Orientation Welcomes New Faculty to Campus

Kathryn Zawisza, TIPS

Faculty Members at the 2023 New Faculty Orientation

One hundred and twenty-seven faculty members attended New Faculty Orientation on Aug. 15. Faculty members were greeted by Chancellor Charles Robinson and Provost Terry Martin, along with Razorback mascots, and were introduced to U of A academic life in a program titled "Calling New Razorbacks Home."

After a welcome address by the chancellor and provost, Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs Anna Zajicek and Director of Faculty Development Stephanie Adams provided information on opportunities for faculty members. The Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center co-directors — Carole Shook of the Department of Information Systems, Richard Cassady of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Hope Ballentine of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing — and Lynn Meade of Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Student Success with support from Lori Libbert, special events manager for the Cordes Center, introduced tips for teaching success throughout the event.  The Cordes Center sponsored and organized the event.

Other speakers were Kathryn Zawisza and Anna Phillips, TIPS and Blackboard learning technology; Margaret McCabe, interim vice chancellor of research and innovation; Jason Battles, dean of the University Libraries; Jeremy Battjes, vice chancellor for student affairs; Laura James of the Center for Educational Access; Kaitlyn Riggin of UA Cares; Chris Bryson of Academic Initiatives and Integrity; Trevor Francis of the Student Success Center; and Danielle Williams of the Office of Equal Opportunity, Compliance and Title IX and VII. 

International faculty were welcomed and led in an event by Adnan Alrubaye of the Department of Poultry Science and Hawraa Alzouwain of the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures. A new faculty panel featuring faculty members in their first five years at the university provided advice from Judith Anne Garretson Folse of the Department of Marketing, Md Amzad Hossain of the Department of Economics, Renette McCargo of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, Chris Nelson of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Derico Setyabrata of the Department of Animal Science.

Faculty Ambassadors also welcomed faculty and answered questions throughout the event. Inaugural faculty ambassadors were: Amy Farmer, Walton College; Tomas Jandik, Walton College; Shauna Morimoto, Fulbright College; Kevin Murach, College of Education and Health Professions; Trish Starks, Fulbright College; Christine Holyfield, College of Education and Health Professions; Casey Owens, Bumpers College; Erica Westerman, Fulbright College; Carl Smith, Fay Jones School; Sandra Eksioglu, College of Engineering; Danielle Weatherby, School of Law; Suzanne Kucharczyk, College of Education and Health Professions; Judith Anne Garretson Folse, Walton College; and Renette McCargo, Fulbright College.

Winners of door prizes provided by the University of Arkansas Bookstore were Rowena Pedrena of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, Janeth Gabaldon, of the Department of Supply Chain Management, Jiahui Chen of the Department of Mathematical Sciences and Carmel Kruse of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing.