Dr. Elrod joined the department in 2014 after teaching political science courses at Harding University in Searcy for nearly three decades. At UCA, Dr. Elrod taught sections of the introductory U.S. government & politics course, along with upper-division courses on the United Nations, international law, and American foreign policy. In addition, Dr. Elrod coordinated the annual Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference for hundreds of high school students from Arkansas and neighboring states each November. In his capacity as a co-faculty advisor for the BT天堂Model United Nations student organization, Dr. Elrod advised numerous BT天堂students who participated in collegiate Model UN conferences in Arkansas and Missouri.

Dr. Elrod earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science at Lipscomb College in Nashville in 1984 and a Ph.D. in political science at Vanderbilt University in 1995. Previously, Dr. Elrod served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation anti-submarine warfare operator from 1976 to 1980. Among his many roles on UCA鈥檚 campus, Dr. Elrod proudly served on the university鈥檚 veterans affairs committee in 2020-2021 and 2023-2026. Dr. Elrod was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe and served as a member of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB) Commission from 2014 to 2020. He was also an active member of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) for nearly four decades, including serving as president of the association in 2002-2003.

Dr. Elrod was a valued member of our university community, and we share in the grief of his family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who knew and cared for him. His colleagues and students in the department will especially miss his sense of humor and dedication to higher education and public service.

A service for Dr. Elrod will take place at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home in Little Rock, Saturday, Sept. 5, with visitation at noon and the service at 2 p.m.

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Film Program has been named to . Noting the impressive films by its students and faculty, top-notch equipment and facilities, its track record of visiting artists, and its affordable and competitive tuition, the magazine has included UCA鈥檚 film program with much larger and well-known programs, including those at the American Film Institute (AFI), University of Southern California (USC) and New York University (NYU).

鈥淏eing included on MovieMaker鈥檚 top 30 list of film Schools in the United States and Canada is a major honor, placing BT天堂in the same company as well-known film schools like AFI, USC, UCLA, NYU and Columbia,鈥� BT天堂Film Program Coordinator Bruce Hutchinson said. 鈥淥ur inclusion as a smaller state school attests to our focus on developing the voice and vision of our students, the dedication of our students to commit an incredible amount of time and effort to becoming practicing filmmakers, and a faculty that cares deeply for the students while maintaining active creative and scholarly careers.

鈥淎dditionally, BT天堂Film has accomplished this with one of the lowest tuition rates of any school on the list.鈥�

UCA鈥檚 Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing offers a BA program focused on production, and a three-year MFA program oriented toward writers-directors that emphasizes technical skills and film studies. The 48-credit major consists entirely of film courses, and the university offers the only MFA Film Program in Arkansas. On average, BT天堂Film has approximately 200 majors, minors and graduate students in the program.

The current issue of MovieMaker () also features Hutchinson discussing . He notes that whatever directions AI may take the film industry, BT天堂remains committed to developing the unique voice and vision of each of its students.

The magazine describes BT天堂student films as 鈥渟trikingly daring and well-made.鈥� BT天堂student films have played at a wide range of festivals from the Madrid International Film Festival, to top-quality American film festivals like the Austin Film Festival, and a wide range of regional and state festivals, including the Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland. Many faculty members are also practicing filmmakers and have screened at festivals around the world from London, Paris and Berlin, to major American festivals in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles, among others.

The University of Central Arkansas Public Appearances will present 鈥淎nn Wilson the Voice of Heart and Tripsitter鈥� Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at Reynolds Performance Hall.

Ann Wilson, known the world over as a founder and the lead singer-songwriter of the barrier-breaking band Heart, is here to stay. Widely praised among the greatest singers in the history of rock, Wilson鈥檚 extraordinarily powerful voice has helped form the bedrock of modern music for over five decades, earning record sales of more than 35 million, an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. As one of the first women to front a hard rock band at arena scale, Wilson helped redefine the possibilities for female artists in rock, delivering era-defining hits like 鈥淏arracuda,鈥� 鈥淢agic Man鈥� and 鈥淐razy on You.鈥�

In addition to her work with Heart, Wilson has built a dynamic solo career that highlights both her range and restless creative spirit. Her solo albums, including 鈥淗ope & Glory,鈥� 鈥淔ierce Bliss鈥� and 鈥淎nother Door,鈥� blend rock, folk and orchestral influences while pairing her unmistakable voice with bold reinterpretations and original material. Her newest album, 鈥淐onsecrated Ground,鈥� is to be released in September of this year. The album was created in collaboration with her band Tripsitter. Tripsitter is composed of guitarist Ryan Wariner, bassist Tony Luciod, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Moak and drummer Sean T. Lane.

She further connects with audiences through her podcast 鈥淎fter Dinner Thinks,鈥� where she reflects on music, culture and the artists who have shaped her journey.

In 2026, Wilson unveils her most intimate project to date: 鈥淚n My Voice,鈥� a documentary directed by Barbara Hall that traces her extraordinary life through rare archival footage, personal journals and candid storytelling, offering an unprecedented look at the artist behind one of rock鈥檚 most enduring voices.

Tickets range from $34.50 to $57.50 for adults and $11.50 for children/students. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Reynolds box office or Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts box office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., online at uca.edu/publicappearances, or by calling BT天堂Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 or toll free at (866) 810-0012. Student and children鈥檚 tickets are only available by contacting the box office.

BT天堂Public Appearances has continued to grow each year and now offers five unique series: Broadway, POPS, Night Out, An Evening With, and the Windgate Collection. Reynolds Performance Hall has also welcomed over 70,000 pre-K-12th grade students from across the state of Arkansas to experience live performing arts through the Main Stage Education Series. This series educates while entertaining and provides arts accessibility to all students.

As department chair, Schmidt will collaborate with faculty and supervise department activities that support the college鈥檚 mission to provide an innovative and relevant curriculum combined with hands-on student experiences in the business community. He will teach courses related to human resources, leadership and organizational behavior. Schmidt will also continue his research in the future of work, virtual leadership, neurodiversity and how leadership differs across contexts.

鈥淒r. Schmidt brings a vast knowledge of leadership gained during his 20-year career,鈥� Dr. Timothy Bisping, dean of the College of Business, said. 鈥淚n his books, he skillfully engages his readers to examine management practices through popular culture references.

鈥淚 look forward to the creative ways he will help guide our college in the future.鈥�

Before assuming this role of department chair at UCA, Schmidt served as the director of the David and Sharon Turrentine School of Management at the University of Louisiana Monroe. His longest tenure was nearly 12 years of leadership and teaching roles at Purdue University Fort Wayne, the largest university in northeast Indiana.

In addition to teaching and administrative roles, as well as authoring books, Schmidt has offered his expertise as an organizational consultant for the last 10 years and is currently serving as a book series editor for Emerald Publishing, a global academic press focusing on scholarly journals, books and teaching case studies.

鈥淚’ve been very impressed by the quality of teaching and research happening here at BT天堂for a number of years,鈥� Schmidt said. 鈥淲hen I saw an opportunity to join the amazing team here, I jumped at it.

鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to be a part of the team here at BT天堂that helps prepare our students for success both today and in the workplace of the future.鈥�

Schmidt earned his Doctor of Philosophy and his Master of Arts, both focused on Industrial and Organizational Psychology, from Michigan State University. He also completed his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

“Being selected for this work demonstrates the trust the state has placed in the Arkansas Research Center and reflects the University of Central Arkansas’s longstanding commitment to serving Arkansas through high-quality research and evaluation,” Dr. Debbie Dailey, dean of the BT天堂College of Education, said.

CLASS is Arkansas’s primary tool for assessing the quality of teacher-child interactions in licensed early childhood classrooms. Through this contract, ARC will conduct independent CLASS verification observations in licensed early childhood programs across all 75 Arkansas counties, providing objective, evidence-based verification of classroom quality data to support the state’s early childhood quality improvement efforts.

The project is led by Dr. Sarah Argue, managing director of the Arkansas Research Center, and Amy Pinkston, project director. Together, they will oversee a team of 12 Teachstone-trained Regional CLASS Observers who will conduct verification observations throughout the state.

“This appointment highlights the important role universities play in supporting statewide initiatives through independent research and evaluation,” Dailey said. “We are proud of the ARC team and the meaningful contributions they continue to make to early childhood education in Arkansas.”

The award extends ARC’s 13-year research partnership with ADE-OEC and reflects the department’s confidence in the center’s research expertise, professional integrity and commitment to objective evaluation. ARC’s independence from CLASS coaching and professional development activities is a key requirement of the contract and ensures the credibility of the verification process.

The Arkansas Research Center is one of the research and service units housed within the BT天堂College of Education. The center partners with state agencies, school districts, and community organizations to conduct research, program evaluation, and technical assistance that informs educational policy and practice across Arkansas.

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) College of Business has successfully achieved the extension of its business program accreditation by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

Widely considered the gold standard in business education accreditation, the AACSB accredits fewer than 6% of business colleges worldwide, which places the BT天堂College of Business in an elite category of business colleges.

The College of Business received AACSB accreditation in 1984, and this extension earns continued accreditation for its 21 undergraduate business degrees and Master of Business Administration for another six years.

鈥淭he BT天堂College of Business delivers transformational, educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact our community,鈥� Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the BT天堂College of Business and professor of economics, said. 鈥淎ACSB accreditation places us among a premier group of business schools worldwide, reflecting our unwavering commitment to excellence in business education.鈥�

To earn AACSB accreditation requires a rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities and an on-site, peer-reviewed evaluation that focuses on continuous improvement. AACSB鈥檚 principles-based standards require excellence in areas relating to teaching, learning, strategic management, innovation, research and service.

鈥淥ur College is committed to providing our business students with the highest quality business education through a relevant curriculum to meet today鈥檚 workforce demands, hands-on learning experiences and active engagement in the business community,鈥� Bisping said. 鈥淎s we continue to elevate our programs, we look forward to shaping future leaders and making a lasting impact in the lives of our students, alumni, faculty, staff and the communities we serve for many years to come.鈥�

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 class of distinguished inductees. Seven new Arkansans will be honored at the 2026 Induction Banquet Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Thomas C. Courtway Student Recreation Center on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas (UCA).

The 2026 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame inductees are:

Regina “Reggie” Favors
Cedar Hill, Texas
Retired President and Chief Executive Officer
Pinnacle Business Solutions Inc., a subsidiary of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield

Lynn Harbert, CIOP
Cabot
Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Delta Dental of Arkansas

T. Ark Monroe III, J.D.
Little Rock
Retired Partner,
Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, PLLC, and former Arkansas Insurance Commissioner, 1972-1976

Richard L. Patterson, CLU, ChFC, ARPC, AEP
Little Rock
Financial Advisor
Patterson Financial Group

Victor A. Puleo Jr., Ph.D., CIC, CCI, (1964-2025)
Formerly of Nicholasville, Kentucky
Educator
BT天堂College of Business, 2003-2017

J.B. Smith
Marianna
Agency Owner 鈥� retired
Smith and Company Insurance Inc.

Dennis Young
Texarkana, Arkansas
Agency Owner 鈥� retired
Young and Youngblood Insurance.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to identify and honor distinguished insurance industry professionals with strong ties to Arkansas who exemplify innovation, social responsibility, leadership and professional excellence; have made broad, encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society; and have significantly impacted the lives of many Arkansans.

and various levels of recognition in support of the 2026 inductees are available through Sept. 25 and can be found on the Hall of Fame website at .

The BT天堂College of Business partners with the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame to create and nurture a nationally recognized undergraduate degree program in insurance and risk management. Scholarships are awarded annually through the .

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame seeks to remind the public of the important role the insurance industry plays in securing the well-being of both individuals and businesses, to inspire the next generation of leadership to reach these high levels of accomplishment, and to encourage young Arkansans to consider careers in the insurance industry.

More information about the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame is available at .

The contract allows the Mashburn Center for Learning to partner with selected Arkansas elementary and secondary schools to strengthen instructional practices and improve learning outcomes for all students through evidence-based co-teaching and collaborative instructional models. The project is expected to receive annual funding, creating ongoing opportunities to support educators and students statewide.

The Arkansas Co-Teaching with SIM Project is an initiative focused on helping schools strengthen systems and practices that ensure meaningful access, engagement and participation in grade-level learning. The project emphasizes shared leadership, collaborative planning, instruction, assessment and decision-making as key components of schoolwide improvement.

“The Mashburn Center for Learning has a long history of partnering with educators to improve outcomes for students across Arkansas,” Dr. Renee Calhoon, director of the center, said. “This contract expands our ability to provide high-quality professional learning and coaching that helps teachers work together more effectively and ensures all students have access to engaging instruction.”

Located within UCA’s College of Education, the Mashburn Center for Learning creates partnerships with educators to provide resources and high-quality professional learning opportunities that encourage them to promote a sense of purpose, hope, academic achievement and resilience for all learners, specifically those who struggle and experience barriers to learning.

“This award reflects the expertise of the Mashburn Center and the university’s commitment to serving Arkansas schools,” Dr. Debbie Dailey, dean of the BT天堂College of Education, said. “By supporting educators, we ultimately strengthen learning opportunities for students across the state.”

Selected schools will participate in a comprehensive professional development program beginning in July 2026. The initiative will provide educators with professional development, coaching and additional support designed to strengthen co-teaching practices and improve student learning outcomes.

More information about the Mashburn Center for Learning is available at .

The entering Schedler Honors College and Schedler Honors Program classes of 2026 have an average high school GPA above 4.1. The honors class includes 126 students from Arkansas across 38 counties. All members of the incoming honors class were selected using a holistic admissions process that factors in the applicant鈥檚 academic performance, writing ability, and service and leadership potential. The process, which requires written essays, letters of recommendation, and participation in a daylong orientation and interview, has been held up within the national collegiate honors community as one of the most in-depth admissions processes in the nation. The students selected represent an exceptional group of citizen-scholars.

Acceptance comes with access to supplemental scholarship funding for every student, access to a living-learning community in Jefferson W. Farris Honors Hall, and participation in a unique interdisciplinary curriculum. Beyond these traditional four-year tracks, the honors community also welcomes students later in their academic careers through its Track II program for current BT天堂and transfer students, as well as its Honors-to-Honors program for community college honors transfer students.

Students across all honors pathways take part in the high-impact practices of service learning, project-based education, collaborative work and undergraduate research. Honors students also receive exclusive grant funding support for study abroad, undergraduate research and internships.

The Adventures of Robin Hood鈥� with Adrian Hinojosa as Robin Hood and Rylee Boles as Maid Marian.

For their third annual season, BT天堂Summer Theatre will present 鈥淜en Ludgwig鈥檚 Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood.鈥� Known for its fast-paced storytelling and sharp wit, the production offers a bold, theatrical reimagining of the legendary outlaw and his Merry Men.

Performances will be June 19, 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. and June 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 2 p.m. at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

Written by Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig, 鈥淪herwood鈥� blends physical comedy, archery, swordplay and inventive theatricality into a contemporary take on a classic tale. The play follows Robin Hood and his band of rebels as they challenge corruption, defend the powerless and bring justice 鈥� and laughter 鈥� to the kingdom of Nottingham.

General admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased or at the Reynolds Performance Hall box office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased by calling BT天堂Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 or toll-free at (866) 810-0012.

BT天堂Summer Theatre brings together professional artists and BT天堂Theatre students to create high-quality productions for Central Arkansas audiences. In just three seasons, the company has established itself as a vital part of the region鈥檚 professional arts landscape, committed to rigorous artistry, bold storytelling and meaningful community engagement.

Support for these performances is provided, in part, by the Conway Advertising and Promotions Commission and Engage Management.

鈥淜en Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood鈥� is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc., .