UCA College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Broadway’s Tony Award®-winning fairy tale adventure is coming to life on the Reynolds Performance Hall stage September 9! Get tickets now! uca.edu/reynolds or 501.450.3265.

CAHSS was excited to host “All In,” a college event celebrating the Artists in Residence series and Reynolds Performance Hall, both of which celebrate 25 years in 2025! Faculty, staff, and students enjoyed food and cake as Dean Tom Williams kicked off the show. Associate Dean Gayle Seymour shared the history of these programs, and Executive Director of Public Appearances, Amanda Rusk Horton detailed some amazing stories from the years. Various other speakers previewed this year’s artists in residence. Check out the this year’s AiR and Reynolds artists at https://uca.edu/cahss/artists-in-residence/ AND https://uca.edu/publicappearances/

The UCA Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies had a great time hosting students for an open house this week. We loved seeing the faculty, staff, and students gather in Irby Hall and create a welcome space with snacks, photos, and discussions. Thanks to Dr. Kim Hoffman, Professor and Director of the Public Administration Program for the photos!

Several CAHSS faculty members were honored at the opening convocation, and today we congratulate Dr. Zach Smith for winning the 2024 Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity award! This award recognizes individuals whose commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence on and/or off campus has made a significant impact on various ethnic groups and diverse populations in a positive way. These individuals have improved conditions at UCA and within the community.

The following was read during the presentation: “Dr. Smith has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to advancing diversity, belonging, inclusion, and equity (DBIE) through his roles as an Associate Professor of History, Director of the Asian Studies program, and Director of the Arkansas National Consortium for Teaching about Asia at the University of Central Arkansas.

As a scholar and teacher, Dr. Smith has enriched the history curriculum with courses focused on underrepresented histories and communities, such as Gender and Sexuality in East Asia, the Global History of Student Protests, and Asian American History in the South. He takes an inclusive pedagogical approach, empowering students to craft their own historical narratives and see their diverse experiences reflected in the classroom. Beyond teaching, Dr. Smith has spearheaded impactful DBIE initiatives, including hosting renowned Korean American drag artist Kim Chi, leading the Arkansas Chinese Heritage Project to preserve Chinese American oral histories, and providing statewide professional development for K-12 teachers on centering Asian history and confronting anti-Asian racism.

Dr. Smith’s tireless advocacy, leadership, and dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment make him a deserving recipient of this year’s DBIE award. His work exemplifies the power of recognizing diversity within the campus community, amplifying marginalized voices, and fostering spaces of belonging where all students and colleagues feel valued. As his nomination states, “diversity simply is” for Dr. Smith – not an agenda, but an inherent truth that guides his efforts to empower diverse learners and dismantle barriers in his roles as an educator and scholar.

Join us Thursday, August 29th from 1:40-2:40 pm in the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts Gallery to view the mysterious worlds of "Peep (Hole) Show." This exhibition, created by UCA Department of Art & Design Foundations courses, contains "imagery, ideas, and soft sounds related to intimacy, privacy, and entertainment..." Viewers are encouraged to touch, interact, and use their phone flashlights to explore the works.

Light refreshments will be served, and the participating artists will be honored at this closing reception event. For questions related to the gallery please contact Department Program Coordinator, Nakeya Palmer.

CAHSS congratulates its own Associate Dean, Dr. Gayle Seymour for receiving the UCA External Funding Impact Award at the recent faculty convocation! From the presentation notes:

“Through her meticulous research, strategic thinking, and compelling storytelling, she has secured crucial funding that extends our collective vision as a university. Grant writing requires a unique combination of creativity and precision. It involves understanding complex issues, identifying the right opportunities, and crafting proposals that not only meet the funders’ criteria but also resonate on a deeper level. This year’s award winner has done all of that and more. Her work has opened doors for new initiatives, expanded our capacity, and ultimately, brought us closer to achieving our goals. But beyond the technical aspects, what truly sets her apart is her passion. It’s clear that she doesn’t just see grant writing as a job, but as a way to make a tangible difference in the world. Her dedication to our cause shines through in every proposal she submits, and the results speak for themselves!”

Congratulations Dr. Seymour!!

We are ready for “All In!” Join us at 4 pm today in the Windgate Center to celebrate 25 years of Public Appearances in Reynolds Performance Hall and 25 years of the Artists in Residence series. There will be multiple feet of charcuterie, cake, drinks, and some wonderful speakers!

CAHSS is so proud of Dr. Lynne Rich, who was presented with the Shumaker-Wright Undergraduate Mentorship Award last week at UCA Faculty Convocation. The University Honors Council created the award in 2022 in recognition of those who support undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity. The award is named in honor of Conrad Shumaker and Terry Wright, who had each mentored more than 20 undergraduate student capstone/thesis projects at the time of their retirements.

One of Dr. Rich’s former students from the UCA Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology shared the following, which was read during the presentation: "Dr. Rich has continuously shown a strong desire to propel her students to new heights throughout their academic careers. With her guidance, I learned how to hone my research skills, how to present research at a conference, and the process of publishing research. Dr. Rich was the one who encouraged me to pursue publication. She provided the necessary feedback to elevate my semester paper into a manuscript. Dr. Rich displays the utmost excellence of what a mentor should be..." Congratulations, Dr. Rich!!

Join CAHSS and go "ALL IN" this Tuesday! It's the 25th anniversary of both Public Appearances and the Artists in Residence program, and we'll celebrate with great company, food and cake! Enjoy brief remarks by Dean Tom Williams, Associate Dean Gayle Seymour, Executive Director Amanda Rusk Horton, Dr. Taine Duncan, Dr. Crystal Harris, Professor Sandy Longhorn, Professor Liz Smith and more. We'll see you in Windgate at 4 pm!

CAHSS was everywhere on the first day(s) of school. Dr. Carey Clark's UCA School of Communication students were ready to go! Faculty Senate President Dr. Brent Shires and SGA President Phoenix Vu gave inspiring convocation remarks, and groups such as the faculty from UCA Interior Design Program were taking the traditional first day photos!

💜 Criminology Alumni (2020) & Staff Sergeant Timothy Johnson, who serves as the new Training Commander for Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, welcomed Dr. Skaggs’ CRIM 2300 Foundations of Criminal Justice students to their first day of class in style! In his time with FCSO, Johnson has served within the patrol and criminal investigation divisions. In his welcome address, he spoke with students about the importance of the foundations class to their long term major endeavors with experiential learning, service-learning, networking, and eventually interviewing for positions in the field. Thanks so much to Dr. Skaggs for creating so many connections and collaborations within the UCA Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology!

We have winners!! Thanks to all of our new followers on social media. We had a random selection of three new Facebook and Instagram followers, and Jora Henson, Boris Weaver (pictured here), and Emily Young were the winners. AND for sharing our CAHSS freshmen meeting post, Cheyenne Barnett is our grand prize winner!

CAHSS is extremely proud to announce that Dr. Ty Hawkins, Director of the UCA School of Language and Literature, has been awarded the 2024 Department Chair/School Director Leadership Award. Dr. Hawkins was selected for this award after a rigorous review of materials, and he was presented with a plaque at the recent summer retreat for chairs and directors, sponsored by UCA Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership.

Dr. Hawkins joined the UCA faculty in the summer of 2019. Notably, his efforts have led to growth in graduate programs, and he has united two former departments into the current School of Language and Literature. Dr. Hawkins’s scholarship and teaching interests cut across several periods in American literature and culture, although he works mainly with texts of the 20th and 21st centuries. More specifically, his research and pedagogy engage how literary form, cultural rhetorics of national identity, violence, gender, and justice intersect. In late 2021, Hawkins published his third book, "Just War Theory and Literary Studies: An Invitation to Dialogue," which he co-authored with Dr. Andrew Kim, an ethicist who directs Marquette University’s Center for the Advancement of the Humanities. The book has occasioned a two-volume special issue of "LIT: Literature Interpretation Theory," in which an interdisciplinary cadre of scholars apply and challenge the methodological strategies Hawkins and Kim developed in their study. Hawkins’s latest monograph project is called, "The New Southern Noir: Surprising Alternatives to Revanchism and Ressentiment." This in-progress manuscript treats contemporary American crime writers who include John Brandon, Donald Ray Po***ck, Clinton Portis, Jesmyn Ward, and Daniel Woodrell, among others. Congratulations to Dr. Hawkins!

🖋️ We are celebrating National Poets Day with a work by Associate Professor of Creative Writing Programs at UCA, Professor Sandy Longhorn. Professor Longhorn has spent the last few months traveling to every Arkansas State Park. She is writing a poem at each one, and her work is already appearing in print. Check out her poem, “Freshwater Pearl Rush, 1897-1903,” written at the Lower White River Museum State Park and published in “The Citron Review: A Journal of Brief Literature.” Thanks and congratulations to Professor Longhorn!

Freshwater Pearl Rush, 1897 – 1903 by Sandy Longhorn — Lower White River Museum State Park Once, they bent and rakedthe mussel beds with handsgone to cracking from exposure. Fat mucket, pistolgrip,purple wartyback, fragilepapers…

What did you do this summer? Assistant Professor Acie Clark from Creative Writing Programs at UCA had the opportunity to teach at the Interlochen Summer Arts Program in Michigan. Professor Clark said "Over six weeks, the Creative Writing House hosted an incredible group of young writers working in Playwriting, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, and Fiction. Our students wrote some unbelievable work! In my free time, I enjoyed hiking, swimming in the lakes, and of course, enjoying the occasional ice cream cone with UCA's own Dr. Nave Graham, who was at Interlochen teaching flute!" Congratulations to Professor Clark, Dr. Graham, and all or our faculty who were busy teaching and creating!

The amazing staff with Performance Hall and Center for Fine and Performing Arts have been working hard to promote their amazing shows and support teachers in Conway and Greenbrier. They also spent part of today on television, appearing on "Arkansas Style." Get those tickets to Shrek, Malevo, Some Enchanted Evening, Indigo Girls, Stomp, and more at https://uca.edu/publicappearances/tickets/

We love seeing the CAYLI experience and all of those from CAHSS who participated!!

We can't wait to see you on campus this fall. While you're here, you'll find many spectacular people waiting to answer your questions and help you succeed. Thanks to our UCA School of Communication, who have greeted many new Bears already this summer!

Get ready to show your work! "Neightbors: An Art Show" by Engage Management is making the call for artists in their upcoming "Black & White" show. Enter by September 11th!

Don't forget to preorder your copy of "We Are Animals: On the Nature and Politics of Motherhood" by Dr. Jennie Case of Creative Writing Programs at UCA.

We Are Animals: On the Nature and Politics of Motherhood a book by Jennifer Case When Jennifer Case became pregnant unexpectedly with her second child, she was overwhelmed at the prospect of caring for another child in a society with high expectations and low support for mothers. She sought to reclaim control over, if not her changing body, then at least her rapidly declining me...

We are proud to share Philip Mayeaux's wonderful interview of UCA Department of Art & Design Professor Donna Pinckley. The interview, which came out today, appears in "Arkansas Art Scene Blog," and takes a look at Pinckley's breathtaking and often poignant work throughout her career. Several pieces of her work are shown in the online galleries.

Interview with artist Donna Pinckley — The Arkansas Art Scene Blog “…when I take the photograph, it’s not only how I am looking at my subject but how they are looking at me. It’s that psychological connection I’m trying to catch.”

From our friends at Oxford American magazine, which is housed at the University of Central Arkansas: Too hot to go outside? No sweat! Explore our Summer 2024 from the comfort of your favorite (air-conditioned) reading nook.
📷 Christina Leo | heychristinak / IG

We're less than two weeks away from Move In Days at UCA! We can't wait to see our CAHSS upperclassmen return and new residents move into their Living Learning Communities (LLCs). At our very own MUSE@Bernard, the atmosphere will once again be full of creative energy as students collaborate, grow, and learn surrounded by peers who share a passion for the examined life and a sense of creative wonder. Below are some MUSE@Bernard FAQs, but if you want to explore more information about Move In Day, UCA Housing, or LLCs, check out their website at https://uca.edu/housing

The world has been immersed in sport lately! So, we thought you might enjoy this wonderfully refreshing glimpse of the "other side" of the Tour de France, written by Dr. Stephanie Vanderslice from Creative Writing Programs at UCA. This short, fun read is from "The How and Why Wonderbook of Buying and Living in France!" and it features a Q&A with Dr. John Vanderslice.

WHY: The Tour de France We're big fans! Even if you don't like sports, read this for the melon and leek cars!

CAHSS and UCA Philosophy and Religion are proud of alumnus, Amy Johnson (BA, '17). Johnson is a Psychotherapist and Counselor at Because You Matter Counseling PLLC, and her new Psychology Today page is linked below. At UCA, Johnson was a philosophy major and religious studies minor. She went on to study Social Policy at Liberty University and received a Master Of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

www.psychologytoday.com

UCAFilm faculty have been quite productive this summer. Assistant Professor Chris Churchill's short film "Smoothie" has been named an Official Selection for the Arkansas Cinema Society's Filmland Festival in August. The film also garnered "Best Overall Short" at the Panther City Film Festival in Fort Worth, TX recently. Meanwhile, Assistant Professor Emily Railsback's "American Parent" continueds an impressive circuit run. This feature film will be screening in August at Event Cinemas George Street in Sydney, Australia and On Demand Australia in September.

Dr. Gail Robertson, Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, has spent the summer on tour around the globe. She began the summer recording with Dr. Stacy Baker (tuba) in Kentucky. The two make up SymbiosisDuo, whose recording project was funded in part by a University Research Council grant. She then performed with the Brass Band of Battle Creek in Michigan, one of the highest caliber performing British brass bands in the world. She is pictured here with UCA student, Joshua Fuentes, who was selected to perform alongside her in a vacated spot. Dr. Robertson then had several appearances teaching and performing at the Mid West Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. In July, she performed with the Blossom Festival Band, an outdoor concert associated with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. Following this, Dr. Robertson taught at the Rafael Méndez Brass Institute in Denver for a week. Afterwards, it was back to Michigan for the Brass Band of Battle Creek’s Middle School Youth Brass Band and then directly off to the Brass Chamber Music Workshop in Arcata, California. Next week, she will be headed to Mito City, Japan for the International Women's Brass Conference with UCA colleague and accompanist, Dr. Kazuo Murakami.