University of Central Arkansas

Alumni establish travel fund endowment

Dr. Joe and Laura Allison of Bartlesville, Okla., in partnership with their employer, ConocoPhillips, have established an endowed travel fund through the University of Central Arkansas Foundation for students studying in the UCA Department of Chemistry.  Through a matching gift partnership, the couple has committed to contributing $30,000 to the Joe and Laura Allison Department of Chemistry Travel Fund over the next three years.

According to fund guidelines, chemistry students will be awarded funds annually to attend recognized scientific meetings and present the results of their research. Meetings may be local, regional or national and shall be appropriate to provide professional interaction and networking opportunities to the students.  Joe and Laura, who are 1979 UCA graduates in chemistry, cited travel to scientific meetings as undergraduates as an important part of their professional development.

Nolan Carter wins Teaching Excellence Award

Nolan Carter received the UCA Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for the 2008-2009 academic year. The plaque and a cash award were presented to Nolan at the annual UCA Service Awards Ceremony. Nolan, who joined the UCA faculty in 2003, received his B.S. from UA-Fayetteville and his PhD from Colorado State University. He and his wife, Liz, have two boys, Barrett and Dilan. Previous UCA chemistry faculty who have received this award are Michael Rapp (1990), Paul Krause (1995), Patrick Desrochers (2002), and Lori Isom (2005).

Dr. Robert Mauldin accepts chair position

Dr. Robert Mauldin has accepted the position as chair of the UCA Department of Chemistry effective July 1, 2009. Dr. Mauldin received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. Dr. Mauldin taught at Georgia Southern University for four years before accepting a teaching position at Shawnee State University where he achieved the rank of Professor and also served as the director of their General Education Program from 1997 to 2008. Most recently he has served as Academic Dean at Bethel College in McKenzie, TN. Dr. Mauldin will be replacing Dr. William Taylor who will return to full-time faculty status in the department.

Students present research at national meeting.

Fifteen students presented the results of their research efforts at the ACS National Meeting in Chicago (spring, 2007). The students (faculty sponsors) presenting were Nick Gleason (Rick Tarkka), Leah Thompson (Rick Tarkka), Akhil Mehta (Nolan Carter), Amanda MacMillan (Karen Steelman), Ashley Evans (Rick Tarkka), Emily Malcolm (Melissa Kelley), Tori Green (Nolan Carter), Adam Phelan (Rick Tarkka), Lindsay Read (Kyle Felling), Jake Smith (Nolan Carter), Jacque Dupriest (Karen Steelman), Tamara Binyon (Rick Tarkka), Tori O'Bannon (Lori Isom), Mikaela Stewart (Lori Isom), and Chris Sutton (Patrick Desrochers)

Lori Isom receives Teaching Excellence Award

Biochemist Lori Isom was named the recipient of the UCA Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for the 2005-2006 academic year. The plaque and a cash award were presented to Lori at the annual UCA Service Awards Ceremony. Lori joins the following UCA chemistry faculty who have received faculty excellence awards in the past.

Teaching Excellence Award: Michael Rapp (1990), Paul Krause (1995) and Patrick Desrochers (2002)

Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award: William Taylor (2001) and Patrick Desrochers (2004)

Public Service Award: Michael Rapp (1997) and Jerry Manion (1999)