the future.”

Schmidt earned his Doctor of Philosophy and his Master of Arts, both focused on Industrial and Organizational Psychology, from Michigan State University. He also completed his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

“Being selected for this work demonstrates the trust the state has placed in the Arkansas Research Center and reflects the 51��¥’s longstanding commitment to serving Arkansas through high-quality research and evaluation,” Dr. Debbie Dailey, dean of the UCA College of Education, said.

CLASS is Arkansas’s primary tool for assessing the quality of teacher-child interactions in licensed early childhood classrooms. Through this contract, ARC will conduct independent CLASS verification observations in licensed early childhood programs across all 75 Arkansas counties, providing objective, evidence-based verification of classroom quality data to support the state’s early childhood quality improvement efforts.

The project is led by Dr. Sarah Argue, managing director of the Arkansas Research Center, and Amy Pinkston, project director. Together, they will oversee a team of 12 Teachstone-trained Regional CLASS Observers who will conduct verification observations throughout the state.

“This appointment highlights the important role universities play in supporting statewide initiatives through independent research and evaluation,” Dailey said. “We are proud of the ARC team and the meaningful contributions they continue to make to early childhood education in Arkansas.”

The award extends ARC’s 13-year research partnership with ADE-OEC and reflects the department’s confidence in the center’s research expertise, professional integrity and commitment to objective evaluation. ARC’s independence from CLASS coaching and professional development activities is a key requirement of the contract and ensures the credibility of the verification process.

The Arkansas Research Center is one of the research and service units housed within the UCA College of Education. The center partners with state agencies, school districts, and community organizations to conduct research, program evaluation, and technical assistance that informs educational policy and practice across Arkansas.

The 51��¥ (UCA) College of Business has successfully achieved the extension of its business program accreditation by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

Widely considered the gold standard in business education accreditation, the AACSB accredits fewer than 6% of business colleges worldwide, which places the UCA College of Business in an elite category of business colleges.

The College of Business received AACSB accreditation in 1984, and this extension earns continued accreditation for its 21 undergraduate business degrees and Master of Business Administration for another six years.

“The UCA College of Business delivers transformational, educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact our community,” Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the UCA College of Business and professor of economics, said. “AACSB accreditation places us among a premier group of business schools worldwide, reflecting our unwavering commitment to excellence in business education.”

To earn AACSB accreditation requires a rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities and an on-site, peer-reviewed evaluation that focuses on continuous improvement. AACSB’s principles-based standards require excellence in areas relating to teaching, learning, strategic management, innovation, research and service.

“Our College is committed to providing our business students with the highest quality business education through a relevant curriculum to meet today’s workforce demands, hands-on learning experiences and active engagement in the business community,” Bisping said. “As we continue to elevate our programs, we look forward to shaping future leaders and making a lasting impact in the lives of our students, alumni, faculty, staff and the communities we serve for many years to come.”

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 class of distinguished inductees. Seven new Arkansans will be honored at the 2026 Induction Banquet Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Thomas C. Courtway Student Recreation Center on the campus of the 51��¥ (UCA).

The 2026 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame inductees are:

Regina “Reggie” Favors
Cedar Hill, Texas
Retired President and Chief Executive Officer
Pinnacle Business Solutions Inc., a subsidiary of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield

Lynn Harbert, CIOP
Cabot
Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Delta Dental of Arkansas

T. Ark Monroe III, J.D.
Little Rock
Retired Partner,
Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, PLLC, and former Arkansas Insurance Commissioner, 1972-1976

Richard L. Patterson, CLU, ChFC, ARPC, AEP
Little Rock
Financial Advisor
Patterson Financial Group

Victor A. Puleo Jr., Ph.D., CIC, CCI, (1964-2025)
Formerly of Nicholasville, Kentucky
Educator
UCA College of Business, 2003-2017

J.B. Smith
Marianna
Agency Owner – retired
Smith and Company Insurance Inc.

Dennis Young
Texarkana, Arkansas
Agency Owner – retired
Young and Youngblood Insurance.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to identify and honor distinguished insurance industry professionals with strong ties to Arkansas who exemplify innovation, social responsibility, leadership and professional excellence; have made broad, encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society; and have significantly impacted the lives of many Arkansans.

and various levels of recognition in support of the 2026 inductees are available through Sept. 25 and can be found on the Hall of Fame website at .

The UCA College of Business partners with the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame to create and nurture a nationally recognized undergraduate degree program in insurance and risk management. Scholarships are awarded annually through the .

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame seeks to remind the public of the important role the insurance industry plays in securing the well-being of both individuals and businesses, to inspire the next generation of leadership to reach these high levels of accomplishment, and to encourage young Arkansans to consider careers in the insurance industry.

More information about the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame is available at .