Voices Magazine: Winter 2015

THE MAGAZINE OF ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY’S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

voice s

WINTER 2015, VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1 ~ $6.00

A-State students on Bid Day 2014. Greek life is just one of the many ways students can be involved at Arkansas State University.

Video of the next generation of new members.

in this issue: FEATURES:

10 ALUMNI CALLING 12 A NEW ERA 14 APPLE AFFILIATION BEARS FRUIT FOR A-STATE 17 BLACK OAK COUPLES’ GIFT TAKES ROOTS 18 HOWL FINISHES 6TH AT NATIONAL CHAMPTIONSHIP 19 STUDENTS SERVE AS CHANCELLOR’S AMBASSADORS 20 DISTINGUISHED FACULTY RECOGNIZED PROFILES:

04 STUDENT PROFILE 06 CAMPUS PROFILE 08 ALUMNI PROFILE Haley Stotts Paul Mixon Allen Muse

DEPARTMENTS:

02 MY VOICE

Tammy Fowler Director of Recruitment

24 THE LAST WORD

Beth Smith, Executive Director ASU Alumni Association Watch the latest creative antics involving Howl here.

voices | 01

voices

my voice:

TAMMY FOWLER ’86 M ’91 Ed.D. ‘13 tlfowler@AState.edu

The Magazine of Arkansas State University’s Alumni Association

EXECUTIVE EDITOR - BETH SMITH

I have the best job on the campus at A-State! Each

EDITOR - DIANA MONROE

and every day I have the opportunity to help recruit

DESIGN - MARY R. WILLIAMS PRINTING - A-STATE PRINTING SERVICES

future Red Wolves to our great family. Our recruitment team is energetic, committed and hard working; they

ASU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

burn up the road and Internet to contact prospective students and their families.

PRESIDENT - RICH CARVELL JR. '91 VICE PRESIDENT - CHARISSE QUARLES CHILDERS '88

Students and their parents have become astute consumers when it comes to higher education.

There are many options for continuing education and/or work beyond high school. Economic

SECRETARY-TREASURER - MARGO AUFDERHEIDE KAGEBEIN ‘76 PAST PRESIDENT - CHARLOTTE LUTES RAZER ‘86

conditions weigh on students and their families. The competition for students is tough. Therefore, in our contacts we focus on the value of higher education to meet the students’ long-term career

BOARD MEMBERS

JOHN BAINE '97

JOY BAXTER MURPHY '92

goals and how A-State can more specifically help them succeed in their chosen career field. We

RUSTY CHAMBERS '89

PAUL ROWTON ‘98

have to know our academic programs well and how they will meet the specific career path for

JANET EVANS ‘80

BOB SCHOENBORN ‘67

LYNN SITZ HOWERTON '90

STEVEN SIGSBY '72

each student.

JAJUAN JOHNSON ‘02

MARK WEBB '89

BOB MCCUISTON '65

NONIE SHEFFIELD WIGGINS '83

Not only has our message changed, but the way in which we communicate has moved from

RICK MILES '78

MIKE WILLIAMS '92

primarily direct mail and high school visits to digital media. Students are consumers 24/7; they

BRANDON MORRIS ‘08

PEGGY ROBINSON WRIGHT ‘96

have grown up in a digital age of instant information. They want to be more in control of the

DALE MORRIS '70

J. NIEL CROWSON ‘75 - EX OFFICIO

information they consume and the contacts made with them.

DR. TIM HUDSON - CHANCELLOR

To provide the information/data students need, when they want it, we keep our website updated

DR. JASON PENRY - VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

and easy to access. We have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds students can like and follow at their own choosing. Direct mailings are still valuable, but they are more personalized to the

OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

individual student and often in response to a specific request. And yes, we do still travel to high schools, but we try to make sure we are able to meet with individual students while there,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - BETH ASHCRAFT SMITH ’82 DIRECTOR, ALUMNI RELATIONS - LINDSAY HARMON BURNETT ’05

connecting with them on a personal level.

DIRECTOR, ANNUAL FUND - ELAINE MAYO POYNTER ’01 DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP - MARSHA MAYS CARWELL ’05

We are very fortunate at A-State to have faculty, staff, students and alumni who understand the

DIRECTOR, AFFINITY RELATIONS - AMANDA MILLER MCDANIEL ‘93

value of A-State and the recruitment process. Each year we have tremendous help from alumni

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - CARISSA KIRK GRIFFIN

in making phone calls, hosting recruitment events and sending hand written notes. These are valuable tools in communicating the special community we have called Red Wolves. We would not be successful without this partnership. It takes a pack to raise a Red Wolf, and we have the best pack around.

Thank you for all your help and keep those “Wolves Up!”

Voices is published three times a year by the Arkansas State University Alumni Association. Subscriptions are available through membership in the A-State Alumni Association. Single issues are available for $6 each. Editorial offices are located in the Cooper Alumni Center, 2600 Alumni Boulevard, Jonesboro, Arkansas. Our telephone number is (870) 972-2586 and our fax number is (870) 972-2039.

MAIL CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: VOICES ASU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 1990 STATE UNIVERSITY, AR 72467

Tammy Fowler, Ed.D WEBSITE: AStateAlumni.org

Director of Recruitment winter 2015 | 02

EMAIL: Alumni@AState.edu

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studentPROFILE HALEY STOTTS

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W

hen deciding which university to attend, freshman

A License2HOWL scholarship recipient, Stotts stays busy. She

Haley Stotts of Little Rock wasn’t necessarily a pushover

participates in intramurals, is a part of the Honors College, is a

on choosing Arkansas State.

freshman SGA Senator and a member of Alpha Gamma Delta.

She also works part-time in Student Affairs’ Office of Recruitment.

Sure, her dad, Jeff ’87, and her mom, Karen ’93 M ’14, as well as several cousins were A-State alumni. She’d been coming to A-

“I spend most of my time on campus,” she said. “Everything I

State football games all her life. Beginning in her junior year of

need is right here. A-State is more of a family than I expected,

high school, the Little Rock Christian grad looked at other

having come to a public university from a private high school.

campuses in the state. And like the Goldilocks story, some were

I’ve made good connections with my professors and by living on

too big, and some were too small.

campus, I can always find a homework partner.

But after seeing the Jonesboro campus, like the fabled girl, she knew A-State was just right.

“I fell in love with the campus that day,” she said. “I never really looked at it before; I’d mainly been to the stadium with my family. The student union was great; the professors were super-nice; and I met my roommate on the day I took my tour. I

“I am one of six students from my

“THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL

CAMPUS AND IT’S EASY TO GET INVOLVED; YOU JUST HAVE TO

PUT YOURSELF

OUT THERE.”

knew A-State was the perfect size for me.”

graduating class of about 140 people; we like to say A-State is our hidden secret.”

The creative media production major, who is carrying a marketing minor, said her dream job would be to work on company branding or advertising, especially through multi-media facets.

So with two sisters still at home, does she believe A-State is in also in their futures?

Stotts said she most appreciated the freedom she had to make the decision herself; her family didn’t pressure her to select their

“Absolutely. I talk to them about it when I go home. I love my

alma mater.

life at A-State. I am developing as a person, learning to make my own decisions. I appreciate my parents. This is a beautiful

“My entire senior year of high school I was ready to come to Arkansas

campus and it’s easy to get involved; you just have to put yourself

State,” she continued. “I was so excited to get here and get involved.

out there.”

profile extra: Hear more from Haley about her choice to attend A-State.

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PROFILE PAUL MIXON

Hear one student’s thoughts on Dr. Mixon. winter 2015 | 06

O

ne might believe having the largest enrollment last fall in the

“I love to teach,” he said. “I enjoy helping others learn and explaining

history of the Arkansas State University College of Engineering,

technical concepts.”

followed by the college’s highest number of spring graduates and the most charitable gifts ever received might make a recruiter take it easy

Mixon said the diverse group of the college’s faculty has helped the

and pat himself on the back.

program to thrive. The faculty is conducting more research than ever before, and students are often involved in that research.

Not so for Dr. Paul Mixon, interim dean for the College of Engineering. Since taking over his current post in July 2014, he said he

The faculty also takes full advantage of every opportunity and

has been “focused on enrollment since day one.”

completes each recruiting activity with full enthusiasm to draw students to A-State.

“We proactively go to selected local high

“Our college has such an advantage over other schools of engineering across the region,” he noted. “Our student-to-faculty ratio is much lower. Where our programs average about 20 students per faculty member, other regional engineering programs may have up to 100 students per professor. That helps us keep our teaching at a high level.”

“OUR

COLLEGE HAS SUCH AN

ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER SCHOOLS OF ENGINEERING ACROSS THE REGION.”

schools to let them know what a great program we have at Arkansas State,” he said.

“We also have a couple of ‘drop-in’ days where students come in and tour our facilities. When I see a student with that spark and ability, it is so gratifying.”

Mixon said he also writes individual letters to That fact bears out, in that nearly 100 percent of the A-State

students who show an interest in the program at A-State, tailored to

engineering seniors who take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)

what he observed about the student’s interests. Some might believe that

exam, pass the exam and go on to train further in their chosen field of

attention to detail may be too time consuming, but not him.

electrical, mechanical, civil or general engineering.

“It’s hard to calculate the value of one student at a time,” he said. “But The Marianna, Ark., native came to Arkansas State in 1996, after

the potential impact that one student may have could make a world of

working with the Arkansas Public Service Commission evaluating

difference. That’s what’s so exciting.”

electrical complaints from customers. An electrical engineer, he is known as an expert in power systems and the power industry, but his enthusiasm for the classroom is evident.

profile extra: To get a sense of Dr. Mixon’s passion for College of Engineering students, take a look at this video clip.

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alumniPROFILE ALLEN MUSE ‘13

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Photo by Wally Porter

R

ed Wolves Rising: for Allen Muse ’13, it’s the trajectory

2014 GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Ala., over Ball State

of his life over the past few years.

University. With about 30 seconds left on the play clock, quarterback Fredi Knighten launched a 13-yard pass to Muse

As a high school student in South Louisiana, Muse was

to put the Red Wolves over the top.

certain of two things about his future. He wanted to be an engineer and he wanted to play football. Arkansas State

“Once I caught (the ball), it got loud, and I could hear

University gave him the chance to do both.

everything in the stadium,” he remembered. “It was a perfect ending to my playing career; that was the most fun I’d had playing football.

“I was recruited by a central Arkansas

“I WILL ALWAYS

It was really fun.”

but it wasn’t the right fit,” he said. “I had

BE GRATEFUL FOR MY

never been to Arkansas before. When then-

UNIVERSITY

Although he could have tried to pursue

school in my junior year of high school,

Coach (Steve) Roberts came and visited

AND SUPPORT IT

a football career, Muse chose instead to

with me, he treated me like family, and

AS MUCH AS I CAN.”

focus on his love of building. He now

was very nice to my family. I didn’t have to

works at a South Louisiana engineering

look any further; I cancelled all my other

company, where he works with other

campus visits. I was going to Arkansas State.”

A-State alumni, and is finishing work on a master’s degree in engineering. He someday hopes to own his own engineering firm.

Muse came to A-State on a football scholarship, which he believes contributed to his success. His high school

“Arkansas State gave me an education. They supported me

engineering classes fueled his enthusiasm for critical thinking,

through challenges, like the death of my father, I faced during

science and building things, so becoming a technology major

my college years. I didn’t know anyone when I went up there,

was a natural fit. He is quick to credit his professor, Dr. Rajesh

but everyone made sure I was taken care of and they treated

Sharma, assistant professor of renewable energy technology,

me like I was their own family. I hope to make my family

with fostering that love of problem solving.

proud and honor my father. I will always be grateful for my university and support it as much as I can.”

On the football field, Muse will probably be most remembered for having caught the winning touchdown of the

profile extra: Relive the exciting moments of the 2014 GoDaddy Bowl in which Allen Muse caught the winning touchdown.

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L As times change, the way A-State recruits changes, too.

Our alumni play a significant role in influencing potential A-State students.

ast year members of the Alumni Association wrote notes in an effort to attract prospective students, but for 2015-16 recruits, a handful of alumni were asked to step up the engagement with high school seniors through phone calls.

Alumni Association Executive Director Beth Smith reached out to a handful of key members to take on the challenge of contacting next year’s potential freshmen.

“Our alumni are interested in seeing Arkansas State continue to grow and one of the best ways to ensure this is the continued recruitment of highly qualified students,” she noted. “When the Office of Recruitment contacted us about participating in this effort, the Alumni Association board was fully supportive. We expect to expand the program and invite other alumni to personally contact promising students to visit A-State.”

“I believe it is important for Arkansas State University to continue to recruit the highest-performing students in our state, and this recruitment program was a way to help A-State do that,” Rich Carvell, Jr. ‘91 said.

As president of the A-State Alumni Association, Carvell knows the connections a student makes in college are an important part of their future success.

“The breadth and depth of the A-State family never ceases to amaze me,” he said. “I think it is important to

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let any prospective student know there are countless alumni who support and care for those in the Arkansas State University family, and those students have a great opportunity to be a part of that family.”

Other alumni who took part in the program said making that connection with future Red Wolves will make a difference.

“I am always eager to share the difference I believe attending ASU made in my life,” Paul Rowton ‘98 said.

“I meet people every day who I am able to start a conversation with because of our tie to A-State.”

“The students get the opportunity to learn about the possibilities of what they can achieve by earning a college degree and as students,” Jajuan Johnson ’02 said. “It is also a means of giving back to the institution that provided us with some of the necessary tools for service and success.”

For Johnson, it wasn’t all business on the phone.

“I consider it an honor to serve as an advocate and ambassador for Arkansas State, but it was absolutely fun

to participate in the recruiting process,” he said. “The future Red Wolves were excited about their educational pursuits and attending A-State––that energy simply radiated through the phone.”

Alumni board members were assigned students in their region of the state.

The phone calls led to some interesting discussions.

Carvell remembered one night when the student he was trying to reach was sick and unable to come to the phone.

“At first, I was disappointed I would not have a chance to speak to him,” Carvell remembered.

“But his mother and I spoke for about 20 minutes while she told me how wonderful they thought Arkansas State was and how much she appreciated me calling.”

Parents became very interested in the calls, often helping the recruiters with additional information.

The students selected for calls were high school seniors who had received scholarship offers from Arkansas State.

The goal for the alumni caller was to encourage them to visit the campus and to accept their offers.

“After getting that initial interest and financial benefit, the thing that will probably influence these students the most is to make a visit to campus and experience firsthand how great Arkansas State can be for them,” Carvell said. “I encouraged all of them to visit Jonesboro, even if they have been on campus before.”

“All of the students were very nice and appreciative, but I had several who were really excited someone took the time to actually call them,” Rowton added. “I am confident if they visit campus this spring, they will be excited about attending A-State.”

All the alumni had the same answer about next year.

“I definitely encourage other alumni to participate in recruiting our future leaders,” Johnson said. “Needless to say, I plan to continue being an ambassador to future Red Wolves and encouraging student success.”

“The parents always expressed gratitude for us contacting their children,” Johnson said. “One parent in particular said, "He is not home at the moment but here is his cell phone number–call him now!"

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“The parents always expressed gratitude for us contacting their children,” Johnson said. “One parent in particular said, "He is not home at the moment but here is his cell phone number– call him now!"

–– Jajuan Johnson ‘02 volunteer caller

Drive down Red Wolf Boulevard and you can see the construction work at Centennial Bank Stadium.

I

and renovation project to the stadium’s media center and west-side concourse will be completed.

Not only will A-State play its much-anticipated home opener against defending SEC East champion Missouri on this date, fans will get their first look at the expanded Centennial Bank Stadium.

“The West Side Centennial Expansion will really bring an added element to Red Wolves Football games,” said Executive Director of the Red Wolves Foundation Adam Haukap. “The premium seating areas will allow our fans to watch football games in a new way, but also allow us to connect with our fans and donors in new ways, too.”

f that date isn’t already circled, highlighted or otherwise denoted on the calendar of every Arkansas State fan, it should be.

There will be some aspects that will look familiar, like the Sun Belt Conference’s largest high-definition video board, which was installed prior to the start of the 2014 season. However, the face and main entrance of the stadium will have undergone a comprehensive transformation.

It’ll be a whole new ballgame.

Thanks to a $5 million gift – the largest charitable investment in A-State Athletics history – by the Johnny Allison ’69 family, the Centennial Expansion construction

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The entire project, including the new west-side building, will cover 40,000 square feet. The Centennial Expansion project will include a complete overhaul of the previous 7,120-square-foot press box, expanding it into a 36,000square-foot media center.

The face of the stadium will be redesigned to include 42 loge boxes, 20 suites, a club area covering close to 8,000 square

feet and 344 club seats in its revenue-generating areas. The response by the community has been positive to say the least, considering that all loge boxes and suites are already sold and more than 60 percent of the club seats have been purchased.

“We’ve had an overwhelming response to the new seating,” Haukap said. “Our fans are excited for the 2015 season and the updates we have made.”

Not only will depth be added to the media center; it will span from Red Zone to Red Zone of the field, allowing for enhanced media, coaching, broadcasting, control booth, visiting athletics director suite and camera areas.

The unveiling of Arkansas State’s new “Centennial Expansion” will happen only once, and the atmosphere is sure to be electric.

“What better way to start the next 100 years of Red Wolves football than seeing the expanded Centennial Bank Stadium, said Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir.

Information regarding club seating at Centennial Bank Stadium may be acquired by contacting the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401. Tickets for the 2015 A-State football season may be purchased online at Tickets.AState.edu or by contacting the A-State Ticket Office at 870.972.2781.

The project also calls for major improvements and additions to the concourse restrooms, concessions, gating and ticketing areas that will enhance the game-day experience for all A-State fans.

“What better way to start the next 100 years of Red Wolves football than seeing the expanded Centennial Bank Stadium.”

–– Terry Mohajir Director of Athletics Get a bird’s-eye view of the latest Centennial Bank Stadium construction here.

voices | 13

Apple AffiliAtiOn The company that inspires us to ‘think different’ recognizes A-State’s innovation.

Ceremony highlights

T

he First Year Experience program (FYE) at Arkansas State University has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program for 2014-2016 for its integration of iPad and digital learning into the curriculum.

For the past two years, all incoming freshman at Arkansas State have participated in a FYE course entitled “Making Connections,” establishing the course as a requirement in all undergraduate programs. All course materials– from textbooks and additional readings to classroom assignments and interaction–are created with digital tools optimized for the iPad.

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“The selection of A-State’s First Year Experience as an Apple Distinguished Program highlights our success in developing an innovative and compelling learning environment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic accomplishment,” Chancellor Tim Hudson said. “We know this generation of students benefits from a digital environment that leads to improved educational performance.”

The Apple Distinguished Program designation is reserved for programs that meet criteria for innovation, leadership, and educational excellence, and demonstrate a clear vision of exemplary learning environments.

beArs fruit fOr “Our faculty are developing multimedia content that will be available for students to access anytime and anywhere they want,” Provost Lynita Cooksey added. “We’re confident this will enhance the traditional classroom experience.”

The Making Connections course is a required subject for all incoming freshmen. It focuses on transitioning students into college-level learners by introducing critical academic skills and campus resources. Faculty and students explored study skills, personal organization and research using iPad apps as well as accessing course text and other books using digital text.

“We have seen students and faculty embrace this technology with enthusiasm,” Dr. Gina Hogue, associate vice chancellor for academic services said. “A digital curriculum is providing our students with an alternative to traditional textbooks, in which iBooks can be loaded onto the iPad at a lower cost than purchasing the h-ardback textbook.

Students were able to access course text on their iPads for several classes, including the ‘Making Connections’ class.”

Arkansas State’s Office of Academic Affairs is working with other campus programs to share the successful implementation of technology into classrooms and coursework.

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“We know this generation of students benefits from a digital environment that leads to improved educational performance” –– Chancellor Tim Hudson

Learn more about the history of the iPad Initiative at A-State here.

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A

bequest to Arkansas State University has resulted in a $1.9 million gift that will help college-bound students for years to come.

research on bird populations, wildlife recolonization, and sediment and nutrient studies during the last 10 years.

A-State alumni Russell and Melda Strickland ‘52 of Black Oak, Ark., bequeathed 233 acres of their farm to the Arkansas State University Real Estate Foundation to support scholarship opportunities for students from the Buffalo Island Central School District in Monette, Ark.

“Russell established the tree farm on land he purchased in 1996,” Brown explained. “He intended for it to be a nature preserve dedicated to his father, who was an early settler of that part of Craighead County. Russell and Melda loved birds, trees and animals. It was not uncommon to see them driving through the eastern part of Craighead County and western Mississippi County in the early morning hours looking for different bird species.”

Mr. Strickland died in 2012; Mrs. Strickland died just over a year ago.

The auction drew 27 registered bidders from Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Missouri, according to Joel King, principal broker for United Country– Dynasty Auction and Realty.

“The high number of bidders shows the scarcity of land like this in the Black Oak area,” King noted. “According to the appraisers and financial institutions, the final bid price set a record for row-crop land in Northeast Arkansas.”

“Russell and Melda were kind folks, always caring for others and seeing beyond themselves,” said Mike Brown, executor of the Strickland’s estate. “This $1.9 million endowment will provide an education to a countless number of students. What a great legacy to leave.”

Brown said the Stricklands also permanently gifted their tree farm to the university, which the Environmental Sciences graduate program has used for

In 2004, when A-State first started research at the tree farm, Russell said he and Melda were happy the property was going to be used in environmental studies.

“I think it is wonderful schools are beginning to get more involved with the environment,” he said.

Russell attended Arkansas State College until World War II intervened; Melda taught school after earning her education degree. The Stricklands were a visible presence at A-State men’s and women’s athletic events, and were supporters of KASU radio and the ASU Museum.

“The Stricklands showed remarkable vision in what would become of their estate once they were gone,” said Erika Krennerich Chudy, director of planned giving. “Their gift will ensure their memory has an infinite presence on the A-State campus.”

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H

owl, Arkansas State University’s official mascot, turned in a sixth-place finish among

the nation’s top 10 mascots at the 2015 Universal Cheerleaders Association Collegiate National Championship in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 16-18.

Howl is in good company after finishing behind winner Brutus Buckeye of Ohio State, Aubie of Auburn, Goldy Gopher of Minnesota, Herky the Hawk of Iowa and Wisconsin’s Bucky Badger.

Arkansas State finished ahead of Southeastern Conference member Tennessee’s Smokey in seventh.

Rounding out the top 10 behind Howl were Butch T. Cougar of Washington State at eighth, Boomer of Oklahoma at ninth and Mike the Tiger of LSU at 10th.

"I am extremely proud of all the hard work from our mascots this year,” said A-State Spirit Squads Coordinator Paige Pauley. “Howl placed the best he's ever placed at nationals since moving to the 1A Division. Our mascots represent Arkansas State University in such a positive way. Everyone at nationals knows exactly who Howl is and where he's from.”

Howl was selected to participate in the championship at Walt Disney World after ranking eighth in the UCA’s top-25 mascot video competition in November 2014. The Red Wolves’ mascot advanced to the national competition after finishing in a tie with Wisconsin’s Bucky Badger.

Highlight videos showing a mascot’s range of participation in game day, community service, athletic department special events and skits were judged to set the top 10 for the competition in Orlando.

To even be considered for competition, Howl had to show why he should be in the finals.

Watch his submitted video here.

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22 Students Serve as Chancellor's Ambassadors for 2014-15

T

Alyssa Caparas of Jonesboro, a sophomore pre-professional studies major in the College of Sciences and Mathematics; Kaylie Doggett of White Hall, a sophomore nursing major in the College of Nursing and Health Professions; Gaby Flores of Jonesboro, a sophomore psychology major in the College of Education and Behavioral Science; Amanda Hatfield of Kansas City, Mo., a junior nursing major in the College of Nursing and Health Professions; Taylor Machen of Little Rock, a senior biology/pre-medicine major in the College of Sciences and Mathematics; Brooke Macklin of Cabot, a junior communication disorders major in the College of Nursing and Health Professions; Jordan Moore of Sheridan, a sophomore nursing major in the College of Nursing and Health Professions; Ellen Morris of Russellville, a junior accounting major in the College of Business; Teah Morris of Ashdown, a junior early childhood education major in the College of Education and Behavioral Science; Kyle Outlaw of Monticello, a senior accounting major in the College of Business; Taylor Pannell of Cabot, a senior broadcast journalism major in the College of Media and Communication; Austin Sandy of Jonesboro, a junior digital design major in the College of Media and Communication; Blake Snow of Walnut Ridge, a senior pre-professional studies major in the College of Sciences and Mathematics; Taylor Tanner of Jonesboro, a senior international business and marketing major in the College of Business; Dalia Tejada of Jonesboro, a graduate student in the College of Education and Behavioral Science; Cameron Waterworth of Jonesboro, a junior communication studies major in the College of Media and Communication; and Jonathan Williams of Camden, a junior communication disorders major in the College of Nursing and Health Professions.

wenty-two outstanding students are Chancellor's Ambassadors this year at Arkansas State University, serving as campus hosts to academic, business, political and social leaders who participate in university functions and assisting with student recruitment.

The ambassadors are appointed by Chancellor Tim Hudson upon recommendation of the Chancellor’s Ambassadors Selection Committee, and represent a cross-section of the student body. Qualifications to be considered are a 3.0 grade point average, full-time course load, and freedom from disciplinary action.

“Providing opportunities to interact with current academic and business leaders enhances the leadership skills and worldview of some our most promising students,” Chancellor Tim Hudson said. “The ambassadors represent the best and brightest at Arkansas State, and I am excited to have them representing my office at our events.”

The Chancellor’s Ambassadors program also advances the co-curricular development of outstanding university students by increasing their interaction with the university's special guests and future students, and further developing their interpersonal and social skills, according to Dr. Tammy Fowler, director of recruitment. Brooke Estes in the Office of Recruitment is the program coordinator.

Once chosen, a student may remain an ambassador throughout his or her academic career as long as grade point and participation requirements are met.

The ambassadors are: Ammar Ahmad of Jonesboro, a senior biology/pre-medicine major in the College of Sciences and Mathematics; Austin Araco of Hot Springs, a junior marketing major in the College of Business; Morgan Atkins of Fayetteville, a sophomore social work major in the College of Nursing and Health Professions; Ivory Beasley of Pocahontas, a senior English major in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Madison Caldwell of Benton, a junior communication disorders major in the College of Nursing and Health Professions;

More information about the Chancellor’s Ambassador program is available at AState.edu/Ambassadors.

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distinguisHed

Faculty recognized

Roger W. Abernathy

Nancy Bacot

Larry D. Ball

George Berger

Rick C. Clift

J. Scott Darwin

John M. Enger

Joel T. Gambill

Van Rick McDaniel

Clyde A. Milner II

Lawrence A. Mink

Louella Moore

31 chosen for Wall of Honor The Arkansas State University Faculty Association recognized 31 individuals selected for inclusion on the Distinguished Faculty Wall of Honor during the association's annual holiday event on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

"One of the goals of the Centennial was to establish traditions on campus.

The creation of the Arkansas State University Faculty Association Historical Committee has allowed us a mechanism and a process for continuing a tradition of honoring past faculty who have made lasting and significant academic contributions to the university," explained Dr. John D. Hall, professor of psychology and counseling, and chair of the Historical

Recognition of distinguished faculty began during the university's Centennial

Committee, which was charged with overseeing the process.

"When reviewing the nominations for the distinguished faculty and their accolades, a few common themes emerged,� according to Julie J. Isaacson,

Celebration in 2009-10 when the Faculty Association selected the "First 100 Distinguished Faculty." Every five

associate professor of nursing and Faculty Association president. “They all are experts in their disciplines and they all served and represented the university well. Most importantly, these faculty were student focused. They engaged their students and challenged them academically; they made a difference in their lives."

years the association selects a number of retired faculty, through a well-defined faculty committee nomination process, who have made long-term significant contributions to Arkansas State.

During the ceremony, Mike Doyle, general manager of KASU radio, read the name of each honoree, and Isaacson and Hall presented a certificate to each faculty member or a family or faculty representative.

The 2014 selections, whose names are being added to the Distinguished Faculty Wall of Honor outside Centennial Hall in the Carl R. Reng Student Union, include 31 former faculty members representing all colleges on campus. Those newly designated distinguished faculty are:

Watch ceremony highlights here. winter fall 2014 2015| |2220

These photos are this year’s inductees into the faculty Wall of Honor. During the winter holidays, A-State ran a story on each of them; you can access them on the A-State Facebook page. Let us know your memories of these campus educators by leaving a comment on their Facebook entry.

Thomas D. Bishop

Roger A. Buchanon

Roger G. Carlisle

Charles R. Carr

Thomas H. Chaffee

William G. Chance

Williams M. Clements

Charles W. Hartwig

Jasper A. Hayles, Jr.

D. Lynn Howerton

Richard E. Jorgensen

Donald P. Kedzie

Albin J. Langlois

Julia Lansford

Thomas J. Parsons

Amos B. Rougeau

Elizabeth N. Stokes

Edgar L. Whitsitt

Don Wright

Roger W. Abernathy, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, 1985-2006

Charles W. Hartwig, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, 1973-2011 Jasper A. Hayles, Jr., Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural Education, 1967-1988

Nancy Bacot, Ed.S., Instructor in Teacher Education, 1972-2013

D. Lynn Howerton, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, 1974-2014

Larry D. Ball, Ph.D., Professor of History, 1970-2001

Richard E. Jorgensen, M.M., Professor of Music, 1975-2009

George Berger, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Agronomy and

Donald P. Kedzie, Ph.D., Professor of Engineering, 1984-1996

Plant Breeding, 1971-1982

Albin J. Langlois, Ph.D., Professor of Plant Science, 1964-1997

Thomas D. Bishop, Ed.D., Professor of Mathematics, 1970-2002

Julia Lansford, M.M., Associate Professor of Music, 1964-2008

Roger A. Buchanan, Ph.D., Professor of Zoology, 1992-2012

Van Rick McDaniel, Ph.D., Professor of Zoology, 1968-2007

Roger G. Carlisle, M.F.A., Professor of Art, 1974-2014

Clyde A. Milner II, Ph.D., Professor of History, 2002-2014

Charles R. Carr, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, 1975-2012

Lawrence A. Mink, Ph.D., Professor of Physics, 1966-2000

Thomas H. Chaffee, M.F.A., Professor of Art, 1968-2010

Louella Moore, D.B.A., Professor of Accounting, 1984-87, 1991-2012

William G. Chance, Ed.D., Professor of Elementary Education, 1965-1990

Thomas J. Parsons, Ph.D., Professor of Engineering, 1984-2014

William M. Clements, Ph.D., Professor of English, 1971-2011

Amos B. Rougeau, Ed.D., Professor of Agricultural Education, 1957-1992

Rick C. Clifft, Ph.D., Professor of Engineering, 1980-2014

Elizabeth N. Stokes, Ed.D., Professor of Nursing, 1991-2006

J. Scott Darwin, Ph.D., Professor of German, 1969-2008

Edgar L. Whitsitt, B.S., Dean of the College of Agriculture, 1917-1937

John M. Enger, Ph.D., Professor of Education, 1976-2000

Don Wright, Ed.D., Professor of Education, 1970-1997

Joel T. Gambill, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Journalism, 1966-70, 1973-2010

Distinguished faculty were recognized in a ceremony on Dec. 10 at Cooper Alumni Center.

voices | 21 23

90th anniversary

OCTOBER 3, 2014

ROTC hall of heroes

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

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Watch more of the Hall of Heroes ceremony here.

madrigal feaste

DECEMBER 5-6, 2014

soul food dinner

FEBRUARY 5, 2015

The Soul Food Dinner is just one of the Strong-Turner Alumni Chapter’s sponsored events. Learn more here:

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2015 go daddy bowl

the last word:

BETH SMITH ‘82 BS, ‘03 MA E XE CUT IVE E DIT OR smitty@AState.edu

Dear Friends, This issue of VOICES is all about Recruitment, about Recruitment … no question! And while the music of this popular song may not be evident on this page, the deliberate focus on recruiting the next group of Red Wolves is just as compelling as a melody that enters your head and you can’t ignore it.

In the Fall of 2014, A-State welcomed its third consecutive freshman class that was the most academically prepared in our history. In addition to targeted efforts within Arkansas for these highly sought-after students, we are also seeking students from outside the state who have a desire to study on a campus of our size, in academic areas that we excel in, providing a roughly two-hour window from their hometown. We are recruiting them like the academic rock stars they are.

The cover feature is all about you … you defined as alumni who want to help in this critical process. A number of volunteers made calls to prospective students from their areas to encourage them to make a campus visit. Our statistics show, if we can get a student to make an official visit there is a high likelihood they will enroll and attend A-State. Although we won’t be able to fully measure the success of this personal outreach until the 11th class day for the fall term, the feedback from the students and the alumni who participated was very positive. If you are interested in volunteering to assist in this area, please send your contact information to Alumni@AState.edu.

Accountability is also something we are examining closely. At both the state and federal level, we are required to provide more-detailed information about our graduates, their area of study and if they work in a profession related to their degree. In March we will launch an extensive data survey to all alumni to assess our strengths and weaknesses in these areas. I urge you to take a few minutes to respond to this survey in order to help us meet these reporting requirements.

Sharing your pride in A-State,

Beth Smith Executive Director Don’t wait to hear the latest updates, connect with us on social media! We post news and updates on our Alumni Association Facebook page, through Twitter and on LinkedIn. winter 2015 | 24

JANUARY 3-4, 2015

To see how much fun you missed at GoDaddy, take a look at the fun from Wentzel’s and thank this year’s history-making seniors, too.

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NONPROFIT US Postage PAID Permit 62 Jonesboro, AR

P.O. BOX 1990 • STATE UNIVERSITY, AR 72467 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

history: From the 1965 yearbook: students listen intently during freshmen orientation 50 years ago in Indian Fieldhouse.

Click to see more of the 1965 Indian yearbook.