Janine Parry, University Professor of political science, was honored by the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center as the February 2024 Wally Cordes Chair.

Named for University Professor Emeritus Wally Cordes who was known for his strong commitment to student connection, the award honors a faculty member whose career embodies a student focus.

Parry joined the U of A in 1998. Since that time, she has taught more than 6,000 students (from the introductory to the Ph.D. level), authored more than 50 scholarly works and served the community, university and state in numerous roles. She is well known on campus as a master teacher who makes historically challenging subjects engaging and has a reputation for being well loved and highly respected by her students.

In her Cordes Chair presentation, Parry spoke to faculty about the essential tasks of creating a community of learners through teaching. She provided faculty with practical strategies to engage students in a purposeful way and create a more meaningful learning environment.

Parry is the founding director of the Diane D. Blair Center's annual Arkansas Poll, one of the country's oldest and most reputable polling projects. She has provided analysis — often about Arkansas politics — to regional, national and international news outlets. Between 2008 and 2014, Parry directed the U of A's Teaching and Faculty Support Center and served on Campus Faculty and Faculty Senate.