Siahmakoun, Buckley Added to HESC Hospitality Innovation, Human Nutrition Faculty

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Nancy Buckley (left) and Lobat Siahmakoun have been promoted to human nutrition and hospitality innovation faculty positions, respectively, in the Bumpers College's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Lobat Siahmakoun and Nancy Buckley have been promoted to U of A faculty positions in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

Siahmakoun teaches Food Preparation and Menu Layout lecture and lab in the hospitality innovation program while Buckley, a registered nutrition and dietetic technician, teaches Principles of Food and Nutrition and Basic Cooking Skills classes in the human nutrition program.

The lab portion of Siahmakoun's class includes planning, preparing and serving different ethnic meals for lunch at Maple Bistro in the Human Environmental Sciences Building. Students work in the commercial kitchen with the Maudine Sanders Commons serving as the dining area.

"The HNHI faculty are overjoyed to have Lobat join us as an instructor," said Kelly Way, associate professor and assistant director of the School of Human Environmental Sciences. "Her international experience with foods and cultures of the world bring an expertise to our curriculum that can't be learned in textbooks. She adores the students and academically challenges them in the kitchen laboratory every day. For us to secure someone so passionate about food, culture and teaching positively adds to the prestige of our program."

Buckley, who has served as a teaching assistant since 2014, earned her master's degree in human environmental sciences from the U of A earlier this year. Her thesis was "Culinary Competence: A Skills Assessment for Dietetic Students." She earned two bachelor's degrees from the U of A, the first in communication in 1989 and the second in food, human nutrition and hospitality in 2014.

"The human nutrition and dietetics program is elated to welcome Nancy to the team as an adjunct instructor," said Way. "Nancy brings so much more than knowledge to the classroom. Her passion and love for all things cooking and gardening ignites enthusiasm in our students and encourages them to embrace new foods, methods of cooking and nutrition. Nobody lights up a classroom with their personality like Nancy. Her energy and humor is infectious, and our students love her positive outlook. She is truly a great example and mentor for our student body."

"I'm excited to work more with students and share my passion for nutrition and healthy foods," said Buckley. "Healthy cooking and eating can be fun as well as beneficial. Interest in both is growing and we have great students who want to educate others in healthy lifestyle choices."

The former owner of a catering business, Buckley has been a teaching assistant since 2014, and has earned ServSafe Food Production Manager and ServSafe Alcohol Advanced certification.

Siahmakoun, who joined the program as a graduate assistant in 2013 and was previously an adjunct instructor, earned her master's degree from the U of A in food, human nutrition and hospitality innovation in 2015, and her bachelor's degree in health science from Missouri Southern State University in 2012. She also graduated from Northwest Arkansas Community College in 2008 and the School of Tourism in Siegen, Germany, in 1994.

"I love hospitality because in hospitality even strangers are friends," said Siahmakoun. "I love what I do with all of my heart. My students are my first priority and their future success is very important to me."

A restaurant owner in Germany from 1998-2004, Siahmakoun has played various roles in the program's A Class Act (now SMASH - Students Mastering the Art of Southern Hospitality), and participation in the Big Night Gala with the Jones Center and the Lights of the Ozarks.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.