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.

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.鈥澨齌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.

Beginning in the summer and fall of 2026, some of the graduating students plan to continue their education in graduate school or law school, and many of them are pursuing internships and employment opportunities in government and public service.聽 Micah Castleberry聽(BS in Political Science & BPA in Public Administration) and Summer Charles聽(BA in Political Science)聽plan to attend law school.聽 Caleb Fergeson聽(BPA in Public Administration) plans to complete an internship with the Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services.听听Caroline Fortenberry聽(BS in Political Science),聽Arely Pioquinto聽(BS in Political Science & BA in English), and Alec Williams (BS in Political Science & BPA in Public Administration) are planning to pursue JD degrees at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Bowen School of Law.聽 Mitchell Gray聽(BPA in Public Administration & BBA in Business Administration) and Ryan Webb聽(BS in Political Science) plan to pursue MBA degrees at UCA.

Also graduating in May 2026,聽Michael Phifer聽(BPA in Public Administration) plans to continue working as Executive Director of the non-profit organization Mission Machine, Inc. in Searcy.听听Sydney Poe聽(BS in Political Science) plans to complete an internship with Senator Tom Cotton in Washington DC.听听Evan Thomas聽(BS in Political Science & Philosophy) and Lillian Ward聽(BS in Political Science & BA in International Studies) plan聽to pursue JD degrees at the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville.聽 Richard Ware聽(BS in Political Science & Philosophy) plans to begin a position as a State Personnel Specialist with the Arkansas Office of Personnel Management.听听Madelyn White (BS in Political Science & Economics) has been accepted into the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at Georgetown University.聽 闯别蹿蹿别谤蝉辞苍听奥颈濒蝉辞苍听(BS in Political Science & Criminology) plans to work as an Elections Library Assistant & Legal Assistant for the State of Arkansas Secretary of State.听听Other GPI students graduating from BT天堂in May 2026 were Jaden Elmore, Amie Fall, Benjamin Henry, Katelyn Nees, Maritsa Rosas, and Alexis Cantu Saavedra.

On February 18-21, 2026, twelve BT天堂MUN students and Dr. Mark Elrod travelled to St. Louis, Missouri to participate in the 66th Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference.聽 The BT天堂MUN students participated as delegates representing the countries of Burkina Faso and Ukraine.聽 Julien Mrad, a 2025 BT天堂graduate who majored in international studies and linguistics and a former secretary-general of the Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN), was presented a best position paper award for his representation of Burkina Faso in the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA).

Julien Mrad and four current BT天堂students (Hlib Shevchenko, Corbin Williams, Kyle Urban, and Omar Jarkas) served on the staff of a high school Model United Nations conference held at Conway High School on March 13-14, 2026.聽 Participating in the conference as delegates were more than 50 students from Conway High School, Little Central High School, Little Rock Catholic High School, and Maumelle Charter High School.

Nine BT天堂MUN members participated in the Ozark Regional Model Arab League (OZMAL) Conference at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri on April 10-11, 2026.聽 Delegations from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK), Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, OK), Drury University (Springfield, MO), and Missouri State University (Springfield, MO) also participated in the conference.聽 The BT天堂students represented the countries of Bahrain (Taylor Brewer, Lillian Ward, and Maritsa Rosas); Egypt (Waylon Matthews, Hlib Shevchenko, and Kyle Urban); and Saudi Arabia (Elizabeth Velasco-Moya, Cobin Williams, and Jasmine Strickland) in the Joint Defense Council, Political Affairs Council, and Environmental Affairs Council.聽 During the closing ceremony on April 11th, several of the students were recognized with awards, including Corbin Williams (Outstanding Delegate), Waylon Matthews (Distinguished Delegate), Elizabeth Velasco-Moya (Honorable Mention), Kyle Urban (Outstanding Delegate), and Maritsa Rosas (Distinguished Delegate).

Georgia Miller, Public Administration major and Political Science minor
“I had the opportunity to intern for The CALL, a local nonprofit that equips, educates, and trains current and future foster parents. I had the privilege of managing events, running social media accounts, and spreading awareness to the community that every child deserves a loving home. This organization has opened my eyes by shedding light on how much we take everything for granted. Working with this organization for over a year has allowed me to grow and develop my future career in the nonprofit sector.”

Mary Lyle, Political Science Major and Journalism Minor
“Over the summer, I had the opportunity to intern at STOPDV, a nonprofit in Conway. While I was there, my main tasks included going to weekly court meetings and taking notes on cases related to domestic violence, organizing files, and working on longstanding projects related to outreach and reducing recidivism. Through my time at STOPDV, I learned how nonprofits function and the amount of dedication it takes to continuously fight for victims in the legal system. ”

Kylie McGraw, public administration major in the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies (GPI), was selected for the inaugural Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy at the 聽 The Academy prepares the next generation of public leaders by bringing together students from colleges and universities in Arkansas to engage in academic discussions, practical training, and service-learning.聽 Students gain the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to become effective community leaders. The program culminates in the awarding of a Civic Arkansas Credential.

Kylie is a senior public administration major from Little Rock.聽 Kylie is serving as the President of the BT天堂Student Government Association (SGA) and the Secretary of the Public Administration (PA) Club in 2025-2026.聽 After graduation from UCA, Kylie will be pursuing a law degree and hopes one day to become an elected official and policymaker in her community.

Dr. Kim Hoffman, Director of the undergraduate public administration program and Director of the NextGen Service Corps program in the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies (GPI), commends McGraw鈥檚 leadership as SGA president and for representing BT天堂in the first cohort of the civic leadership academy.聽 According to Dr. Hoffman, 鈥淜ylie embodies the kind of student we have in the GPI Department who strives to make her community better, seeks opportunities to become more civically engaged, and aspires to be a future change agent and problem-solver.鈥�