Fulbright College Honors 16 Faculty Retirees With 500 Years of Combined Service

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Sixteen faculty retirees from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences — whose combined time in the college totals more than 500 years of service — were recently recognized at a college-wide celebration on May 2 for their tremendous service to our college, to the entire U of A and to their academic disciplines.

"It was so wonderful to gather and honor these incredible faculty members and to recognize them for their incredible service and the tremendous difference they've made," said Kathryn Sloan, interim dean of Fulbright College. "These faculty members have transformed Fulbright College for the better during their time with us and have truly embodied our college's mission of peace through education."

"Because there are an untold number of ways we can all choose to spend our time, and to choose to dedicate yourself to education, to making people's lives better, to leaving our world better than we found it — I can think of no higher calling," Sloan added.

Fulbright College is proud to call the following retirees forever members of the Fulbright College family and to wish them the best in their new chapters.

Thank you and congratulations to our 2024 faculty retirees!

Neil Allison – associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
Allison, a devoted member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for four decades, has left a mark on the U of A. Serving as the director of the university's premedical program for 15 years, he developed one of the nation's most esteemed programs, boasting acceptance rates to medical schools that surpassed national averages by more than 20%. Additionally, Allison's expertise spans physical organic and organometallic chemistry, where he has made significant contributions to research and education, co-authoring a prominent organic chemistry textbook and leading its solution manual through three editions.

Lorraine Brewer – instructor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
As a member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since 1976, Brewer has inspired both colleagues and students alike. Alongside teaching numerous organic and biochemistry lectures, she was the academic adviser for more than 150 students. Additionally, Brewer has devoted herself to improving educational standards across campus and led teaching improvement workshops for campus faculty. She is also the recipient of the Ro Di Brezzo Excellence in Service to Teaching Award, Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship and the Fulbright College Outstanding Teacher Award.

Joseph Candido – professor, Department of English 
Candido, a cornerstone of the Department of English since 1997, has played a pivotal role in its advancement, including serving as department chair. His scholarship in Shakespeare and Renaissance literature has resulted in an array of publications, including novels, book chapters and journal articles, alongside securing prestigious research grants from institutions such as the South Central Modern Language Association and the Arkansas Endowment for the Humanities. Notably, Candido has been honored with awards for advising, mentoring, research excellence and teaching, including a coveted Fulbright College Outstanding Teacher Award.

Patrick Conge – associate professor, Department of Political Science 
Conge, an esteemed member of the university community since 2002, has held several roles within the Department of Political Science, including vice chair and graduate coordinator. Renowned for his expertise in international relations, Conge has contributed significantly to scholarly discourse with multiple publications in prestigious journals such as Comparative Politics and The Middle East Journal, alongside authoring the book From Revolution to War: State Relations in a World of Change, with ongoing projects in the pipeline. His outstanding contributions have earned him accolades including the Fulbright Scholar Award and a Summer Research Stipend from Fulbright College.

William Etges – professor, Department of Biological Sciences 
William Etges, a member of the Department of Biological Sciences since 1987, has devoted more than 40 years to teaching and research. Recognized as an Outstanding Mentor and esteemed Cambridge University Visiting Fellow, Etges has nurtured generations of students, guiding them to success with prestigious grants from the SILO Advisory Council and distinguished awards such as the Fulbright College Dissertation Award, Walton Academy Fellowship and U of A Honors College Undergraduate Awards. His scholarly contributions extend beyond the classroom in which he has lent his expertise as an academic editor for reputable journals including Genetica and PLOS One.

Kate Frank – instructor, Department of Theatre 
After joining the university in 2006, Frank has contributed greatly to the artistic endeavors of the Department of Theatre. Frank has served as an instructor and director within the department, bringing her expertise on the Alexander Technique, directing and movement for actors to its students and faculty members. In her decades of theatrical experience, she has worked in both acting and production roles within prestigious theaters such as TheatreSquared, the Metro Theater Company and the San Diego Repertory Theatre. Her theatric achievements have also been recognized through awards like the Award for Best Performer from the Hugh O'Brien Scene Competition and a Natalie Wood Award for Best Actress.

Chaim Goodman-Strauss – professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences 
Goodman-Straus, a driving force in the Department of Mathematical Sciences since 2006, spearheaded remarkable departmental expansion during his seven-year tenure as department chair. Beyond academia, he has served as an Outreach Mathematician for the National Museum of Mathematics and orchestrated captivating installations nationwide, including the acclaimed "Double Triamond" in Atlanta, Georgia, and the innovative "Starseeds" installation at the U of A. Alongside securing numerous grants and producing a diverse array of scholarly works, Goodman-Straus' dedication to mathematics education earned him the prestigious Rosenthal Prize for Inspiration and Innovation in Math Teaching. Additionally, his groundbreaking research has led to a pending patent for the "Method of Efficiently Constructing Negatively Curved Surfaces From Flat Material."

Michael Landman – associate professor, Department of Theatre 
Landman, a member of the university since 2004 and head of the M.F.A. Directing and Graduate Performance programs in the Department of Theatre, is dedicated to fostering student empowerment and artistic growth through teaching. With a diverse portfolio spanning international festivals and prestigious theaters, he brings a wealth of experience to his role, having directed acclaimed productions like The 39 Steps and Rabbit Hole. A co-founder of the Seven Ages Theatre Company and a respected figure in theater education, Landman maintains active involvement in arts advocacy, previously serving as the first chair of the Fayetteville Arts Council and contributing his expertise to various universities nationwide.

Michael Lehmann – professor, Department of Biological Sciences 
Since joining the university in 2003, Lehmann has been an integral part of the Department of Biological Sciences, teaching courses on genetics and developmental biology and guiding undergraduate research endeavors. His groundbreaking research on signaling processes in development, growth and metabolism has garnered international acclaim, evidenced by numerous publications, invited lectures and grants from institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and the U of A. He was also honored with the John Imhoff Outstanding Research Publication Award for his contributions.

Daniel Luecking – professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences 
Leucking has been a dedicated member of the Department of Mathematical Sciences since joining the university in 1981, serving as the chair of Graduate Studies for several years. Renowned for his research in Complex Function Theory, he has received several prestigious grants from the National Science Foundation and held esteemed appointments at the Mittag-Leffler Institute, alongside two full-time research positions. Notably, Leucking is revered as the departmental authority on the typesetting system TeX. Beyond mathematics, he is an enthusiastic folk dancer, leading the Fayetteville Traditional Dance Society, and authoring more than 361 original dance compositions.

Francis Millett – Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
Millet, a distinguished member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty since 1972, has made profound contributions to the university community. Throughout his tenure, he directed the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Center for Protein Structure and Function and facilitated numerous NIH study sessions. His groundbreaking research in biological electron transfer and energy production has not only garnered international recognition through extensive publications and global lectures but has also earned him prestigious accolades, including the Fulbright College Outstanding Researcher Award and the Haliburton Award for Research.

Janine Parry – University Professor, Department of Political Science 
Parry has played a pivotal role in the Department of Political Science for more than 25 years, assuming leadership as the chair of Campus Faculty and providing invaluable mentorship to fellow faculty members. Notably, she spearheaded the establishment of The Arkansas Poll, a revered initiative delivering unbiased public opinion insights on policy and politics to officials, researchers and the community. Recognized for her excellence in teaching and mentorship, Parry has received esteemed honors such as the Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship, the Fulbright Outstanding Teacher Award and the Arkansas Alumni Association Faculty Distinguished Achievement Awards for Teaching and Service. Her profound impact extends to scholarly recognition as a Distinguished Scholar by the Arkansas Political Science Association, alongside securing more than $100,000 in individual grants.

Wesley Stites – professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
Wes Stites has played an indispensable role within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since he arrived at the university in 1991, assuming key positions such as department chair and associate vice chancellor for Research and Innovation. His steadfast dedication to the university and the broader community has been recognized through an array of prestigious awards, including Outstanding Undergraduate Mentor and the Award for Superior Service from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army. Stites' remarkable service extends beyond accolades as evidenced by his leadership roles overseeing projects such as the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research Building Project and the Cleanroom Fit Out Project.

Jan Wicks – professor, School of Journalism and Strategic Media 
Wicks has served the School of Journalism and Strategic Media since 1994, functioning as the graduate coordinator and vice chair. Beyond her prolific publications, Wicks has guided more than 40 students through master's and honors theses, while also serving as sponsor or co-author for numerous student papers and presentations. Nationally recognized for her research on advertisements targeting children, she has also garnered accolades such as the Baskett Mosse Award for Faculty Development and a research fellowship from the American Academy of Advertising.

Min Xiao – Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics 
Xiao, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics, has made significant contributions to the U of A since 1990, culminating in his appointment as the Twenty-First Century Endowed Chair in Nanotechnology in 2006. Throughout his career, Xiao's research has spanned quantum optics, nonlinear optics, atomic physics, ultrafast optical spectroscopy and nanotechnologies, resulting in more than 450 journal papers and numerous prestigious accolades, including being elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America in 2004. His leadership roles include serving as program co-chair and general co-chair of the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO) and Quantum Electronics and Laser Sciences (QELS), and his editorial contributions extend to reputable journals such as the Physical Review and Quantum Materials.

Jenny Xu – associate professor, Department of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures 
Xu has been an integral part of the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures since 1992, serving as director of the Chinese Program. Xu has been recognized for her outstanding mentorship, receiving the U of A Outstanding Mentor Award in 2002. Under her leadership, the Chinese Program has flourished, expanding from two small classes to 16 diverse sections, including the establishment of a Chinese minor with a business orientation in 2011. She also organized yearly study abroad programs in China, sending an average of eight students yearly.