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University of Arkansas at Little Rock

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With more than 9,000 students and 100 programs, UA Little Rock offers learning, research, service, social and career opportunities that can only be found at a metropolitan university located in Arkansas' capital city.

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With more than 9,000 students and 100 programs, UA Little Rock offers learning, research, service, social and career opportunities that can only be found at a metropolitan university located in Arkansas' capital city.

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News and announcements from University of Arkansas at Little Rock

UA Little Rock Welcomes Latest Cohort of Donaghey Scholars to Campus

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is welcoming 25 new and talented students to the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program for the 2025-26 academic year. The new cohort of Donaghey Scholars represent the best and brightest students at UA Little Rock. Members receive a financial package that covers full tuition and fees, a stipend, financial assistance for a study abroad program, a housing subsidy, and a new laptop. The program is run by Dr. Simon Hawkins, director, and Dr. Jessica Scott, associate director.
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Club or Organization - 23h

UA Little Rock Student Gains Global Perspective During Semester Abroad in Spain

A UA Little Rock student spent the spring semester immersed in Spanish culture, where she gained experiences and life skills that she says will help her in any future career path.
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Study Abroad - Oct 14

UA Little Rock Graduate Student Gains Out-of-This-World Experience at NASA

Hannah Jones, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at UA Little Rock, spent her summer interning at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, gaining hands-on experience that brought her closer to her dream of a career in aerospace engineering.
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Internship - Oct 14

UA Little Rock Graduate Student Secures $16K Grant to Support Independent Living Skills for Blind and Visually Impaired Students

University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate Brittany Rose has written a successful $16,270 grant on behalf of World Services for the Blind (WSB) to fund a life-changing program for blind and visually impaired students.
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Graduation - Oct 14

UA Little Rock Research Sheds New Light on How Domestication Shaped the Canine Voice Box

Dogs may be humanity's oldest companions, but their evolution from wild wolves is still full of mysteries. New research from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is helping solve one of them by showing how domestication may have altered far more than behavior. Jacob Hansen, a graduate student in biology, and Dr. Raffaela Lesch, assistant professor of biology, have published a groundbreaking study demonstrating that domestication reshaped the canine larynx, the organ responsible for sound production. It's the first anatomical test of a major scientific concept called the neural crest domestication syndrome (NCDS) hypothesis. "This is the first study to test whether selection for tameness affects the voice box," Hansen said. "We found measurable differences between the larynges of dogs and wolves, which supports the idea that domestication doesn't just change behavior but also changes anatomy." The team's research, which was published in the Royal Society Open Science journal in July, offers rare anatomical insight into how domestication impacts the development of the voice box via neural crest cells, which are embryonic cells that influence everything from skull shape to vocal folds. While the NCDS hypothesis has previously been used to explain behavioral and physical changes in domesticated animals, no one had applied it to the larynx before. To conduct the study, Hansen and Lesch used CT scans to analyze and compare the larynges of domestic dogs and wolves. They identified 108 specific anatomical landmarks and worked with international collaborators to gather laryngeal specimens from across Europe. Their co-authors include Nicole D. S. Grunstra, W. Tecumseh Fitch, Andrew C. Kitchener, and Michaela Gumpenberger. "We saw significant differences in the size and shape of the larynx and vocal folds between dogs and wolves," Hansen said. "Dogs, particularly mesocephalic breeds with medium-length snouts, had smaller larynges and shorter vocal folds." Those differences suggest that the evolution of dogs' friendly and expressive behavior may have come with vocal trade-offs. Lesch, who mentored Hansen throughout the project, said the findings help validate a core prediction of the NCDS hypothesis: that selection for tameness reduces neural crest cell migration, which in turn influences multiple body systems. "The larynx is largely derived from neural crest cells," Lesch said. "The fact that we see structural changes in this organ supports the idea that domestication has widespread anatomical effects. This occurs not just on the visible features like ears or snouts, but on deeper systems that affect communication." Their work also hints at larger implications. Some researchers believe humans underwent a process of "self-domestication," evolving to become more sociable and cooperative over time. If so, studies like this could provide a biological roadmap to investigate how human anatomy may have changed as a result, according to Lesch. Co-authors hail from research institutions in the U.S. and Europe, including Austria's University of Vienna and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, as well as the National Museums Scotland, reflecting the international collaboration behind the study.
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Research / Grant - Oct 14

UA Little Rock Student Miesha Robinson Finds Opportunity and Support Through Corporate Partnerships Program

For Miesha Robinson, earning a college degree isn't just about personal success-it's about creating a brighter future for her two-year-old son, Malachi. As a single mother balancing work, school, and parenthood, Robinson is pursuing a marketing degree with concentrations in professional sales and digital marketing at UA Little Rock, thanks in part to the university's Corporate Partnerships Program.
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Achievement (Other) - Oct 14

Department of Applied Communication Recognizes Outstanding Students, Alumni, and Community Partners

Four UA Little Rock students in the Department of Applied Communication recently received recognition for their work and significant contributions to the community.
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Academic Award - Oct 9

UA Little Rock Students Join Professor in Georgia to Work on Feature Film

A group of UA Little Rock mass communication students had the unique opportunity to work on the production of a feature-length film by Kiel Thorlton, chair of the School of Mass Communication.
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Work Experience - Oct 7

UA Little Rock Engineering Student Earns Second AISC Scholarship While Building Experience in the Field

Tyler Burns, a senior civil and construction engineering major at Little Rock, is making the most of his college experience, all while balancing leadership roles, research opportunities, and hands-on industry experience.
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Scholarship - Oct 14

Four UA Little Rock Students Celebrate Match Day with Jacksonville North Pulaski School District

Four University of Arkansas at Little Rock students were honored on May 9 during a special Match Day ceremony hosted by the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, marking the next step in their journey to becoming teachers through the Trojan Teacher Residency Program.
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Academic Excellence - Jun 13

UA Little Rock Music Students Compete at the National Association of Teachers Competition

Music students from UA Little Rock traveled to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville for the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition (NATS).
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Drama, Artistic, or Musical Achievement - Jun 13

UA Little Rock Students Take 2nd Place at JOLT Competition

A team of tech-savvy UA Little Rock students earned second place and a $750 prize during the ninth annual JOLT Competition that took place April 4-6.
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Academic competition - Jun 13

Spring 2025 Dean's List

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock announces students who have made the Dean's List for the Spring 2025 semester, recognizing nearly 1,500 students whose academic performances have been superior at the end of each semester. To be on the Dean's List, UA Little Rock students must earn at least nine credit hours and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA.
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Dean's List - Jun 3

UA Little Rock Announces Spring 2025 Chancellor's List

UA Little Rock announces its Spring 2025 Chancellor's List, recognizing students with superior academic performance in a semester. To be eligible for the Chancellor's List, students must earn at least nine credit hours and at least a 3.9 GPA.
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Chancellor's List - Jun 3

UA Little Rock TRIO Students Explore College and Culture in Nashville

Students in the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at UA Little Rock enjoyed a memorable trip to Nashville, Tennessee, blending cultural exploration with graduate school preparation.
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Student Excellence - Feb 7

Student-Athletes Receive 22 OVC Academic Medals of Honor

The Ohio Valley Conference awarded 22 Little Rock student-athletes the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for the 2023-24 academic year. The OVC gives the Academic Medal of Honor to those student-athletes who maintain a 4.0 grade point average over an entire academic year.
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Sports - 2024 Sep 12

Matthews Receives Volunteer of the Year Award

It wasn't enough for Little Rock Athletics to excel in the classroom and also on the competition field, the Trojans are also being recognized for their philanthropic efforts by the Little Rock Marathon Committee, which recently named the Little Rock Athletic Department as its Volunteer Group of the Year and presented the Volunteer of the Year Award to senior swimmer Aubry Matthews.
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Volunteer - 2024 Jun 7

UA Little Rock Students Make a Difference for Fellow Students Through CHASSE Student Ambassador Program

Six University of Arkansas at Little Rock students are making an impact for their fellow students through a new student ambassador program in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE).
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Leadership - 2024 Jun 4

Dawson Picks Up Second Golfer Of The Month Award From Ohio Valley Conference

Little Rock junior Anna Dawson earned her second Ohio Valley Conference Golfer of the Month award on April 1, claiming the honor for the month of March after posting a 71.9 average over eight rounds and three tournaments during the month.
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Student Competition - 2024 Apr 26

Crafting Success: Student's Hands-On Furniture Building Experience Enhances Construction Management Education

A year ago, UA Little Rock student Kimberly Arcega had never considered building large oak tables for the benefit of her fellow university students, let alone learning all the skills that would be required to build them. "This was a huge learning experience as I had never built anything this big before," said Arcega, a senior applied design major with an emphasis in woodworking. "I got firsthand experience on the business side of being a custom furniture builder and learned important new skills along the way."
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Community Service - 2024 Apr 17

UA Little Rock Welcomes New Members of Cooper Honors Program

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock welcomed new members to the William G. Cooper Jr. Honors Program in English.
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Honors Program - 2023 Jun 9

UA Little Rock Student Nurses Association President Elected to State Office

Niki Buckman, a student from Quinlan, Texas, was elected as the District 1 director during the ANSA convention held in Hot Springs. She will represent and advocate for nursing students in Arkadelphia, Conway, Hot Springs, Little Rock, and Magnolia. She will also serve on the annual convention, fundraising, and awards committees.
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Business/professional - 2022 Dec 19

FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT AND NAVY VETERAN FINDS SUCCESS AT UA LITTLE ROCK

After spending six years in the U.S. Navy, Bryan Hernandez, a first-generation college student from Clinton, Arkansas, has found success as a marketing major and storyteller at UA Little Rock, a skill he hopes to use after graduation to highlight the Latinx culture.
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Military - 2022 Nov 10

UA Little Rock Announces Fall 2022 Enrollment

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is proud to announce UA Little Rock students who have enrolled for the Fall 2022 semester.
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Enrollment - 2022 Sep 20

Student Government Association Election

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced the newly elected members of the Student Government Association for the 2022-23 academic year.
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Student Government - 2022 Aug 2

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Inducts New Members

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.
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Honor Society - 2022 May 3

UA Little Rock Announces First-Year Bowen Law Students

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law has announced its first-year students entering law school for the 2021-22 school year.
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Accepted - 2021 Sep 29
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