UCA Magazine

UCA Now Campaign President’s Tour

UCA Now: Impact ��Ƶ and Beyond continued its campaign tour in Fort Smith on March 31, 2022. President Houston Davis told potential supporters about how the $100 million goal will positively impact UCA students and the state of ��Ƶ. UCA Now is the largest fundraising campaign in school history and focuses on four primary initiatives: success, culture, wellness and excellence. To learn more, visit uca.edu/now.

President’s Society

Members of the President’s Society were invited to a special reception on March 8, 2022 at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock. Membership in the President’s Society is extended to those who contribute $1,000 or more during a calendar year.

Ronnie Williams Student Center

In December, UCA honored longtime executive administrator Ronnie Williams by renaming the campus student center after him. Williams was the first Black person to serve at the executive level at UCA, and his accomplishments stretched beyond the UCA campus including vice-chairman of the ��Ƶ Educational Television Commission, serving on the ��Ƶ Community Foundation Board and the Faulkner County Shelter for Abused and Battered Women. A UCA endowed scholarship in his name was announced in 2021.

UCA Embraces the Maker Movement

The UCA Makerspace, powered by the Conductor, is a public-private partnership between Startup Junkie Consulting and UCA. At no cost, students, faculty, staff and community members receive access to a multitude of machines and technology to learn, create and become a part of the maker movement.

Educating ��Ƶ: College of Education Leads with Innovation and Technology

As ��Ƶ’ largest producer of teachers in the state, the College of Education evolved from UCA’s founding in 1907 as the ��Ƶ State Normal School, an institution dedicated solely to teacher training. In 1925, the school was renamed ��Ƶ State Teachers College before ultimately transitioning to UCA in 1975.

Forty Years of Excellence: Schedler Honors College Reflects

Each time a student from the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College has walked across the stage at graduation over the last 40 years, they have been handed a medallion engraved with the Greek word “arete” – which means “excellence.”

Driven: Alumna Earns Forbes Recognition with Revolutionary Start-up

When Maleka Momand ’16 sees a problem, she works aggressively and consistently to find a solution. Her resilience, kindness and intelligence did not go unnoticed while she was studying at the University of Central ��Ƶ, as many of her professors fondly remember her as a gifted student eager to participate and learn.

Only at UCA: A Look at the University’s Trail-blazing Programs and Initiatives

When prospective students begin researching institutions of higher learning, the University of Central ��Ƶ stands out for its commitment to the lifelong intellectual development of students, dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and devotion to continuous growth through innovation. UCA is home to many programs and degrees one cannot find anywhere else in the state, and sometimes the region.

Karen Shaw ’94: CFO Focuses on Developing Future Business Leaders

Starting her career, Karen Freeman Shaw ’94 simply wanted to work hard, serve others and find a job she would love. She thought she was meant to do her work behind the scenes; instead, she has gone on to significantly impact ��Ƶ as a successful leader, community activist and mentor to young business leaders.

Students Network with the Pros: Alums Share How Skills Built Their Careers

With all of his savings and a will to succeed, Felix Milton ’12 almost immediately went from the University of Central ��Ƶ’ commencement stage to Los Angeles, California, to begin his career. The public relations graduate had been working for a national company in Little Rock and transferring to California felt, for him, like a great move.