Fourteen outstanding, hard-working faculty members have been selected as the 2017 class of Connor Faculty Fellows at the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Their expertise spans the natural sciences, humanities, fine arts and social sciences and the funds from the Connor fellowship are intended to help each rising academic further their career development.

"We are so proud of these incredibly talented faculty members," said Todd Shields, dean of Fulbright College. "Each has already achieved so much in their academic careers, and we cannot wait to see where their research continues to take each fellow and what they will accomplish in the years ahead."

The Fulbright College 2017 Connor Faculty Fellows include: 

• Lindsey Aloia, assistant professor, Department of Communication
• Grant Drawve, assistant professor, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
• Todd Cleveland, assistant professor, Department of History
• Joseph Herzog, assistant professor, Department of Physics
• Kusum Naithani, assistant professor, Department of Biological Sciences
• Marc Mitchell, assistant professor, Department of Art
• Nathan Parks, assistant professor, Department of Psychological Science
• Weston Wilkerson, assistant professor, Department of Theatre
• Toni Jensen, assistant professor, Department of English
• Daniel Abrahams, assistant professor, Department of Music
• Ram Natarajan, assistant professor, Department of Anthropology
• Johanna Thomas, assistant professor, School of Social Work
• Stefan Kilyanek, assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Celina Suarez, assistant professor, Department of Geosciences

Robert and Sandra Connor of Little Rock established the Connor Endowed Faculty Fellowship in 2004 to provide essential faculty development opportunities to rising academic experts in the college. Annually, a college committee including the dean recognizes faculty who have made excellent contributions to the college and their departments. The award is used to facilitate travel, expand research initiatives and support classroom activities.

The Connors' original gift of $1.5 million has allowed the college to designate up to 10 fellows each year. An additional gift has allowed the college to expand the number of fellowships. Since its inception, the endowment has enabled Fulbright College to recognize 140 Connor Fellows, many of whom are now leaders in their departments, serving in administrative capacities or in prominent teaching and research positions with impressive publication records.

About the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences: The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus with 19 departments and 43 academic programs and research centers. The college provides the core curriculum for all University of Arkansas students and is named for J. William Fulbright, former university president and longtime U.S. senator.