Honors College Celebrates Remarkable Staff on Campus

Terri Dover (left) Katy Nelson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development (middle), and Lea-Ann Pummill, Executive Director for University Development (right).

Sarah Draine

Emily Patterson (left), Denise Burford, Associate Director of Financial Aid (middle), Lynda Coon (right)

John Thomas (right), Mark Rushing, Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations (left)

Alessandro Salemme (left), John Clark Davis, Executive Director of the Pryor Center (middle), Lynda Coon (right)

Rachella Pruitt (left), Whitney Elizabeth Smith, Director of Procurement and Supplier/Diversity Management Services (middle), Lynda Coon (right)

The Honors College recognized five staff members who have provided outstanding support to honors students, faculty and staff at a Tuesday reception in Gearhart Hall. Alessandro Salemme, Emily Patterson, John Thomas, Rachella Pruitt, Terri Dover and Sarah Draine each received the title of Honors College Staff of the Year and a $500 award. 

The Honors College launched these awards and the staff reception seven years ago to recognize staff members who go the extra mile to help students succeed and to document the honors experience on campus and beyond. 

"Each year the Honors College celebrates the dedicated, selfless staff working in offices outside of the college," said Honors College Dean Lynda Coon. "The six winners of the 2024 Honors College Outstanding Staff Awards represent diverse units facilitating the success of our honors mission. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and their support of our students." 

Winners of the 2024 Honors College Staff of the Year Award include:

Terri Dover, director of special projects for development and alumni in the Division of Advancement  

Dover was an instrumental part of the planning process for the inaugural Palmer Hotz Lecture hosted by the Honors College last spring. The Palmer Hotz Committee selected professor David Kaiser of MIT to give the lecture in History of Science. With an array of details and logistics, Dover was able to jump right in and make sure things ran smoothly. From lectures and interviews to delicious meals and a lovely reception, the event was a success! 

In addition to her support of the Hotz Lecture, Dover has also provided ample support to the Honors College development team including researching prospects for a scholarship outreach project, assisting with travel issues while on development trips and helping train the new development manager. 

Sarah Draine, director of the College Access Initiative in the Division of Student Affairs  

Through her work with the College Access Initiative, Draine has eagerly supported the work that Xochitl Delgado-Solarzano and Michelle King have been doing with the Path program to increase access to college, funding and the many other benefits and privileges that come with being affiliated with Honors College. In collaboration with the Path team, the College Access Initiative has helped prospective students and families tour campus, prepare for the ACT, apply for U of A admissions and scholarships and the Path program via the College Access Initiative's Jump Start program and learn about financial aid opportunities at Path Interview Weekend.  

This spring, Draine, Delgado-Solarzano, Rafael Arciga-Garcia (assistant dean of admissions and orientation), Emily Compean (academic outreach specialist for College Access Initiative) and Abigail Gonzales-San Juan (a current Path student and CAI Jump Start program alumna) will present at College Board's Preparate conference about their collective work to reach, recruit and support Latina/e/o students at the U of A.

Emily Patterson, assistant director for financialaid compliance in the Office of Financial Aid 

Patterson assists fellowship financial manager Kelly Carter as well as director of grants and research innovation Chelsea Hodge in the Honors College to ensure students receive as much of their fellowship, scholarship, grant and other funds as possible while maintaining compliance with federal, state and university policies.

John Thomas, manager of university communications in University Relations 

Thomas's work within University Relations includes a number of opportunities of collaboration with the Honors College, including providing editing assistance for Arkansas News stories, as well as helping to provide earned media outreach via press releases or through the university's main social media channels. The University Relations team also provides assistance and guidance through communications efforts when the need arises, working closely with Dean Lynda Coon and Honors College communications director Shelby Gill. Recently, Thomas and University Relations have helped elevate the profile of the Honors College Signature Seminars, promoted the Path program students to garner media attention, as well as highlighted some of the Honors College students in the U of A's #MyPathToSeniorWalk series.

Alessandro Salemme, video producer at the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History

Before working at the Pryor Center, Salemme worked in higher education at the University of Chester and the University of Manchester in England and in live television broadcasting across local news and shopping television. He moved to the United States in February 2020 and began working for the Pryor Center in September 2021, and instantly became interested in working with students in the Arkansas Story Vault project. In November 2021, the Honors College collaborated on the Oral History of SoNA. Since then, he has led students through multi-faceted projects, including TheatreSquared and the Poets of Arkansas, working with the students on their interview techniques, communication, oral history experience and presentation skills.  

Salemme has played a pivotal role in ensuring students are at the forefront of every decision and project, allowing them to hone in on their areas of expertise. Not only has he seen significant development in confidence and professionalism from his students, but he has also seen others highly praise his students for their incredible work and interview skills. Salemme has been a crucial part of how the Arkansas Story Vault has developed into a further inviting and collaborative project. Salemme is consistently and constantly looking at new ways to improve the project and to further enhance the learning experience for his students and himself.

Rachella Pruitt, procurement coordinator in Business Services 

Embarking on her journey at the U of A within University Housing's Finance Department in 2018, Pruitt quickly learned the skills needed to advance her into the position of procurement coordinator under Business Services. Since 2021, she has held the role of the assigned buyer for the Honors College, where she has cultivated a strong professional relationship with Claire Luchkina. Leveraging her expertise, Pruitt has provided invaluable training on Procure to Pay and related Workday business processes. 

Grateful for the privilege of guiding and ensuring swift business process turnaround, Pruitt is dedicated to upholding the Honors College's commitment to providing opportunities for U of A students. Her dedication and impact have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by the honor of receiving a well-deserved award. Pruitt is honored and grateful to contribute meaningfully, knowing that she is making a positive difference within the university community.

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university's top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students' academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.