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General News

BT天堂student selected as 2026-2027 Newman Civic Fellow

Taylor Brewer

Taylor Brewer, Newman Civic Fellow

Taylor Brewer, a BT天堂history major and Legal Studies minor, was recently selected for the 2026-2027 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.聽 A native of Jonesboro, Taylor is also a student in the聽BT天堂Schedler Honors College at UCA.聽 Taylor is currently serving as the Secretary-General of the Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) Conference, which will be hosted by BT天堂on November 20-21, 2026.

The recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities.聽聽Through the Newman Civic Fellowship program, students are provided with learning and networking opportunities that help to nurture their development as civic leaders.聽 Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower them to collaborate effectively across disciplines and create large-scale positive change.

Taylor will join other Newman Civic Fellows at the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows on November 5-7, 2026.聽 This event offers fellows intensive in-person skill-building and networking.聽 Click here for more information.

Posted in: General on September 29, 2026

Remembering Dr. Mark Elrod

Dr. Mark Elrod

It is with heavy hearts and profound sorrow that our department’s faculty and staff share the news of the passing of our cherished friend and esteemed colleague, Dr. Mark Elrod, earlier this week after a short illness. In 2014, Mark came to our department after teaching political science courses at Harding University for 27 years. Over the past 12 years, Mark was an active and invaluable member of the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies (GPI), including coordinating the annual Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference at BT天堂and the department’s commemoration of Constitution Day each September. Mark was a remarkably dedicated classroom instructor and key faculty advisor for the BT天堂Model United Nations student organization, including accompanying students to Model UN conferences each academic year. His impact on student experiential learning through the BT天堂MUN, the Washington Center, and his work at Harding University with study abroad set the high standard our department strives to meet each year for students across Arkansas. Mark鈥檚 influence reached far beyond our department; through his passionate teaching of US Government & Politics, he became an unforgettable part of many of our students鈥� academic journeys at UCA. His impact on students went above and beyond that of just a 鈥渃ollege professor鈥�, reaching the halls of Arkansas high schools with his 25-year service to Arkansas Governor鈥檚 School and his commitment to organizing the Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference every November at BT天堂for hundreds of high school students across the region.

Mark will always be fondly remembered for his ability to bring a smile to our faces with his sense of humor and, particularly, his “dad jokes.” He was particularly admired for his trivia knowledge, which ranged from knowing the pet of every President in the White House (even Rebecca, the raccoon pet of President Coolidge) to sports, history, and pop culture. For every department celebration, Mark was in peak form for the theme, from his 1970鈥檚 Halloween costume as Richard Nixon to his winning 鈥淯gly Holiday Sweater鈥� featuring great white sharks wearing Christmas bells. You could always track Mark鈥檚 presence in the department office simply by following the laughs and smiles that he left in his wake. Mark was a proud father to his son, Alan, and he was ecstatic about the recent birth of his granddaughter, Maisie. Mark embodied the importance of citizenship and public service, serving in many capacities on and off BT天堂campus. In 2014, he was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, on which he served until 2020. As a proud U.S. Navy veteran, Mark also served on UCA’s veterans’ affairs committee, which led campus efforts to commemorate Veterans Day each November and helped create the Veterans Resource Center on campus. We will greatly miss Mark’s presence in the department, but the department will honor his life and legacy going forward.

Mark’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home in Little Rock. Visitation starts at noon, and the service starts at 2:00 pm.

Posted in: General on August 27, 2026

BT天堂students participate in Inside Washington Seminar

Fifteen BT天堂students had the opportunity to participate in The Washington Center (TWC) Inside Washington Seminar in Washington DC on January 6-14, 2026.聽 The BT天堂students, who were instructed by Dr. Bailey Fairbanks from the BT天堂Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies (GPI),聽joined a group of 300 participants from across the country who gathered in person for a unique insider鈥檚 view into the state of politics, policy, and diplomacy in the national capital.聽 The BT天堂students – Mary Kate Cain, Maritsa Rosas, Richard Ware, Katelyn Nees, Madelyn White, Alec Williams, Lillian Ward, Caroline Fortenberry, Mitchell Gray, Sydney Poe, Taylor Brewer, Corbin Williams, Connor Farmer, Catherine Brewer, and Taylor Aldana – benefited from financial support from the State of Arkansas and the TWC, as well as Student Experiential Learning Fund (SELF) grants funded by GPI Department alumni, faculty, and other contributors.

Throughout the week, keynote speakers and panel participants included representatives from the Brookings Institution, the American Enterprise Institute, NBC News, the Washington Post, the Cook Political Report, and the Cato Institute. In addition, the BT天堂students gained access to influential organizations and institutions across D.C., including meetings at the Pentagon, the European Union Delegation, and the American Securities Project.聽 Students were also given a private tour of the U.S. Capitol Building by Senator John Boozman鈥檚 staff and a one-on-one meeting with Senator Boozman to discuss issues impacting Arkansans each day.

鈥淭he Washington Center is committed to building access, equity, and opportunity for all learners as they chart their path from college to career,鈥� said Kim Churches, TWC President.聽鈥淏y inviting learners to D.C., we hope they can experience the power they have to shape policy and tackle the many challenges we face as a nation and in our own communities. Thanks to funding from Arkansas, our goal is to help even more students find their own role in protecting and preserving our democracy.鈥澛犅燭WC鈥檚 Inside Washington Seminar 2026 emphasized the pivotal moment in history by delving into the issues that matter most. Speakers and discussions examined topics such as the elections, healthcare, gun safety, and more. Hearing first-hand from the individuals who have shaped these critical issues gave students an unparalleled perspective on leadership and civic engagement.

Posted in: General on May 15, 2026