The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the U of A has selected the 2025 recipients of several of its most prestigious endowed faculty awards, including:

• Laurence Hare, associate professor in the Department of History and the executive director of Undergraduate Excellence and Global Engagement, who received the John E. King Award for Outstanding Service
• LaShawnda Fields, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, who received the Nolan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education
• Jared Phillips, teaching associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of History, who received the OMNI Center for World Peace and Justice Faculty Award
• Amelia Villaseñor, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, who received the OMNI Keeling/Hansen Climate Science Award

"These faculty members remain dedicated to academic and research excellence, as well as student mentorship," said Brian E. Raines, dean of Fulbright College. "We want to celebrate their significant contributions to the college, the state of Arkansas and the academic community."

"Congratulations to these driven individuals, and we are fortunate to have you here in Fulbright College," he added.

JOHN E. KING AWARD

The John E. King Award for Outstanding Service was created and endowed by Fulbright College faculty members to recognize colleagues who exhibit exemplary service to the campus and community. They named the award for King, a professor of social work, as a tribute to his "leadership and extraordinary ethic and record of good deeds."

Recipient Laurence Hare is an associate professor of history and the executive director of Undergraduate Excellence and Global Engagement for Fulbright College.

Hare's research delves into the intellectual and cultural histories of 19th and 20th century Germany and Scandinavia. He has authored several notable works, including Excavating Nations: Archaeology, Museums, and the German-Danish Borderlands (Toronto, 2015) and Essential Skills for Historians: A Practical Guide to Researching the Past (Bloomsbury, 2020).

In addition to this most recent award, Hare has previously received a Distinguished Faculty Award, an OMNI Center for World Peace and Justice Award and two Outstanding Faculty Advisor Awards from the U of A Academic Council.

THE NOLAN FACULTY AWARD

The Nolan Faculty Award was endowed by the William C. and Theodosia Murphy Nolan Foundation to support the career advancement of faculty members who provide the highest quality teaching, research and service to the college.

Recipient LaShawnda Fields is a fifth-year assistant professor and the director of the college's Public Policy Ph.D. program. Her research focuses on the culture and climate within the field of social work, centering around those with historically marginalized identities.

Fields is a co-author of several prominent publications, including the book chapters, "Internalized Racism: Symptoms and Survival," "Washington County community remembrance memorial marker" and various journal publications.

Fields has conducted several studies on social work faculty and doctoral students, with plans to complete a study on Master of Social Work students in the fall. She has presented her work at conferences and other professional symposiums across the globe, including at the Society for Social Work and Research Conference and the National Association of Social Workers.

Fields has also been previously recognized as a Connor Faculty Fellow and a Chancellor's Graduate Fellow and has received research grants from the Blue and You Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, the Women's Giving Circle, UA Engage and the Honors College.

OMNI CENTER PEACE AWARD

The OMNI Center for World Peace and Justice Faculty Award was created to "recognize exceptional research, teaching and service by faculty who promote the studying and teaching of peace and justice and the practice of nonviolence, conflict resolution and diplomacy."

Recipient Jared Phillips is a teaching associate professor of 20th century American history and international studies, with a passion for writing and farming. He is also the director of undergraduate studies for the department.

His research focuses on Ozark and rural history, with a specific interest in the Ozark Organic Growers Association and the development of the USDA Organic program.

Phillips is the author of Hipbillies: Deep Revolution in the Arkansas Ozarks, as well as "Ozark Solastalgia," "Seeds" and "Timelines." He is currently working on a project that looks at how the development of small-scale organic agriculture in the Ozarks and elsewhere was an attempt at building an ecologically nonviolent method to address rural depopulation.

In addition to the OMNI award, Phillips has previously received a Faculty Gold Medal, a Honors College Mentor Award and a Lucille Westbrook Essay Award. He is also a Pushcart Prize nominee and an Imhoff Teaching and Mentorship Award finalist.

OMNI KEELING/HANSEN AWARD

The OMNI Keeling/Hansen Climate Science Award was created to "promote cutting-edge climate science research conducted by Fulbright College faculty and students in developing knowledge of the causes and impacts of global climate change, in developing tangible solutions to mitigate global climate change and its deleterious effects on humanity and global ecosystems, and in communicating the urgency of the climate catastrophe."

Recipient Amelia Villaseñor is an assistant professor of biological anthropology, ecology, paleoecology and anthropological research methods. Her research focuses on the boundary of paleoecology and modern ecology, and she is the director of the college's Human Paleoecology lab.

Her work has been featured in prominent journals, including Trends in Ecology and Evolution, the Journal of Human Evolution, Science and Quaternary Science Reviews. She has also presented her work at various professional conferences and plans to disseminate her current paleoconservation research on the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in the fall.

Her previous awards include an Outstanding Faculty Mentor award, reflecting her significant work as a mentor to graduate and undergraduate students within the department.

This story also appeared in the Fulbright REVIEW publication.