WE CARE-A-VAN Takes College of Education and Health Professions on Tour of Central Arkansas

As the sun was setting on another fulfilling day of caravaning across Arkansas in pursuit of partnership and connection, Dean Kate Mamiseishvili reinforced to the gathered crowd her belief that teamwork and collaboration are vital keys to success.

"Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much," Mamiseishvili said, quoting Helen Keller.

This was day two of the College of Education and Health Professions' fall WE CARE-A-VAN Tour, a 450-mile round-trip journey across central Arkansas that showcased successes and challenges facing communities and organizations through visits with schools, clinics, stakeholders, alumni and friends.

Over the course of three days, 18 faculty, staff and administrators from the college traveled throughout the region, connecting with partners and collaborators in education and health.

The tour began with half of the caravan group stopping at the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College (UAPTC), where they met with Chancellor Summer DeProw and several administrators and program coordinators.

UAPTC faculty shared success stories from students who have navigated the transfer process and the specific challenges they faced. Together, the group worked towards finding common ground for collaborations that could accommodate students and faculty from both schools. 

Day two of the trip kicked off at eStem Elementary School. The college's Office of Innovation for Education (OIE) hosted a Road to Rally event at the school, bringing together educators and administrators from across the area for a day of professional development and inspiration.

Keynote speaker Alia Pope opened the rally with a high-energy, hands-on STEM activity that challenged all in attendance to think critically as they worked in teams to design SSD drives from LEGOs. Pope is a fourth-grade teacher at eStem and host of a PBS-produced web series called CHIP Kids, which challenges children to ignite their curiosity about science and engineering.

The college's next stop was a visit to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Dan Voth, vice chancellor of research and innovation, led the group on a tour of UAMS' Biomedical Research Center and showcased several upgrades being implemented to bolster research productivity.

They reconvened for lunch with administrators and faculty from UAMS' College of Health Professions and College of Nursing at The Orthopedic and Spine Hospital (TOSH).

UAMS Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes shared with the group about UAMS Cares, an initiative aimed at cultivating "the friendliest healthcare system in the region," while Provost Stephanie Gardner spoke to the importance of the two schools working collaboratively.

"I think it really illustrates how we can take the strengths of both institutions, put them together and create something magical for our students," Gardner said.

Also on hand were UAMS College of Health Professions Dean Susan Long and College of Nursing Dean Sarah Rhoads. Mamiseishvili thanked Long for her strong support of the institutions' joint occupational therapy doctoral program, which trains students at UAMS' Northwest Campus and at the Occupational Therapy House located on the U of A Fayetteville campus.

"I'm very proud of the partnership that we have with UAMS, especially with the College of Health Professions," Mamiseishvili said. "The relationship that I have with Dean Long and the collaborative and open spirit of UAMS creates opportunities for us to work together in ways that benefit our students, faculty and the communities we serve."

After lunch, the group divided into smaller teams to discuss more specific opportunities for collaboration.

For the third stop of the day, a small group of caravaners split off to tour the Clinton School of Public Service. Dean Victoria Soto spoke about the school's extensive renovations and how its Impact Center provides students with hands-on training while helping public service organizations measure their social impact.

The college's reception that evening, held at the Murphy Keller Education Center, brought together many familiar faces from the trip, including education and health leaders, alumni, partners and friends of the college. Mamiseishvili shared information about the college's WE CARE strategic plan, along with the inspiration behind traveling across Arkansas on WE CARE-A-VAN Tours.

On day three, the trip's final stop brought the caravan north to Greers Ferry. 

At West Side Elementary School, Principal C.T. Erickson, a four-time graduate of the college, is teaming up with OIE to bring innovative educational methods and professional development to her students and teachers. Erickson said strategies she's learned from OIE for helping students conquer "the learning pit" have transformed attitudes towards learning.

"Our goal was really to teach kids that learning does not always just click, so when it doesn't click, what skills do we have to continue to endure?" Erickson said.

Kelly Hankins, OIE's learning design and innovation leader, said the changes Erickson is implementing at West Side Elementary have the ability to make a difference for everyone at the school.

"Great leaders find those high leverage points and make changes that last," Hankins said.

Erickson led the caravan on a tour of West Side's campus, showcasing how they lay the foundation for learning in Pre-K classrooms and nurture student development through high school.

With the conclusion of the seventh WE CARE-A-VAN tour this fall, the college has traveled nearly 3,500 miles in pursuit of building partnerships across the state. Since the first WE CARE-A-VAN in the fall of 2023, tours have made stops in Pine Bluff, Portland, Elkins, Jonesboro, Cherry Valley, Monticello, El Dorado, Texarkana, Mena, De Queen, Hot Springs, Danville and more.