University of Arkansas

Michelle Kamanga, who began her academic career at the University of Arkansas' Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences as an undergraduate (B.A. in art history, '24), is now pursuing her master's degree in art history at the university. She was selected for the Creative Exchange Fund (CXF) at The Medium, which provides funding and free space for creatives and cultural organizers to develop and present their work across five funding categories. Kamanga's project was chosen for the Spectra Series, which supports artists in hosting group exhibitions in The Medium's Main Hall or on its outdoor campus.

When T.J. Williams talks about Northwest Arkansas, he doesn't just describe it. He can navigate it from memory. He knows where buildings sit in relation to one another, how the land slopes beneath Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and which corners of the University of Arkansas campus catch the light at night. He knows these places so well, in fact, that he has rebuilt them, block by block, inside Minecraft.

M.J. Ferguson, a political science senior at the U of A, has been selected to participate in the 2026 Ralph Bunche Summer Institute at Duke University. The program, named for Ralph J. Bunche, encourages students to pursue careers in political science by providing scholars with opportunities to participate in writing and research workshops, develop statistical skills for data analysis and explore questions relevant to the discipline. The institute also introduces participants to leading industry professionals and scholars, educates them about career opportunities and provides assistance with finding and applying to Ph.D. programs in the field.

Recently, Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies (CLCS) M.A. student Emma Bryans presented at the Middle East Studies Association's (MESA) annual conference. But the educational journey that brought her there is a story that resonates with many of us. As part of her career readiness, Bryans picked CLCS for its interdisciplinary approach, opening doors that otherwise might be closed. "I feel like I'm actually way more diversified as a cultural studies person. Something really, really cool about the CLCS program you get so many different perspectives from so many different people from around the world. I mean, don't you wanna be well rounded?"

In Northwest Arkansas, movement through the natural environment is a part of everyday life. Caitlin Swanson, a U of A student from Salem, Oregon, drew on that sense of connection between people and the landscape for her design of a mental wellness center located along the Razorback Greenway in Fayetteville. Inspired by the region's extensive trail system and biking culture, the project positions access, movement and community as essential elements of healing and design.

The Speech and Debate Society at the U of A, sponsored by the Diane Blair Center for Southern Politics and Society, traveled to Bossier City, Louisiana, to compete in the Eddy Shell Invitational hosted at Bossier Parish Community College.

Second-year law student Emilee Webb has been selected to serve as editor-in-chief of the Arkansas Law Review (ALR) for the 2026-27 academic year. In addition to Webb, the editorial board was chosen along with members of the ALR. Published quarterly, the Arkansas Law Review has as its primary objective the dissemination of scholarly and authoritative articles on significant legal issues. Its editorial board serves the Arkansas legal community and beyond by publishing scholarship of state, national and international importance. It is cited and relied upon by lawyers and courts throughout the nation. Its articles and student writings have been quoted in books and learned journals throughout the world.

The University of Arkansas honored its most recent graduating class with two fall commencement ceremonies. Recordings of ceremonies are available on the U of A YouTube channel, and printed program books are available online. More information can be found on our commencement page.

Ruvindu Perera, a doctoral student in the Cell and Molecular Biology program, placed as one of the top 12 finalists out of more than 60 competitors in the regional 3-Minute Thesis competition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Perera, who is also a Doctoral Academy Fellow, presented on his research project titled "Developing a Vaccine to Prevent Lameness in Broiler Chickens." He faced off against graduate students from universities across the South, as far west as Texas and as far east as Virginia, and received a $150 cash prize for placing as a finalist.

From the moment she peered at pond water under a microscope, Lillian Hutchinson was determined to "zoom in" on the invisible forces shaping life. Now a senior chemical engineering major in the Honors College at the University of Arkansas, she is engineering collagen scaffolds to help repair damaged nerves, collaborating with NASA on space habitat systems, and publishing cutting-edge research in regenerative medicine. A Goldwater Scholarship nominee and founder of The Lab Notebook Podcast, Hutchinson is equally committed to opening doors for other students-proving that curiosity, initiative and persistence can carry a young scientist from a high school classroom to the frontiers of discovery.

The Speech and Debate Society at the University of Arkansas, sponsored by the Diane Blair Center for Southern Politics and Society and housed in the History Department, competed at the Southern Forensics Championship Tournament, the state championship for Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. While this event typically occurs in-person and was set to be hosted by Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, the SFC board moved the event online due to winter storms. The Speech and Debate Society went on to win a whopping 58 awards, breaking their past record from the same event in 2025.

University of Arkansas faculty and students recently introduced local elementary school students to computer science through the Hour of Code program. Organized by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the program paired university student volunteers with children from kindergarten through fourth grade to complete hands-on coding activities.

The University of Arkansas School of Art and the Windgate Foundation are enhancing how educational institutions support artists beyond graduation. Through continued investment from the Windgate Foundation, 12 graduating students and recent alumni from the School of Art in Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences have each been awarded $10,000 Windgate Accelerator Grants to launch or expand their professional studio practices, paired with ongoing faculty mentorship.

Gibson Nkhata, a doctoral student in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas, earned a best paper award at the 24th IEEE/WIC International Conference on Web Intelligence and Intelligent Agent Technology in London, United Kingdom. This international conference, organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Web Intelligence Consortium (WIC), brings together researchers, professionals and industry experts to share research and real-world applications exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) functions in a connected world. Nkhata's paper, titled "Verifying Rumors via Stance-Aware Structural Modeling," examines the importance of verifying information and rumors on social media to limit the spread of misinformation.

The University of Arkansas School of Art, housed in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, is hosting the United States International Poster Biennial, a juried exhibition with stops across the world. The exhibition, at the Studio and Design Center, offers community members a comprehensive survey of poster designs from around the world, which includes several designs from School of Art faculty and students. A highlight of the exhibition is a dedicated U of A wall showcasing work by U of A-affiliated designers and emphasizing the institution's growing impact in international design spaces.

Sidra Siddiqui, a freshman majoring in elementary education from Karachi, Pakistan, originally enrolled in the University of Arkansas's College of Education and Health Professions this past fall. "I've had the best professors, friends and faculty that are willing to support me in every way possible," she says, "by giving me the right resources and being there for me in every way, whether it might be academic or not." Her next step on the way to Senior Walk? She hopes to become a university ambassador of some sort, so she can give back to the campus community.

Students achieving academic excellence have been named to the University of Arkansas Fall 2025 Dean's List. The honor recognizes undergraduates with GPAs of 3.75-3.99 and Law students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Fall 2025 Dean's List is available online. Students on the Chancellor's List who achieve a 4.0 grade-point average for the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours of coursework, also automatically earn recognition on the university's Dean's List.

The U of A is recognizing students for earning a place on the Fall 2025 Chancellor's List. To qualify, undergraduate students must attain a 4.0 GPA for the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours of coursework. The Fall 2025 Chancellor's List is available online. All students on the Chancellor's List also automatically earn recognition on the university's Dean's List, which honors undergraduates who achieve a minimum grade-point average of 3.75 for the term while completing at least 12 credit hours.

Gabrielle Rancifer, a third-year U of A School of Law student, has secured publication in the Michigan State Law Review Online Forum for her law note, "Fake Goods, Real Harm." The piece discusses the need to include public health and safety factors in the extraterritorial analysis under the Lanham Act when counterfeit goods create unsafe health conditions.

A thesis exhibition by third-year master of fine arts candidate Serena Caffrey, All Signs Point, invites viewers to engage with movable banners that explore attention, presence and ambivalence. At first glance, the sensory delight and imaginative versatility of All Signs Point feels like something of childhood play, with animated language simply guiding viewers to "WALK, SUPPORT, GATHER." These and other words function like mantras: easy encouragements to direct action in gentle and productive ways. However, their phrasing is fickle and could easily be shuffled. "DON'T WAIT" when reversed implies an entirely different meaning: "WAIT, DON'T." Meaning is rendered ambiguous, or at least in constant renegotiation.

University of Arkansas senior honors student Burgin Rome and her thesis mentor, Shari Moxley, assistant teaching professor in the School of Human Environmental Sciences, are offering a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training free to U of A students. Youth Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based program that equips individuals who work with or care for youth with practical skills to recognize and respond to emerging mental health challenges. The training emphasizes early intervention strategies, supportive communication and connecting youth with appropriate help before concerns escalate into crises.

Daniela Pineda-Vizcaino, an international business and Spanish major, has been selected for the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) Global Leaders Internship Program. Pineda-Vizcaino will spend the 2026 spring semester in Washington, D.C., gaining experience in both congressional and corporate offices.

Faculty and students from the U of A's apparel merchandising and product development program attended the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, with several delivering scholarly presentations. The 2025 conference, titled "Gateway to a Brighter Future," brought together students, educators and industry professionals to share research and pedagogical advancements focused on inclusivity, innovation and sustainability within the textile and apparel industry.

Grace Helmers, a Master of Professional Accounting student in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, has secured a postgraduate technical assistantship with the Financial Accounting Standards Board. She is only the second U of A student to achieve this honor, and the first since 2012. The assistantship is highly coveted and reflects the growing recognition of the William Dillard Department of Accounting on the national stage.

A student team seeking to raise awareness about whole health care captured one of the top prizes at Demo Day, a bi-annual event showcasing a semester of learnings in the McMillon Innovation Studio, the University of Arkansas' campus innovation hub. The team partnered with Community Clinic to create Wellness on Wheels, a mobile education and resource van. The program, unveiled Dec. 3 at the U of A's Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research, helps raise awareness in the community by attending local events to teach whole health principles and distribute preventative tools.

From planning when and how a package of bacon is going to be produced to when you pick it up and place it in your grocery cart, Allison Primm's influence is there from start to finish. An associate product manager for Tyson Foods, Allison, a native of Rogers and a 2023 graduate from the University of Arkansas, is responsible for leading cross-functional teams responsible for the planning, production, distribution and marketing of Wright Brand and Jimmy Dean bacon - which produce and distribute millions of pounds of bacon each year.

Four recent graduates from the Department of Communication's nationally-recognized Master of Arts program were honored with outstanding thesis awards at the 2025 National Communication Association Conference in Denver, Colorado. Notably, the department swept the M.A. thesis awards category for NCA's Master's Education Section.

University of Arkansas students, faculty and staff were recognized for their commitment to international education during an awards ceremony Nov. 21 as part of International Education Week. The event, held in the Graduate Student Lounge at Gearhart Hall, recognized students who earned awards and scholarships related to international education.

The Speech & Debate Society at the U of A is celebrating a standout mid-season performance as national rankings from the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) place the team among the top programs in the country. With half the competitive season remaining, the team is positioned for one of its strongest finishes in recent history.

The School of Art in the University of Arkansas Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is proud to announce that four of its members have been awarded Arkansas Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowships. Represented at all levels - faculty, staff and students - the awardees include assistant professor of Foundations Jean Schmitt, equipment technician Andrew Blackwell, assistant director of communications Elizabeth Muscari and MFA candidate Serena Caffrey.