Congratulations to Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, professor of plant metabolic engineering, who was inducted into the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) Academy of Scholars and Fellows at the Governor's Mansion. Medina-Bolivar, whose lab is in the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, is one of A-State’s leading researchers and faculty advisers. Three of his students received the cell biology and biochemistry award for their poster presentation at the national Sigma Xi conference.

An article by Dr. Amanda Mohler (left) and Andrea Brown (right), assistant professors of occupational therapy, has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. The article discusses students’ perceptions of a SELTEC model fieldwork experience, compared to a traditional Level I fieldwork experience. Their results show the experiences offered in the SELTEC model prepare students for occupational therapy practice in ways not offered in the traditional fieldwork model.

Dr. Nicole Covey, assistant professor of teacher education, Dr. Annette Hux, associate professor of educational leadership, Dr. Joan Henley, associate professor of educational leadership, and Dr. Mary Jane Bradley, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, and dean, collaborated on a successful grant proposal to Arkansas Forward. The $100,000 project seeks to help transform recruitment, training and retention of qualified K-12 teachers. A-State is one of eight Arkansas universities participating in the program. Details are in a news release.

Shelley Gipson, professor of art, continues to lead a monthly outreach project for Art + Design. On the second Saturday of each month, she welcomes guests to the department’s studios for an educational activity, during which she assists prospective students, alumni and other visitors with creating a piece of art while utilizing a particular technique. Participants this week will create a drypoint. Details on online.