UALR Recognizes Elaine Eubank, Paul Nolte (Movers & Shakers)

Jeff Mercer of Harding in Searcy, Lindsey Green of UCA in Conway, and Amyn Amlani of the UALR/UAMS Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology.

Elaine Eubank, president and CEO of Easter Seals Arkansas, will receive the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Distinguished Alumni Award for 2016 at a luncheon on May 13, and Paul Nolte, an entrepreneur in the election equipment industry, will receive the President’s Award.

Jeff Mercer will succeed Julie Hixon-Wallace as dean of the College of Pharmacy at Harding University in Searcy on June 1. An assistant dean for experiential education since 2006, Mercer earned his doctorate in pharmacy from Auburn University in 2000. Hixson-Wallace was recently named vice provost for accreditation.

Lindsey Green has been hired as wellness coordinator by the University of Central Arkansas at Conway.

Amyn M. Amlani has been appointed chair of the Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, which is operated as a consortium between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Nanette Nicholson, also a professor in the department and director of the doctor of audiology degree program, will continue serving as interim chair until Amlani begins his duties on July 1. Amlani has served since 2011 as an associate professor in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at the University of North Texas in Denton.

Deborah Wilson, chair of the Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences and associate professor of psychology, was named Honor Professor for 2015-16 by Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia.

The following faculty also won awards:

• Scott McKay, dean of the College of Science & Engineering and professor of chemistry, who received the Mary Armwood Diversity Award;
• Abraham Tucker, assistant professor of biology, recipient of the Faculty Research Award;
• Gerald Plumlee, assistant professor of information systems, who received the Auburn Smith Faculty Service Award;
• Christie Hough, assistant professor of management in the Rankin College of Business, recipient of the Robert Walz Faculty Teaching Award;
• and Alec Testa, chair of the Department of Counseling & Professional Studies and assistant professor of counseling, who received the Calvin Wetzig Faculty Teaching Award.

Six faculty members received the inaugural SAU Spirit Award:

• Sara Day, assistant professor of English;
• Sheryl Edwards, instructor of economics and finance;
• Japhet Makia, instructor of writing;
• Copie Moore, assistant professor of agriculture science;
• Steven Ochs, chair of the Department of Art & Design and professor of art;
• and Judy Vasser, assistant professor of theater and mass communication.

See more of this week’s Movers & Shakers, and submit your own announcement at ArkansasBusiness.com/Movers.