Faculty Excellence Shines in Honors College's 2025-2026 Awards

The Honors College has proudly unveiled its Faculty Award recipients for the 2025-2026 academic year, celebrating outstanding achievements in community leadership, research and teaching.  

"This year's 'Magnificent 7' have achieved enormous success in the theater of international education, innovative pedagogy, research acumen and Ozark storytelling," said Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College. "I am thrilled to welcome the '7' into the enviable cohort of honors faculty luminaries." 

Each honoree recieved a striking bronze Curvahedra medallion, $1,000 in academic funding and a featured spotlight on the Honors College's Faculty Awards page, commemorating their contributions to scholarship and community impact.  

Distinguished Community Leadership Award 

Kyle Kellams, news director and host of Ozarks at Large, KUAF Radio 

Kellams has hosted Ozarks at Large for 36 years, airing daily for the past 15. The program serves as a vital platform for exploring the culture, politics and voices of the Ozarks region, offering thoughtful, in-depth coverage of local and regional issues. Under his leadership, the show has become a trusted source of storytelling and civic dialogue across Arkansas and neighboring states. 

As part of his ongoing collaboration with the U of A Honors College, Kellams has interviewed numerous Signature Seminar faculty, visiting guest lecturers and Pulse Panel Discussion leaders. These conversations extend the reach of the Honors College, allowing broader audiences to engage with the ideas and scholarship presented in the classroom. His interviews help translate academic inquiry into accessible public dialogue, reinforcing KUAF's role as a conduit for understanding and education. 

Beyond the studio, Kellams has moderated public forums and led conversations with nationally recognized figures including Bob Woodward, Amor Towles, LeVar Burton and Roy Reed. His ability to foster meaningful discussion has made him a respected voice in both journalistic and academic circles. 

Through Ozarks at Large, Kellams continues to champion regional storytelling, elevate diverse perspectives and connect communities through thoughtful media. His work reflects a deep commitment to public service journalism and the power of conversation to inform, inspire and unite.  

Distinguished Research and Teaching Faculty Award  

Jamie I. Baum, associate professor of nutrition and director of the Center for Human Nutrition in the Department of Food Science, U of A System Division of Agriculture 

Baum leads a dynamic research program focused on nutritional science, mentoring more than 40 undergraduate honors students in projects that explore the relationship between diet, health and disease prevention. Her lab provides students with hands-on experience in applied research, preparing them to pursue careers in health-related fields and graduate study. Through honors funding—including research grants, mentorship programs and a collaborative academic culture—Baum has helped students push the boundaries of nutritional science and make meaningful contributions to the field. 

Her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration has expanded the scope of student research, connecting her lab with faculty and students in exercise science, English and other disciplines. These partnerships have enriched student perspectives and deepened the impact of their work. 

Baum's involvement with honors also led to a unique public outreach initiative. After meeting Kellams through an Honors Colloquium, she and colleague Erin Howie launched "Balance," a monthly segment on Ozarks at Large that shares insights on nutrition and physical activity with the broader community. The program reflects Baum's dedication to translating academic research into accessible, real-world conversations. 

Throughout her tenure at the U of A, Baum has remained deeply engaged with honors education, finding inspiration in the curiosity and drive of her students. She credits the Honors College—especially its strong network of accomplished and supportive women—with shaping her professional growth and sustaining her passion for research and teaching.  

Kristofor R. Brye, University Professor of applied soil physics and pedology in the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences; Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences 

Brye has been mentoring undergraduate honors students since 2007, guiding 11 students to successful completion of their honors projects and currently mentoring three more. He has also served on five completed honors committees and is actively serving on three additional ones. His mentorship emphasizes rigorous research and publication, with 10 of his 11 mentees publishing their research as peer-reviewed journal articles. 

His students have contributed to Inquiry, the U of A's undergraduate research journal, and Discovery, the student journal of the Bumpers College. Many have secured competitive research funding through SURF, the Honors College and the Bumpers College Honors Program. The majority have continued their academic careers in master's and doctoral programs, including several currently pursuing graduate degrees at the U of A. 

Brye's commitment to undergraduate research has helped shape a generation of scholars in environmental and agricultural sciences, fostering a culture of inquiry, publication and academic advancement. 

Angela Elsass, associate professor of teaching in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education and Health Professions 

Elsass specializes in preparing future educators to support elementary and middle-level students both academically and personally. Since joining the U of A in 2010, she has played a key role in the K-6 Teacher Preparation Program, bringing classroom and administrative experience to her work as a teacher educator. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership and previously served as a school principal and classroom teacher. 

Since 2019, Elsass has mentored nine Honors students in the College of Education and Health Professions—eight as chair and one as a committee member—while also teaching honors courses in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She served on the COEHP Honors Council from 2022 to 2025 and acted as a liaison supporting faculty in the department. Her mentorship emphasizes student-driven inquiry, encouraging students to explore research topics that align with their personal interests and career goals. 

Elsass has guided interdisciplinary honors research across four programs of study—Childhood Education (CHED), Communication Disorders (CDIS), Secondary Education (SEED) and Public Health (PBHL). Her students have explored topics such as mentoring adolescent girls in leadership development, interprofessional collaboration, peer support for children with autism, sensory processing disorder, child maltreatment and social-emotional learning strategies for vocabulary development. 

Her mentees have presented at regional and national conferences and earned recognition at the COEHP Honors Symposium and the U of A National Undergraduate Research Week Poster Competition. She has also successfully guided eight students through the SURF and Honors College Research Grant application processes. 

Elsass has received multiple honors for her dedication to undergraduate research and teaching, including the U of A Office of Nationally Competitive Awards Faculty Gold Medal (2025), the U of A Outstanding Faculty Award (2020) and the COEHP Outstanding Honors Faculty Award (2019). She finds deep fulfillment in building relationships with students and learning alongside them as they navigate the research process. 

Christopher Nelson, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, College of Engineering 

Nelson is a graduate of the U of A and an Honors College Fellow, earning a B.S. in biological engineering in 2009. He returned to his alma mater in 2019 as a faculty member in biomedical engineering, where he leads the Therapeutic Genome Engineering Laboratory. Supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, his lab focuses on developing advanced therapies for untreatable genetic diseases. 

Nelson has mentored 12 honors students, many of whom have earned prestigious awards including two Goldwater Scholarships, two NSF Graduate Research Fellowships and multiple SURF grants. His mentees have gone on to attend top graduate and medical schools and work in the biomedical industry. He taught an honors colloquium on gene editing, engaging students in both the scientific and societal dimensions of biotechnology, and also teaches upper-level electives in genome engineering and transport phenomena. 

In addition to his teaching and research, Nelson has served as coordinator for Alpha Eta Mu Beta, the biomedical engineering honors society. His dedication to student success has earned him the Faculty Gold Medal (2023) and the College of Engineering Rising Teaching Award (2024).  

Jared M. Phillips, teaching associate professor, interim vice chair and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of History, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences 

Phillips returned to the U of A in 2016 and played a key role in revitalizing the International Studies Program. He developed courses and training for undergraduates in human rights, peace and nonviolence theory, and food security. Within the Department of History, he has helped implement a new curriculum, created courses in Ozarks and Southern studies, and led the development of a new Ozarks studies minor. 

He has co-taught two Honors College Signature Seminars: Ozarks Culture, which examines how Ozarkers have shaped and redefined their identity over time, and Global Social Change, which explores how communities around the world address shared challenges through innovation and collaboration. He also taught Retro Reading: Ozarkers, a course that connects classic regional texts with history and anthropology to explore meaning-making in the Ozarks during the American Century. 

Undergraduate mentorship is a central part of Phillips' work. He serves on the Fulbright Honors Council and has directed more than 20 honors theses since 2019. His students have received SURF grants, won research awards and been accepted into top-tier graduate programs. 

Phillips remains active in research, publishing and presenting on Ozark history, agricultural policy and cultural change in the Mountain South. He regularly involves students in his research, encouraging them to explore contemporary applications of historical questions. 

Kim Sexton, associate professor of architectural history, adjunct associate professor of art history, director of the minor in history of architecture and design, and former director of the honors program; Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design 

Sexton served as the inaugural director of the Fay Jones School Honors Program from 2002 to 2013, laying the foundation for interdisciplinary and research-driven learning in architecture. Since joining the faculty in 1999, she has taught a wide range of honors courses, including two Honors Passport study abroad experiences, the Signature Seminar Gothic and 11 semesters of Honors Humanities Project (H2P) courses. She also leads honors sections of core architecture courses and upper-level electives focused on pre-modern built environments. 

Her research centers on architecture and public space in late medieval and Renaissance Italy, with recent work exploring intersections of science and material culture in Renaissance libraries and anatomical theaters. Sexton's scholarship informs her teaching and mentorship, supporting student research on topics ranging from log cabins in media to post-war reconstruction of Cologne Cathedral. 

Sexton's dedication to honors education and historical inquiry has enriched the academic experience for architecture students, blending global perspectives with deep disciplinary knowledge. 

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.