At the helm of the University of Central Arkansas Police Department is Chief Larry James, a long time lawman who is also a meteorologist.

“It’s always been a funny thing that the chief of police is also a meteorologist,” James said.

James has worked in law enforcement for more than 40 years, but he earned a Bachelor of Science in meteorology with a minor in mathematics from San Jose State University, making him a meteorologist by education.

As he visits with colleagues throughout the nation, he has yet to meet another meteorologist who is also a police chief. “It’s just assumed that your degree is in sociology or in criminology or police science or something,” he said. “When I say, ‘No, my degree is in meteorology,’ I get the ‘huh’ face.”

James explains that while he was a meteorology student at San Jose State, he was looking for part-time work to help defray tuition. A friend of his, who was also a meteorology student, had started a part-time job on campus and suggested that James apply for the same position, which was as a dispatcher at the campus police department.

“We worked mostly at night,” he said, remembering the early days of his career. “I got to see how the police department was handling the protests over the Vietnam War, and I started spending more time at the police department because we were having more and more issues in confronting protesters and people who were participating in sit-ins.”

When he graduated in 1973, he initially decided to earn a master’s in meteorology. Instead, he accepted an offer to become a campus police officer at San Jose State.

James rose through the ranks at the campus police department. He became deputy chief of police before working as director of administrative services for San Jose State. He took on the role of assistant executive dean at an Oregon community college campus, and then he became director of the Department of Public Safety for the Portland Community College District. At the time, that community college system spanned five campuses with a total enrollment of more than 70,000 students.

In 1993, James moved to Conway where, for more than two decades, he has been chief of police at the UCAPD. In this role, he oversees the safety and security of nearly 12,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff, as well as countless visitors who come to campus for cultural and sporting events, camps and lectures.

The department is comprised of 28 full-time sworn police officers, nine full-time support staff and several part-time staff. Still, James has never forgotten his roots in meteorology.

“Our dispatchers have all been trained to be able to watch weather and maps and watch the radar and all that,” he said. “They can see it on the maps just as easily as I can.”

James made certain the department’s communications center has equipment and technology, including a 3-D volumetric radar viewer to display and analyze radar data from the National Weather Service.

In November 2014, the UCAPD began the Community Safety Education Series, a Web-based informational series on weather- and safety-related topics.

The first installment of the series was “Winter Weather”. The second topic was “Fires-Residential”. He plans to post at least four series a year, and he sees this as another mechanism of connecting the UCAPD with the community.

“All of our students, faculty and staff have families, so we are trying to not only help our community but our constituents’ community,” he said. “We have information about what to do at UCA, but if you happen to be at home, this is information for you as well. Whether or not I’m a meteorologist by education, they still look to the police department for advice.”

Speaking of advice, he is still grateful for the advice his buddy gave him many years ago.

“If my buddy had not said, ‘Hey, you know you can make some money working at the police department,’ I never would have thought of it,” James said with nostalgia in his voice. “The one thing that changed me was that part-time job that I took.”

And what ever happened to that buddy? James chuckled when he said, “Oh, he’s a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.”

Tripp Umbach, a healthcare consulting group from Pennsylvania, has been hired to conduct the feasibility study that will provide a comprehensive analysis of the current and projected needs of optometrists in Arkansas and surrounding regions. The feasibility report began in March and is scheduled to be completed by May 31, 2015.

“Staying true to our mission of being a state leader in the health sciences, we are committed to exploring the possibility of providing a school of optometry,” said President Tom Courtway. “Hopefully, this study will help us arrive at making a sound and informed decision.”

The state of Arkansas currently has no optometry schools, and BTÌìÌÃis looking to fulfill that need. Nearby optometry schools are located in Memphis, Tenn., and Tahlequah, Okla. “The college has a wide variety of healthcare programs and this would broaden and expand our university’s offerings,” said Dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences Dr. Jimmy Ishee.

“We graduate more healthcare professionals than any other university in Arkansas and we thought this would meet a need in Arkansas.”

The study will also include a detailed financial feasibility model for the construction, start up, and operation of the first four years. This endeavor is part of UCA’s ongoing review and evaluation of existing programs and degrees from each college as outlined in the “Framework for the Future”, a comprehensive strategy for UCA.

A well-known and well-liked professor who worked at BTÌìÌÃfor nearly 50 years will be memorialized with the renaming of a building in his honor. Dr. Jerald “Jerry” M. Manion spent 49 years at BTÌìÌÃworking in the department of chemistry as a professor, chair, mentor, friend and ambassador for students and the department before his death in the summer of 2014. Because of his distinguished service and dedication, Laney Hall, the home of the chemistry department where he put in countless hours of hard work, will be renamed Laney-Manion Hall in honor of the legacy Manion left behind.

The announcement of the renaming was made in a December 2014 meeting of the Board of Trustees and it was met with an emotional standing ovation for Manion’s wife, Patsy. “He had a great life. He loved what he did. He loved this university. He loved the students. We couldn’t go anywhere in 48 states without running into one of his students,” Patsy said, tears glistening in her eyes. “He was signed up to teach [during the fall of 2014]. They had him on the schedule. He was going to get in his 50 years.”

President Tom Courtway presented the recommendation to the board saying that this would be an appropriate honor in memory of the legacy and work of such an extraordinary professor. “Throughout his career, he touched the lives of many people across the country and state,” President Courtway said.

“I can’t imagine any honor that he would have wanted more than to be recognized by this university,” said Manion’s son, Danny Manion, who attended the board meeting with several other family members.

Both Faculty Senate President Don Bradley and Student Government Association President Ashley Ross praised Courtway and the board for honoring Manion and acknowledging his commitment and service to the university.

At the time of his death, Manion was the longest-serving professor in the history of UCA. He earned a bachelor’s in chemistry from Harding University in 1962 and a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Mississippi in 1965. He served as the chair of UCA’s department of chemistry from 1965 to 1992. He also served three terms as faculty senate president and was the 1999 BTÌìÌÃPublic Service Award winner. In 2010, alumni honored Manion with an endowed departmental award bearing his name, which is given annually to an outstanding chemistry student. Manion also played the five-string banjo and was a founding member of “The Professors” bluegrass band.

The newest board member for the University of Central Arkansas is passionate not only about BTÌìÌÃbut specifically about the fine arts at UCA.

Joe Whisenhunt, a 1984 graduate of Hendrix College, is a commercial real estate developer. Whisenhunt and his wife, Connie, who has a master’s in physical therapy from UCA, have called Conway home for the past 20 years and have five children and one on the way.

“My family became involved in BTÌìÌÃwhen we first moved to central Arkansas in the mid-70s through the music department,” said Whisenhunt. “My parents were involved with UCA’s Friends of Music for many years. My children are very active at BTÌìÌÃnow in the extracurricular programs and some academic programs. My mother’s love for the arts is what prompted me to want to be more involved with BTÌìÌÃand one of my focuses at the board level will be to pursue the fine arts.”

Upon making the appointment of Whisenhunt, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson noted Whisenhunt’s appreciation of the fine arts. “Joe understands the importance of the arts to an institution of higher education and the community it serves,” said Hutchinson. “Given his professional business background, his appreciation of the arts and his deep roots in the city of Conway, I can’t think of a better person to serve on UCA’s Board of Trustees.”​

“I congratulate Mr. Whisen-hunt on being named to the BTÌìÌÃBoard and thank the Governor for appointing someone with a deep commitment to UCA,” said President Tom Courtway. “He will be an asset. He and his family have been involved in several of our programs for many years, and they have been active in our community. We appreciate his willingness to serve.”

Whisenhunt started his term on February 2, 2015, and will serve a seven-year term.

“This gift from Conway Corporation is one of the most significant developments in the history of the university,” said President Tom Courtway.

“These funds will enhance Lewis Science Center and will help provide state-of-the-art laboratories and scientific facilities for our students. It is another manifestation of why Conway Corporation was founded and continues the strong tradition of its support of higher education in Conway.”

The gift will be paid out over the course of five years at approximately $600,000 per year.

“We realize the importance of the University of Central Arkansas to Conway,” said Conway Corporation’s CEO Richard Arnold. “This gift will help continue to make BTÌìÌÃa premier institution of regional prominence. It will also enable the university to focus on providing a quality academic infrastructure for its students and faculty.”

Conway Corporation was created during an economic crisis in 1929 with the purpose of giving financial help to Conway colleges.

“Conway Corporation has, at its foundation, the support of higher education in our community. We were founded for this purpose in 1929 and are proud to continue that tradition,” Arnold said.

“Conway Corporation recognized in the beginning and recognizes now the importance of higher education to our local economy. The improvements and construction planned for the Lewis Science Center are of strategic importance for the university and Conway,” said Conway Corporation’s Board of Directors Chairman Bill Adkisson. “We further hope this gift can be leveraged if matching opportunities are identified and, if so, we pledge to assist university staff in tailoring our support to maximize those opportunities. The entire BTÌìÌÃcommunity can take pride in the world-class education it provides thousands of men and women, as well as the impact the university’s graduates have on our community, state and nation.”

Dr. Neil Hattlestad, former dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, was named as the first Distinguished Dean Emeritus at the October 2014 meeting of the BTÌìÌÃBoard of Trustees.

“Dr. Neil Hattlestad served the University of Central Arkansas for more than 30 years,” said President Tom Courtway. “Through his work as dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, BTÌìÌÃbecame a national leader in many health-related fields.”

Hattlestad served as dean from 1983 until his retirement in June 2013. He continued to work on a part-time basis until June 2014.

Hattlestad earned his bachelor’s in 1961 and a master’s in 1965 from the University of Northern Iowa. He earned his Doctor of Education in health and physical education from the University of Wyoming in 1970.

Keenan carved life-sized bear cubs and raccoons into a large tree in the backyard of the President’s Home. The sculpture was carved using a variety of chainsaws and took two days to complete. The idea to carve bear cubs came through the Staff Senate’s “Campus Initiative Project.” The Staff Senate gathered funding initiative proposals from BTÌìÌÃstaff members, and project finalists were invited to present their ideas. The Staff Senate voted to allocate funds toward the bear carving. President Tom Courtway approved the carving of the second bear sculpture after it was determined that the tree was diseased and would need to be removed.

Keenan previously created Valor, the bear sculpture carved in 2013, that remains a popular landmark in front of Wingo Hall. After being temporarily stored, Valor was returned to Wingo Hall and affixed to a new concrete base on April 1, 2015.

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The season will take place at multiple venues: Reynolds Performance Hall on the University of Central Arkansas campus and The Village at Hendrix, as well as outdoors in the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock.

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is the state’s only professional Shakespeare company and is proud to make its home on the BTÌìÌÃcampus. Each summer, AST offers full productions of a range of Shakespeare’s works as well as other plays and musicals that help fulfill AST’s mission to entertain, engage and enrich the community. The actors on AST’s stage are a delightful mix of professional performers from across the country and homegrown local talent.

“Looking toward my fourth year as the artistic leader of Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, I wanted to have a repertory season that was exciting and fresh,” said producing artistic director Rebekah Scallet. “I think these four shows truly allowed the productions to be viewed in dialogue with each other, and also capture audiences’ imaginations and challenge them to think about their lives.”

New this year, AST’s summer educational program, The Groundlings Company, will appear in “The Merry Wives of Windsor” as “The Children of Windsor”. This unique opportunity combines learning with practice as students participate in acting classes while also rehearsing and performing alongside AST’s professional acting company. The program fee is $300.

Actors, designers and crew will arrive in Conway on May 10, 2015 to begin the process of creating the four shows to be produced in multiple venues and play in repertory in central Arkansas.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” will kick off the 2015 season at The Village at Hendrix in Conway and then tour to the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock. The show will then make its way to the BTÌìÌÃcampus.

“With these two outdoor venues, we hope that theatre-goers in Arkansas and around the region will recognize AST for its dedication to the cultural and artistic growth that is currently underway in our state,” said Dr. Mary Ruth Marotte, AST’s executive director and BTÌìÌÃEnglish professor.

The remaining productions will be performed at Reynolds Performance Hall on the BTÌìÌÃcampus. The season will close on June 28, 2015 with a matinee performance of “The Merchant of Venice” in Reynolds Performance Hall. For more information about the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre or to purchase tickets for the season, visit

The winner of the 1999 NCAA Honda Inspiration Award is now inspiring the University of Central Arkansas women’s volleyball players.

Coach Jeni Jones was hired to head the ultra successful BTÌìÌÃvolleyball program in January, inheriting a team that has won five Southland Conference (SLC) championships, two SLC tournament titles and has made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament since moving to Division I in 2006.

Jones, a Birmingham, Ala., native, was a star player at the University of Florida who helped lead the Gators to three consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances from 1996-98. During her junior season, Jones was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disease of the peripheral nerves in which there is numbness and weakness in the limbs that can cause permanent damage.

Jones was bedridden and also contracted Bell’s palsy. Her condition finally began to improve after receiving large doses of antibodies. To the surprise of her doctors, teammates and coaches, she returned to the court for her senior season in September 1998.

Her dramatic recovery and return to her team earned her the Honda Inspiration Award, given annually to an NCAA female student-athlete who has overcome hardship and returned to play at the collegiate level. She later received the Missouri Valley Conference’s Most Courageous award while she was an assistant coach at Missouri State University.

“Her story is a truly inspiring one,” said Dr. Brad Teague, BTÌìÌÃdirector of athletics. “What she overcame to return to playing collegiate volleyball on the highest level is amazing. She is the perfect person to coach and teach our volleyball student-athletes.”

Jeni Jones’ Introductory Press Conference