Full STEAM Ahead: College of Education and Health Professions Receives $1.5M to Establish Endowed Chair

What happens when creativity and rationality, imagination and technology, as well as arts and STEM, collide?

The answer is innovation and significant scientific breakthroughs. This is why the College of Education and Health Professions at the U of A is establishing an endowed chair focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education.

The new Windgate Endowed Chair in STEAM Education — made possible through a recent $1.5 million endowment from the Windgate Foundation — will promote the integration of the arts into traditional STEM fields and prepare teachers to use the arts to foster innovative mindsets in future scientists, engineers and difference-makers.

"Preparing students to address tomorrow's challenges means helping them develop both technical knowledge and creativity," said Chancellor Charles Robinson. "We are grateful to the Windgate Foundation for supporting an endowed chair that will strengthen interdisciplinary education in Arkansas schools and help prepare the next generation of innovators and problem solvers." 

College of Education and Health Professions Dean Kate Mamiseishvili added, "The Windgate Foundation's investment in the new endowed chair will empower our college to become a nationally recognized leader in arts-integrated STEAM education, advance interdisciplinary research and extend this expertise to benefit teachers and students throughout the state. A gift of this magnitude will transform our college and propel us to go full STEAM ahead."

Mamiseishvili also emphasized the growing demand for individuals who can integrate technical expertise with creative insight. "When students are prepared for careers that do not yet exist and societal challenges require integrated thinking, harnessing the power of artistic expression, creativity and imagination becomes vital," she said.

The endowment will support the new chair in leading a bold research agenda in interdisciplinary STEAM approaches, developing innovative STEAM curricula and partnering with Arkansas schools to improve teaching and learning through the arts. The chair will also serve as a faculty adviser for Arkansas A+, a unit of the college that supports arts integration in Arkansas schools across the curriculum and grade levels. Generous support from the Windgate Foundation helped bring Arkansas A+ to the college in 2018 and continues to foster its growth. 

"Arts education is essential to developing critical thinking skills, innovation and creating a better world," said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. "The Windgate Foundation has been a critical partner in advancing those values across the University of Arkansas. Their generosity has supported the university in extraordinary ways over time, and the Windgate Endowed Chair in STEAM Education adds an important new dimension to that partnership. We are incredibly grateful for Windgate's continued investment in our students, faculty and the communities we serve."

The college will conduct a national search to identify a distinguished faculty member to fill the endowed chair position. The work of the endowed chair will not only elevate the college's national profile by creating a highly visible signature research initiative in STEAM education, but also help cultivate an innovation ecosystem that connects the arts, education and STEM industries.

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions prepares students for a wide range of careers in education and health. The college comprises approximately 360 faculty and staff members, serving more than 6,000 students and supporting six departments and over 25 research and service units. Driven by the WE CARE strategic plan, the college strives to advance impactful research, foster a caring culture, and expand service to Arkansas through transformative educational opportunities and meaningful partnerships. The college boasts an extensive research portfolio that is accompanied by multiple large-scale, prestigious grants secured by faculty and staff. Over the past five years, the college has received more than $108 million in external funding.